Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 13:17:57 GMT -6
sorry to resurrect this thread - just wanted advice about cleaning PCB's. I bought a s/h comp, it's about 20 years old I think. Second channel had scratchy pots, switch cleaner pretty much sorted this. The top PCB was covered in 20 years of dust and grime getting through the vents (why don't people look after gear!!). I used a vac cleaner and very soft brush to get most of it off, but there is still a visual coating.
Should I just leave it now as it's working, or should I clean it? If so is there a trick to get rid of all this crud? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by bowie on Jan 1, 2017 15:18:46 GMT -6
sorry to resurrect this thread - just wanted advice about cleaning PCB's. I bought a s/h comp, it's about 20 years old I think. Second channel had scratchy pots, switch cleaner pretty much sorted this. The top PCB was covered in 20 years of dust and grime getting through the vents (why don't people look after gear!!). I used a vac cleaner and very soft brush to get most of it off, but there is still a visual coating. Should I just leave it now as it's working, or should I clean it? If so is there a trick to get rid of all this crud? Thanks. Generally, you can leave it so long as it's not a thick enough coating to hold in moisture and such. If you are neurotic like me and want to get it thoroughly cleaned, I recommend scoring some of the 99% isoprop alcohol (that it seems you can only find online these days) and use Q-tips to give the board a cleaning. I simply dip the swab, rub a layer of the alcohol on the board, let it work as a solvent for few secs, and swab it off. You have to be be diligent when doing this because (depending how it was soldered and cleaned at the factory) you may have old solder resin loosen up and effectively become a sticky tar that just spreads and makes a bigger mess until you go over it a few times to get it all up. Before doing anything like that, be aware of the voltage hazards, know which caps to discharge, etc. Also, don't leave behind any bits of cotton swab (which like to get caught on clipped leads if you use them on the underside). |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 16:37:50 GMT -6
sorry to resurrect this thread - just wanted advice about cleaning PCB's. I bought a s/h comp, it's about 20 years old I think. Second channel had scratchy pots, switch cleaner pretty much sorted this. The top PCB was covered in 20 years of dust and grime getting through the vents (why don't people look after gear!!). I used a vac cleaner and very soft brush to get most of it off, but there is still a visual coating. Should I just leave it now as it's working, or should I clean it? If so is there a trick to get rid of all this crud? Thanks. Generally, you can leave it so long as it's not a thick enough coating to hold in moisture and such. If you are neurotic like me and want to get it thoroughly cleaned, I recommend scoring some of the 99% isoprop alcohol (that it seems you can only find online these days) and use Q-tips to give the board a cleaning. I simply dip the swab, rub a layer of the alcohol on the board, let it work as a solvent for few secs, and swab it off. You have to be be diligent when doing this because (depending how it was soldered and cleaned at the factory) you may have old solder resin loosen up and effectively become a sticky tar that just spreads and makes a bigger mess until you go over it a few times to get it all up. Before doing anything like that, be aware of the voltage hazards, know which caps to discharge, etc. Also, don't leave behind any bits of cotton swab (which like to get caught on clipped leads if you use them on the underside). Thanks Bowie, will look online for some isoprop and give it a go. |
|
|
|
Post by b1 on Jan 4, 2017 23:02:11 GMT -6
I use alcohol & a Q-tip as mentioned by others, but being irritated by the reside/film left over, I've been considering using Automotive MAF cleaner by CRC, or Electromotor cleaner by the same company. I'll have to download the data sheets to further consider though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bender on Jan 4, 2017 23:29:45 GMT -6
I use alcohol & a Q-tip as mentioned by others, but being irritated by the reside/film left over, I've been considering using Automotive MAF cleaner by CRC, or Electromotor cleaner by the same company. I'll have to download the data sheets to further consider though. Do let me know your findings I actually have some MAF cleaner on hand! I too have been irritated by the qtip alc method as well. |
|
