wet computer

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badgolferman

Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them out
there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet. I
opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait before
turning on the monitor?
 
badgolferman said:
Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them out
there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet. I
opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait before
turning on the monitor?
Click to expand...

The manufacturer has included circuitry that will produce an
unmistakable signal if there's water in there. To address the
possibility that the user may be impaired, several signals are
issued: visual, audible and olfactory. To further protect the
user, the monitor will self-destruct after/during the signalling
process.

Your money will be refunded ... did you get a receipt when you
rescued the stuff from roadside?

I would wait a week or more and do the first test outside.
 
It is best to take the cover off the monitor to let it dry. If you can't get the cover off then use a fan to blow air through the vents for a few hours. Also let the PC dry with the cover off. There could be moisture present that is not easily visible.
 
badgolferman said:
Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them
out there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet.
I opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait
before turning on the monitor?
Click to expand...

Until its dry inside if it got wet inside.
 
Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them out
there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet. I
opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait before
turning on the monitor?
Click to expand...

One day is not very long, water can wick behind surface
mount chips and stay there for a long time. I suggest
pointing a fan at the opened system and leaving it running
for at least 24 hours.

Open the monitor and then carefully tilt it side to side,
forwards, backwards, and upside down, so that the typical
waffled plastic casing moldings won't have any pooled water
sitting in them (which might take quite a bit longer to dry
otherwise), and leave it open also sitting next to the fan.
Do same to PSU if it seems to have gotten wet inside.

If you aren't in a rush to power these parts on, leave them
sit even longer. You might also pull the battery out of the
motherboard now, if it looks like much water got into the
system. Water likes to run into cracks along flat surfaces
so this might mean parts like the optical or floppy drives
need a lot more time to dry out, rotating them at several
angles as suggested for the monitor casing parts and/or
disassembly and forced air too.

If the system was really dusty inside and then wet, it could
be a mucky mess rightabout now. Formerly reasonable slot
contacts could now have a cement-like hardened crust of dust
that needs to soak and be rinsed off.

if the parts are of little value to you, you could always
just take the easy route, open both cases up, leave them sit
for a couple days and stand back when you plug it in.

Why did they throw away a working P3 system anyway?
Offer to haul off any more interesting stuff for a small
recycling fee. ;-)
 
badgolferman said:
Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them out
there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet. I
opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait before
turning on the monitor?
Click to expand...

Ya got a small space heater that has a fan blower? Put it to good use
for a day or two. But just gentle heat. Don't crank it up high enough
to melt the thing. <g>
 
badgolferman said:
Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them out
there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet. I
opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait before
turning on the monitor?
Click to expand...


I pick up a wet computer or monitor from time to time...

I usually let them dry out for several days before I try them...

If the humidity in your house is high...I'd wait a bit longer though
 
Use a hairdryer... but keep about 12" or so away from the
components as you don't want thing's getting too hot... warm is ok.
To be sure you can leave for about ten minutes or so and give it
another dose of the hairdryer, then you can give it a try.

Believe me you don't have to wait a week and try it outside, the only
time they may squeek is when the power supply is overloaded - it
shuts down and then tries to start up again, sometimes produces a
chirping sound, buzz or ripple (since these things are operated at
around 18 - 22Khz).

Ideally it would be better to remove the covers to do this, sometimes
it can be done through the grilles.

Any dampness around the tube area of the monitor will cause arching or
flashover. Had spillage many a time not just in TV's from water,
tea, coffee, pop and even medicine, pulling a sandwhich out a video
recorder was easy but the cleaning after wasn't....!

The trouble is with water it can easily corrode the copper wire and
copper tracks on the pcb.

If it isn't gonna work after two or three hair do's then it ain't
gonna work at all... anything serious it will pop a fuse or safety
component, it won't end up in many pieces all over the garden...!

Davy
 
badgolferman said:
Picked up a PIII computer and monitor off the side of the road
yesterday. My neighbors say they worked before they put them out
there. However it rained that morning so the innards are wet. I
opened up the computer to let it dry out and it doesn't look wet
inside. The monitor I don't know about. How long should I wait before
turning on the monitor?
Click to expand...
A month or more, water can settle under chips,
and as soon as you switch on, electrolytic action
will slowly blow your computer.
Look for a dry , warm place and leave it alone for
a while.
You might remove the outer cover first.
Any early check may kill things.
 
Why did they throw away a working P3 system anyway?
Offer to haul off any more interesting stuff for a small
recycling fee. ;-)
Click to expand...

OOOOH! I know the answer to THIS one.

Many recyclers and dumps have a fee to dispose of computer systems,
especially the CRTS. We charge for the CRTs to have then properly
dismantled and kept out of a landfill. Because the CRT qualifies as
hazardous waste for various reasons, even landfills often charge for
them. Hence illegal dumping.

About the computer, it'll be fine as long as it's finished drying
before the power goes on. The monitor may display a deep dark red at
first, but it'll brighten as time goes on. After about 20 minutes of
power, it'll be good as new. I've actually witnessed this happen to a
crt so treated.
 
The trouble is with water it can easily corrode the copper wire and
copper tracks on the pcb.
Click to expand...


How many PCBs have you seen on computer equipment or
monitors that were bare copper? You should be able to soak
a board in water for a day without ill effect (providing it
is then dried, and that the battery wasnt' still in it).
 
kony said:
How many PCBs have you seen on computer equipment or
monitors that were bare copper? You should be able to soak
a board in water for a day without ill effect (providing it
is then dried, and that the battery wasnt' still in it).
Click to expand...

There was a time when we washed assembled boards in non-ecofriendly
solvents. These days boards get washed in water.
 
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