Effective Electronics Circuit Board Washdown?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

For a Meanwell. Not that it matters but it's for a 36-volt 400-watt power supply. Blew a fuse. Incredibly dusty circuit board. I'll blow it out with 120 air then wash it. I would like to use something that can endure a soft bristle paint brush. Then a small boar's brush for tight spots.

After which I will dunk the loaded board, Transistors, chokes, transformers and all. Blow it off then let it dry in front of a fan overnight.

However (pothole in plans)

When I go to Spectrum Chemical in San Diego, what do I ask for? I gag at the prices I see for electronics cleaners on the web. Fourteen dollars, plus tax and shipping for a can of snot is too rich. Too much time has passed since I last did assembly line rebuilding and back then I had a monster LS hot water high pressure spray enclosure.

I don't need to damage capacitors or soften the coating on transformers or chokes.

I am tempted to use something like ZEP de-greaser in very warm water then a thorough dunk rinse then let the board dry for say 5 days after blowing it out with air.

A talented HAMster would know the answer to this. I am going to replace the 680uf 200 volt caps with 105c Panasonic low ESR. But there are other caps involved, and the varnish on the windings.

I have a new wiz-bang high thermal conductivity conformal coating that will help with corrosion. Amazingly the fast blo 10-amp fuse prongs are the only sign of moderate tarnishing. But the original Meanwell sleeve fan has got to go bye bye.

I need to augment my frugal fan inventory with 36-volt 80mm fans. Or find a bucking circuit that can handle 40 volts and 60 watts for 12 volt fans. Any ideas? I could use 100mm 120 vac muffin fans and eliminate the middleman.

This is for a stadium lamp I built way back when 100 watt LED arrays were rare. It consumes an actual 350 measured watts and needless to say lights up a 40' x 40' mechanic's shop like daylight. Height is 28'

Any help will be a blessing. Thank you.

[jplante4]

I remember using tri-chloro-ethylene on circuit boards but before any components were punched in.

[Chris_Bryant]

Distilled water. When I cleaned tape recorder heads, I used everclear, pure grain alcohol.
I like VoomRV cleaner/degreaser, as it is ph neutral.

[wa8yxm]

I dont knwo about shipping over the wall but......

Check out companies like All ELectroincs and Poly Packs (if they are still around) Jamco.. Many have low cost brand name (They buy up surplus lots).

[theoldwizard1]

In "production", when Freon was outlawed, they switched to distilled water with citrus oil and an ultrasonic cleaner.

I like alcohol and an acid brush.

[Tom_M1]

I use isopropyl alcohol. Most commonly available as rubbing alcohol. Get the 90% variety. Works well for cleaning off rosin flux after soldering on a board. Use a small stiff bristled brush such as an acid brush:

[GREGORYJ]

Cleaning a dusty looking circuit can also be very helpful as you may already have done. No need to wash circuit, just use a brush and light compressed air to remove all signs of dust from components and between components. There could be a problem called crystalline growth on circuit boards(in amoungst the dust) and we did see this at times, though sometimes with the aid of a microscope. Crystalline growth can cause a short circuit on the board. A dust free circuit board may also operate cooler. Best of luck. See info on link & Google for images & other info on this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)

[MEXICOWANDERER]

No leaks no bulges but I doubt my capacitor tester reaches 680uf. So it'll be an automatic swap out for the Panasonics whether they would have checked bad or good.

I doubt whether that fuse blew of boredom. So the power transistor will get replaced with a T.I. and the Schottky with a G.E. 200 PIV 40 amp. The bridge rectifier checked OK and the choke and transformers coils have unsullied color. Before I tear into the components I will re-fuse the unit and see what kind of symptoms it exhibits open circuit finals.

[GREGORYJ]

If the circuit board has electrolytic capacitors and the circuit board was manufactured between 1999 and 2007, visually check all these type of capacitors very closely. If the top bulges up, its bad, replace them. In some cases leakage from them could corrode the circuit board and if it's a multi layered circuit board it usually is not possible to repair the corrosion damage. These were used in every type of electronic product, and I mean everything, cameras, Tv's, PC power supplies, PC monitors, general power supplies, audio, sat. receivers, garage door opener boards, anything. See info here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

[romore]

Unless you are OCD about cleanliness blow it out gently along with a soft bristle brush. A blast of air at 120 psi could cause some damage.

[agesilaus]

error

[agesilaus]

Well from the MSDS, CRC contact cleaner contains 2-methylpentane, 1,1 difluroethane, and naptha plus minor constituents. All three are non-polar solvents and that should give you a hint.