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MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
Dec 24, 2018

Effective Electronics Circuit Board Washdown?

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.

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