vB Easy Archive - How To Save Your Wet Phone!

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How To Save Your Wet Phone!
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Posted by: Mizah

I have heard alot of storys about electronics being spoiled from water, especially phones! So here i am trying to help you save your phone and i am very sure it will work.

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG AND WRECK YOUR PHONE

The electronics will not be harmed by the water. What WILL harm them is trying to turn them on while circuits are shorted by the water. So DON'T try to turn the phone on until you have done this.

Scientific fact: Pure water does not conduct electricity. It's the impurities in it that conduct. Salt is an excellent conductor, and so is saltwater. So if your phone got wet with saltwater or water with bleach or chlorine in it (ie.- municipal water... chlorine is a "salt"), the first thing to do is remove the battery and SIM card and immerse the phone in distilled water to get the salt out. Distilled water is available in any drugstore and most auto parts stores.

Not only is salt conductive, it's also corrosive and will eat up microcircuits, so this should be done ASAP. This also applies if the battery is overcharged and leaks inside the phone. Battery "juices" are conductive and even more corrosive than salt. You can leave the phone in the distilled water without any damage till you get the silicone or WD-40 for the next step.

You don't have to do the distilled water thing if your phone got wet in fresh water, but it wouldn't hurt just in case there were alot of minerals in the water. Second step is to get a big can of either electronics cleaner, Brake Kleen (available in auto parts stores), or WD-40. Electronics cleaner is pure liquid silicone, and it's the better choice (it won't leave a smell) but in a pinch WD-40 will work (but your phone will smell like it forever). Brake Kleen is a solvent that leaves no smell or residue. Turn the can upside down and push the button till all the pressure is out. Then take a can opener and pop the bottom of the can and pour the stuff in a bowl or something (you want some depth here, so use a small diameter bowl, and make sure you get a big can). Take the phone and put it in the silicone/WD-40 and turn it over and around in the stuff. You want to get the stuff through the whole inside of the phone so turn it in every possible position.

The silicone/WD will drive the water out of the phone, so you want to also turn it so the water can run out of the various openings (like the battery cover) It would be helpful to disassemble the phone as much as possible before doing this, but I realize most people don't have the tools to do it or are afraid to try it. This will work anyway. You may see beads of water at the bottom of the bowl when you are done doing this. That's the water that was in your phone. Leave the phone in the silicone/WD for about 15 minutes and then take it out and let it dry on some paper for about 24 hours. Then it's safe to put your battery back in and charge it.

That's all kiddies. And if you have to use this procedure, good luck and I hope it works for you.

Peace, Mizah

PS. If you want to sticky this feel free. :P

Posted by: raysacr

wouldn't 99% alcohol work better since it'll evaporate and dry faster than wd-40? especially if you're not planning on disassembling the phone. i can't imagine trying to use a phone after it has been soaked in wd-40.

Posted by: MP

+1 on the WD 40... Some brake clean has some bad stuff in it that eats away at things in the phone.
But yes! WD-40 is the trick! just spray it off with an air hose!

WD-40 = Water displacement Formula 40 (just the best **** in the world) !

Posted by: mkguitar

MANY contact cleaners are not safe for plastic and will melt it!!!
( It will be marked on the can)

Brake cleaner is a really bad idea, Most contain chlorine and can gas you.

MK

Posted by: MP

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkguitar

MANY contact cleaners are not safe for plastic and will melt it!!!
( It will be marked on the can)

Brake cleaner is a really bad idea, Most contain chlorine and can gas you.

MK

a agree... go WD-40!!

Posted by: mkguitar

On further review, chuck the wd40 idea. WD40 being a petro- oil will attract and hold dust dirt etc. IF it manages to drive the moisture out, and it may only trap moisture inside the circuitry, surrounded by oil.

Best approach when electronics are immersed:

Remove battery or power source right away.

remove covers, battery, sim etc. remove as much as possible to allow the water out.

air dry on a paper towel, you can blow it with a fan or a hair dryer on low if you want

ensure that device is completely free of moisture for at least a couple of days.

try it and hope for the best.

MK

Posted by: MP

if you phone is soaking wet the least of your worries is dust.
WD-40 = Watter Displacement Formula 40..
It works.

(this was 1000th post btw!)