Comments on: How to Dry a Cell Phone That’s Come in Contact with Water http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/how-to-dry-a-cell-phone-thats-come-in-contact-with-water.html News and Views from The Tech FAQ Team Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:28:42 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Angel http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/how-to-dry-a-cell-phone-thats-come-in-contact-with-water.html/comment-page-1#comment-1784 Angel Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:15:02 +0000 http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/?p=1952#comment-1784 All of the things mentioned above are ok ways and facts about drying out a cell phone that has gotten wet. One other thing that can be done and will illiminate the chance of ruining the phone altogether or a vaccum cleaner, just get you a moderate sized bowl, depending on the size of the phone, fill it with dry rice. Drop the phone in the bowl of rice and completely cover the phone. Leave it in the rice and let the rice absorb all the moisture out of it. Easy and less expensive than a new cell phone or vaccum cleaner. All of the things mentioned above are ok ways and facts about drying out a cell phone that has gotten wet. One other thing that can be done and will illiminate the chance of ruining the phone altogether or a vaccum cleaner, just get you a moderate sized bowl, depending on the size of the phone, fill it with dry rice. Drop the phone in the bowl of rice and completely cover the phone. Leave it in the rice and let the rice absorb all the moisture out of it. Easy and less expensive than a new cell phone or vaccum cleaner.

]]> By: astraltech http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/how-to-dry-a-cell-phone-thats-come-in-contact-with-water.html/comment-page-1#comment-1586 astraltech Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:47:50 +0000 http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/?p=1952#comment-1586 Mycroft said: "One important point (at least) has not been mentioned - What to do if the phone has been dropped in the sea. If this has happened, wash the phone in lots of fresh water as quickly as possible. As with removing the battery, every second counts. And if you have access to distilled or de-ionised water, give it a final wash in that." *** It is never a good idea to wash an electronic component in any kind of water, even if it has been submersed in water with high salt content *** Using rubbing alcohol is a very effective way to clean electronic components due to it's quick evapouration. However, heed caution when using rubbing alcohol as it is sold in various proportionalities (the amount of water and the amount of alcohol). ***ASTRAL TECH'S RECOMMENDATION*** Step 1. Stock 90%, 99% or if available 100% isopropyl or similar alcohol before the incident occurs Step 2. Remove device (cell phone)from from liquid (water,juice,etc) as soon as possible. Step 3. Disconnect the battery (nevermind turning it off if it is still on) Step 3. Remove any type of data cards (SIM, MICRO SD, ETC) Step 4. vigorously shake excess water out of cell phone then place cell phone (open) into alcohol bath, let stand thirty seconds. Step 5. dip data cards and battery in bath quickly, then massage contacts with a q-tip dipped in the bath, set to air dry Step 6. After cell phone is removed, massage battery contacts with q-tip dipped in the bath, then shake vigerously to remove excess liquid. Let stand for 60 seconds. Step 7. Place cell phone into bath again and swish it around in the liquid vigorously for 30 seconds to insure penetration to the IC's where water may have gotten into. Step 8. Remove cell phone from bath and shake excess liquid out. disassemble as much of the cell phone as you feel comfortable to insure proper drying. Step 9. Allow to completely dry. place cell phone in an open container on top of paper towel, with deccicant underneath - let stand for 24-48 hours Step 10. Replace the battery and pray! If you follow these steps your cell phone should work fine. **CAUTION** It is important that you use 90% or better due to the fact that the liquid will have only a 10% conductivity in proportion to the entire composition of the solution. Due to this fact, it is possible that some of the solution will remain inside the circuitry of the device and may cause a short circuit. Please use as close to 100% alcohol as you can as 100% alcohol (saphire water) has no conductivity. **DISCLAIMER** tech-faq.com (including but not limited to it's owners, employees, affiliates, etc) nor Astral Tech (also known as, but not limited to, the poster of this comment) are not responsible for any damages that may occur while attempting to follow these instructions to save a cellphone or other electronic device. When it comes to electronics, keep them safe from liquid, heat, and other electrical components or atmospheres. Mycroft said:

“One important point (at least) has not been mentioned – What to do if the phone has been dropped in the sea.
If this has happened, wash the phone in lots of fresh water as quickly as possible. As with removing the battery, every second counts. And if you have access to distilled or de-ionised water, give it a final wash in that.”

*** It is never a good idea to wash an electronic component in any kind of water, even if it has been submersed in water with high salt content ***

Using rubbing alcohol is a very effective way to clean electronic components due to it’s quick evapouration. However, heed caution when using rubbing alcohol as it is sold in various proportionalities (the amount of water and the amount of alcohol).

***ASTRAL TECH’S RECOMMENDATION***

Step 1. Stock 90%, 99% or if available 100% isopropyl or similar alcohol before the incident occurs

Step 2. Remove device (cell phone)from from liquid (water,juice,etc) as soon as possible.

Step 3. Disconnect the battery (nevermind turning it off if it is still on)

Step 3. Remove any type of data cards (SIM, MICRO SD, ETC)

Step 4. vigorously shake excess water out of cell phone then place cell phone (open) into alcohol bath, let stand thirty seconds.

Step 5. dip data cards and battery in bath quickly, then massage contacts with a q-tip dipped in the bath, set to air dry

Step 6. After cell phone is removed, massage battery contacts with q-tip dipped in the bath, then shake vigerously to remove excess liquid. Let stand for 60 seconds.

Step 7. Place cell phone into bath again and swish it around in the liquid vigorously for 30 seconds to insure penetration to the IC’s where water may have gotten into.

Step 8. Remove cell phone from bath and shake excess liquid out. disassemble as much of the cell phone as you feel comfortable to insure proper drying.

Step 9. Allow to completely dry. place cell phone in an open container on top of paper towel, with deccicant underneath – let stand for 24-48 hours

Step 10. Replace the battery and pray!

If you follow these steps your cell phone should work fine.

**CAUTION**

It is important that you use 90% or better due to the fact that the liquid will have only a 10% conductivity in proportion to the entire composition of the solution. Due to this fact, it is possible that some of the solution will remain inside the circuitry of the device and may cause a short circuit. Please use as close to 100% alcohol as you can as 100% alcohol (saphire water) has no conductivity.

**DISCLAIMER**

tech-faq.com (including but not limited to it’s owners, employees, affiliates, etc) nor Astral Tech (also known as, but not limited to, the poster of this comment) are not responsible for any damages that may occur while attempting to follow these instructions to save a cellphone or other electronic device. When it comes to electronics, keep them safe from liquid, heat, and other electrical components or atmospheres.

]]> By: Mycroft http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/how-to-dry-a-cell-phone-thats-come-in-contact-with-water.html/comment-page-1#comment-1580 Mycroft Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:43:33 +0000 http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/?p=1952#comment-1580 One important point (at least) has not been mentioned - What to do if the phone has been dropped in the sea. If this has happened, wash the phone in lots of fresh water as quickly as possible. As with removing the battery, every second counts. And if you have access to distilled or de-ionised water, give it a final wash in that. Do all the above before using rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit in the UK). Note that ethanol (ethyl alcohol) versions will be more effective at removing water than isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) versions. Salt water has two nasty properties as far as your phone is concerned. It conducts electricity far better than fresh, (remember that even with the battery removed, there's still a chance of residual charge in capacitors), and it corrodes metals vastly more efficiently. Also note that even if your phone seems to be working perfectly after cleaning and drying, the various buttons are likely to have a reduced life. Regards, Mycroft. One important point (at least) has not been mentioned – What to do if the phone has been dropped in the sea.
If this has happened, wash the phone in lots of fresh water as quickly as possible. As with removing the battery, every second counts. And if you have access to distilled or de-ionised water, give it a final wash in that.
Do all the above before using rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit in the UK). Note that ethanol (ethyl alcohol) versions will be more effective at removing water than isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) versions.
Salt water has two nasty properties as far as your phone is concerned. It conducts electricity far better than fresh, (remember that even with the battery removed, there’s still a chance of residual charge in capacitors), and it corrodes metals vastly more efficiently.
Also note that even if your phone seems to be working perfectly after cleaning and drying, the various buttons are likely to have a reduced life.
Regards,
Mycroft.

]]> By: dr v1ru5 http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/how-to-dry-a-cell-phone-thats-come-in-contact-with-water.html/comment-page-1#comment-1572 dr v1ru5 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:25:42 +0000 http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/?p=1952#comment-1572 Ok, So to start with, this article is not how you should dry off a cell phone. He may be a cell phone expert, but he did not put a lot of thought into this when he wrote it and I’ll give the real way to do this with a chance to recover your phone. So, why will his NOT work? 1. Do not, repeat, DO NOT try to suck water from any device with a vacuum cleaner that is not designed to suck water. What where you thinking? This could cause a fire hazard, and could electrocute you! Only use a “wet/dry vac to do this as it is designed to work with wet liquids” 2. You have to pull the battery first thing!!! Not in a few min, but the sec you pull the device from the water. This will help prevent shorting of the device. 3. Letting a phone or any other device like it sit and dry on it’s own will cause corrosion of the electronic and at that point, you should get a new one. So, how do you recover a wet cell phone? This is your best bet. Oh, and how do I know what I’m talking about? I have re-coved high tech electronics that have been submersed in water about a hundred times and I work with R/C subs and boats modified with things like cameras and other high tech electronics that are designed to sink and be recovered, and as much as you like to try, you can’t always keep it water proof. Note: I have only lost two items I could not get to work again out of about 100 + sinks. So on to the recovery: 1. Remove the power ASAP. Pull that Battery!!! 2. Pull the sim card “if you have one!” 3. Pour rubbing alcohol in to the device. Fill it or submerse the device in a bowl full of the alcohol and try to get out all the bubbles. Why rubbing alcohol? The alcohol displaces the water from the circuit boards. 4. Soak the phone for just a few seconds to get it all in there. Now take the device and drain the alcohol from it. Shake it a bit to get as much of the liquid out as you can. You can also use air in a can to gently blow it out. 5. Alcohol will evaporate on it’s own in a short amount of time. I often will continue to shake the item and inspect it to make sure it is dry. Note, sometimes you will have liquid in the LCD and this can be tricky trying to get it out, if the alcohol can displace it, it will help. 6. Let sit for several hours to make sure it is very dry. 7. Put the battery back in and see what happens. I have on my own recovered several phones for friends this way but this will only work, if it is done right after you pull the phone from the water. If you wait, corrosion will set in and the phone is most likely done fore. So, will this work every time? Nope. But it is your best bet to save that phone. Hope this helps some of you out there. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. you can reach me at rob@kg6ska.com Rob. Ok,
So to start with, this article is not how you should dry off a cell phone. He may be a cell phone expert, but he did not put a lot of thought into this when he wrote it and I’ll give the real way to do this with a chance to recover your phone.
So, why will his NOT work?
1. Do not, repeat, DO NOT try to suck water from any device with a vacuum cleaner that is not designed to suck water. What where you thinking? This could cause a fire hazard, and could electrocute you! Only use a “wet/dry vac to do this as it is designed to work with wet liquids”
2. You have to pull the battery first thing!!! Not in a few min, but the sec you pull the device from the water. This will help prevent shorting of the device.
3. Letting a phone or any other device like it sit and dry on it’s own will cause corrosion of the electronic and at that point, you should get a new one.
So, how do you recover a wet cell phone? This is your best bet. Oh, and how do I know what I’m talking about? I have re-coved high tech electronics that have been submersed in water about a hundred times and I work with R/C subs and boats modified with things like cameras and other high tech electronics that are designed to sink and be recovered, and as much as you like to try, you can’t always keep it water proof. Note: I have only lost two items I could not get to work again out of about 100 + sinks.
So on to the recovery:
1. Remove the power ASAP. Pull that Battery!!!
2. Pull the sim card “if you have one!”
3. Pour rubbing alcohol in to the device. Fill it or submerse the device in a bowl full of the alcohol and try to get out all the bubbles. Why rubbing alcohol? The alcohol displaces the water from the circuit boards.
4. Soak the phone for just a few seconds to get it all in there. Now take the device and drain the alcohol from it. Shake it a bit to get as much of the liquid out as you can. You can also use air in a can to gently blow it out.
5. Alcohol will evaporate on it’s own in a short amount of time. I often will continue to shake the item and inspect it to make sure it is dry. Note, sometimes you will have liquid in the LCD and this can be tricky trying to get it out, if the alcohol can displace it, it will help.
6. Let sit for several hours to make sure it is very dry.
7. Put the battery back in and see what happens. I have on my own recovered several phones for friends this way but this will only work, if it is done right after you pull the phone from the water. If you wait, corrosion will set in and the phone is most likely done fore.
So, will this work every time? Nope. But it is your best bet to save that phone.
Hope this helps some of you out there. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. you can reach me at rob@kg6ska.com
Rob.

]]> By: derald http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/how-to-dry-a-cell-phone-thats-come-in-contact-with-water.html/comment-page-1#comment-1570 derald Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:04:39 +0000 http://www.tech-faq.com/blog/?p=1952#comment-1570 The article alludes to the problem with batteries, but the FIRST thing you should do after towel drying is remove the battery. Without power, you can totally avoid damage if you wait for the unit to dry. The article alludes to the problem with batteries, but the FIRST thing you should do after towel drying is remove the battery. Without power, you can totally avoid damage if you wait for the unit to dry.

]]>