OT:Save wet electronics with rice

YB

This subject comes up every now and then so I thought I would post this...Hope everyone had a great Christmas.
Larry



New Year's Countdown, Tip #11: Save wet electronics with rice
******************
One common travel mishap is dropping your camera or phone in water.
Here are some quick fixes in case your camera, cell phone, or other
electronic devices accidentally get wet and stop working when you’re
traveling, or at home:

** 1. Open it up. If your camera gets wet, first remove the battery
and memory card. Do NOT turn it on if it’s wet.

The more you open up the device, the faster it’ll dry out. Same goes
for cell phones. Take out the battery and the sim card, if it can be
removed. Then, leave all the doors and covers on the device open. (See
images here:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2008/12/camera_rice.php )

** 2. Vacuum it out. If you try drying the device with a fan or a blow
dryer, you risk pushing moisture deeper onto the circuitry, which
could cause a short. Instead, pull moisture away from the device with
a vacuum.

** 3. Bury it in rice. Rice absorbs moisture from nearby objects. If
your camera gets wet, drop it into a container of rice and let it sit
for a day. The rice will help pull the moisture out. (See images here:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2008/12/camera_rice.php )

** 4. Power it back up. After your camera or phone spends a full day
submerged in rice, reinsert the battery and cards, and turn it on. If
it doesn’t work, call the manufacturer, but don’t try to hide the fact
that it got wet, as there are internal indicators that show water
damage.

** 5. Check inside. On some cell phones, you’ll find a white square or
circle below the battery. If you see red lines through the square or
circle, your phone probably has water damage.


-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

Fidel

The rice trick does work, but typically only if the device is not powered on when wet. If it is on when you drop it in the drink then the damage is pretty instantaneous.

Another trick (if you are really handy) is once it is completely dry you can clean the corrosion of the circuit boards with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The more corrosion you can remove the better chance you have to salvage your device.

Frank from Houma

Thanks

Any tips on salavaging fried polders are welcomed - I'm frying em left and right lately. :(

Or some tips on "How to avoid frying your polder big boy" would also be welcome.

YB

Can't help you with that one I'm pretty good at frying them also.LOL

Larry

YB

Sounds good Rod...I have been lucky with cameras and phones but I'm sure my day will come.
Larry

reelgem

Wish this would've been posted a few weeks ago. I left my camera outside on a table and it rained. First thing I did was try it to see if it works. :( That was the worst thing I could've done. Will definitely remember this in the future. Thanks!

YB

Sorry to hear about your camera....I don't care about our cell phones but I would hate for something to happen to my camera.

Larry