Cleaning corrosion from a circuit board

[Rob Holmes]

I've got a circuit board which looks to have a bit of surface corrosion, is it possible for me to clean it with solvent/acid and a cotton bud, or leave well alone?

If it can be done, which product would be best?

 

[peewit]

Used to be able to get electrical contact cleaner from Maplins, others will know if it can be used on circuit boards. Assume it can be obtained from elsewhere.

 

[Bob c]

think @REStracTORATION has his fare share of circuit board cleaning ,....a man in know

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Unless its stuffed or misbehaving I would tend to leave it well alone. It’s not been unknown for well intentioned cleaning to have the opposite effect.

 

[Rob Holmes]

It is misbehaving intermittently

 

[Dry Rot]

There is electrical contact cleaner and electrical contact cleaner. The good stuff actually dissolves the corrosion. If there are intermittent faults, isn't the first thing to look for dry joints (i.e. cracks in the solder) with a magnifying glass? Next, check the capacitors.

I had an intermittent fault in a printer a few years ago. Did a search on the internet and the recommendation was to put the offending board into a domestic oven at a certain gas mark for x minutes. I tried it and it worked! What had actually happened was the soldered joints had melted and reflowed. Success! (Try this at home at your own risk!).

 

[Rma7810]

Try surgical sprit -this normally works

 

[REStracTORATION]

You can clean with contact cleaner which will remove the green corrosion
But rubbing etc can cause damage if it deteriorated to far,
You can send them to David king electronics he tests repairs and warrants his repairs too

 

[TechWise]

This is the stuff for the job.
https://uk.farnell.com/electrolube/flu400db/fluxclene-can-aero-brush-400ml/dp/725663?st=pcb cleaner
Use it all the time. Don't be scared to give it a good scrub up with the included brush then have a good look around it for cracked or dry solder joints.

 

[Hesston4860s]

There is electrical contact cleaner and electrical contact cleaner. The good stuff actually dissolves the corrosion. If there are intermittent faults, isn't the first thing to look for dry joints (i.e. cracks in the solder) with a magnifying glass? Next, check the capacitors.

I had an intermittent fault in a printer a few years ago. Did a search on the internet and the recommendation was to put the offending board into a domestic oven at a certain gas mark for x minutes. I tried it and it worked! What had actually happened was the soldered joints had melted and reflowed. Success! (Try this at home at your own risk!).

Ahh the good old oven trick, many an XBOX has had the oven treatment for the “red ring of death” !.

 

[manhill]

'Servisol Contact Cleaner Lubricant' if you can still get it.

 

[Rob Holmes]

I've spoken to David King and they say Clutch and Brake cleaner and toothbrush

 

[dowcow]

Last time I went looking for contact cleaner I was given brake cleaner. Very similar stuff most of the time, Iso-Prop alcohol, same as surgical spirit or rubbing alcohol.

 

[traineefarmer]

I've spoken to David King and they say Clutch and Brake cleaner and toothbrush

Beat me to it!

 

[farmerm]

once its cleaned up a bit of conformal coating can keep moisture out.

 

[Grouse]

I have previously just sprayed a board with wd40 and that has worked - for 3 years so far

 

[Dry Rot]

I've a Gallagher electric fence tester. It doesn't exactly get kid gloves treatment and is usually thrown in with the odds and ends in the fish box on the quad as I never know when I'll need it.

I am sure I have been treating it like that for the last forty years since I put the mains electric fencing in. Yet it always works. The circuit board is embedded in resin. Got to be the way to go.