Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

Jerry, they are useless unless you "recharge" them by heating them to about 150 degrees for several hours and then storing them in a well sealed container. Once they absorb some moisture (which is always in the air) they slowly stop working.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

I'm glad this has worked for you but it is decidedly a bad practice for most things electronic most of the time. Some facts to consider:

1) The lowest setting on most ELECTRIC residential ovens is between 150 and 210 degrees (called "warm" ).
Furthermore, the thermostats in most residential ovens are not very accurate. Anything over 140 degrees can damage most consumer electronics.

2) Initially an electric oven far exceeds that initial temperature as it cycles up and down rather dramatically each time the door is opened.
The radiant heat alone on an electronic device can exceed 200 degrees.

3) Allowing an electronic device to heat up and cool down quickly can further damage the electronics.
Those small chips do not survive long with repeated thermal expansions and contractions from high and relatively rapid temperatures swings.
A slow warm-up to a max of 125 degrees F and a slow cool down over an hour or more is best.

I strongly suggest that anyone with a lens or camera that was submerged or otherwise got wet to do the following:

1) Dry off what you can on the outside with a thirsty towel.

2) Remove the battery BEFORE even trying to see if it will work. (Turning it on can do more permanent damage.)

3) Remove the memory chip

4) Open up what you can and gently dry visible water with a clean lint-free cotton cloth.

5) Prepare a hot box (see previous post above) and keep the device inside for 24 to 36 hours, then allow the box to cool down for several hours before removing the device.
Leave access doors and anything that can be opened easily, open.
Maximum real temperature should not exceed 125 degrees, which is more than enough to quickly dry out anything that water penetrated.

6) If that does not work, consider taking it to a repair shop for an evaluation. The faster you get it dried out the less potential for permanent damage.

7) If saltwater or brackish water was involved, well, the prognosis is less favorable. If submerged in saltwater, submerge it in fresh water and seek help. If just covered with salt spray, wipe it off it a damp towel and repeat several times trying to get into every crevice.

Sure, some things will survive most anything. So can some survival victims and animals, but they are the exceptions -- not recommended or good practices.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Take the battery out and lightly rinse the electronic device in distilled water and let it dry. It may seem odd but pure water doesn't conduct electricity. It's the contaminants in the water that cause electronics to short out.
The rice is an interesting idea.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I can confirm the same. Was just about to buy my son a new iTouch, but turned on his old one by mistake (picked it up) and it was back to it's old self. He loves it. Rice works!

rebride

My mother put rice in the salt shaker. In Miami. Figures.

bawlmer Loc: Baltimore, MD

He should have used Minute Rice.. and he wouldn't have had to wait so long. :mrgreen:

wisecrafter Loc: Pocahontas, Arkansas

I also have used the oven, for a digital watch that had gotton wet. The display had turned black! Leave it in the oven untill it cools off.
I set the oven for 150 degrees,when it got up to temp. I turned of the oven and put the watch in. I did not take the battery out and it worked fine!

wisecrafter Loc: Pocahontas, Arkansas

I also have used the oven, for a digital watch that had gotton wet. The display had turned black! Leave it in the oven untill it cools off.
I set the oven for 150 degrees,when it got up to temp. I turned of the oven and put the watch in. I did not take the battery out and it worked fine!

jrob349 Loc: Arkansas

I worked on research ships for several years and our solution for wet electronics was to submerge the device in a bucket of ethanol (pure grain alcohol). The PGA is non conductive, bonds with water and causes rapid evaporation when the device is warmed slightly and placed in an air current (fan, etc.) It almost always worked. Be sure to take the battery out first.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

The procedure we used was to submerge the device in fresh water for several hours to help remove the salt and then in PGA several times for a few minutes each time to remove the water (alcohol is miscible with water).
Then to a warm place overnight to evaporate out whatever liquid remained. It usually worked.

But don't do this with a camera!
Sony, Nikon and Canon all claim that some of the adhesives used inside can be softened or otherwise damaged by alcohols (isopropyl, methanol and ethanol).

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

You guys seem to have a lot of experteze between you - did I miss the tutorials on teaching your electronic gizmos to swim?

jrob349 Loc: Arkansas

I guess you did miss the tutorials. The N. Sea in winter was not a kind place to have electronic devices outside. Water tended to penetrate any kind of seal because of the continuous spray and frequent waves washing over the entire ship. That was part of our training.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

I tried, but most were determined to sink to the bottom.
Seriously, the bigger challenge is keeping things dry onboard. Salt water or salt laden spray and anything electronic are mortal enemies with the "electronic gizmos" losing every time.
Today, most ships rely on sophisticated electronics for almost everything including navigation and steering. The wheelhouse bristles with dozens of LCD screens.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas