Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

[Dan81]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Had a for parts machine that I thought bringing back to life. Had a ASRock P4VM890, Delta DPS-300PB-2A and a VIA USB2 card.

I hope NOBODY has to live the hell I had to go through cleaning the PSU. Sweet Jesus Christ, I don't think I had a PSU smell that bad of nicotine and have so much dust.

I cleaned out the dust now. It still smells a bit (generally when warm) but it's mostly gone.

[christinejshaw]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Had a for parts machine that I thought bringing back to life. Had a ASRock P4VM890, Delta DPS-300PB-2A and a VIA USB2 card.

I hope NOBODY has to live the hell I had to go through cleaning the PSU. Sweet Jesus Christ, I don't think I had a PSU smell that bad of nicotine and have so much dust.

I cleaned out the dust now. It still smells a bit (generally when warm) but it's mostly gone.

How do you clean a PSU?

[Topcat]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

How do you clean a PSU?

Same way you do a motherboard. Complete disassembly, hot water & simple green, and an air compressor to blow the water out of everything. I've cleaned a lot of them that way.

Here's a good example of hotwashing some PSU's: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...1&postcount=16

I do this all the time with stinky PSU's from houses of smokers. Like anything else electronic, just make sure its dried out good before firing it up. With an air compressor, you can wash, air compressor dry, reassemble, and power them up right away...I do it all the time.

[christinejshaw]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Same way you do a motherboard. Complete disassembly, hot water & simple green, and an air compressor to blow the water out of everything. I've cleaned a lot of them that way.

Here's a good example of hotwashing some PSU's: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...1&postcount=16

I do this all the time with stinky PSU's from houses of smokers. Like anything else electronic, just make sure its dried out good before firing it up. With an air compressor, you can wash, air compressor dry, reassemble, and power them up right away...I do it all the time.

I'm a noob. I thought you could get zapped pretty good taking about a psu?

[Topcat]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

I'm a noob. I thought you could get zapped pretty good taking about a psu?

If you're a noob, you might not want to try it.....but if the PSU is thoroughly & completely dry, its safe.

[christinejshaw]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

If you're a noob, you might not want to try it.....but if the PSU is thoroughly & completely dry, its safe.

So if I open it up there is no risk of shock?

[Topcat]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

So if I open it up there is no risk of shock?

If you remove power, it should discharge everything.

[christinejshaw]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

If you remove power, it should discharge everything.

Awesome! I have a few lying around that I can run tests and clean them. You rock!

[Per Hansson]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

To be on the safe side measure the big capacitors with a volt meter set to DC.
Sometimes they don't discharge, either because the discharge resistors are broken or none are installed...

[Topcat]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

To be on the safe side measure the big capacitors with a volt meter set to DC.
Sometimes they don't discharge, either because the discharge resistors are broken or none are installed...

I did say *should* discharge... On old television sets I'd service back in the day, if servicing power supplies, I'd just take a screwdriver and short the leads on those caps, just to make sure they were drained. They'd occasionally create a nice spark!

[christinejshaw]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

It works perfect. I love this forum. Hat tip to you Top Cat!

[tvdad]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Lol thats what the inside of my laptop looked like last time i cleaned it

[Zane123]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Hey I've just joined the forum after reading a few posts. I'm going to clean a motherboard with hot water and simple green. I don't have an air compressor. Can I dry it with a hairdryer? Or is it better if I leave it to air dry?


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[diif]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Hey I've just joined the forum after reading a few posts. I'm going to clean a motherboard with hot water and simple green. I don't have an air compressor. Can I dry it with a hairdryer? Or is it better if I leave it to air dry?


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I'd use a hair dryer over leaving to air dry.

[momaka]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Can I dry it with a hairdryer? Or is it better if I leave it to air dry?

Doesn't matter, both will work.

However, be advised that if you do use a hair dryer, the board could still have moisture/water trapped under the large BGA chips and some connectors, even if it looks dry on the outside. For this reason, I prefer to let my boards air dry. This takes more time, however. If you are looking for a speedier process, first let the board drain for about 30 minutes while placed vertically. After this, hit it with the hair drier until most of the moisture from the board is gone and the board feels warm. Finally, let the board sit for a day or two in a dry, airy place. I, for example, have have forced air heating (and cooling) at my place, so after doing the above, I then place the board sitting vertically above an air vent. Usually within a day, my stuff dries. But I typically let it sit for 2-3 at least.

[Topcat]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

I dry them with the air compressor. Wash, dry, and powered back up...all within 10 minutes. Never had an issue!

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

how about baking the board for an hour at 100°C? this is used to remove moisture to prevent popcorning during reflows. can the same logic and technique be used to just make sure the bga chips are dry underneath before applying power?

[bads214]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Hello, I can see that a very good job, yes I know the stench is the worst, I had the worst smell too, but I don't know if the same one I bought a used motherboard and it stinked a lot, but I didn't clean it, I threw it away because it was impossible to stand it and I bought a new one

[lenvane]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Done this to my lga 1151 board for my 6700k when i spilled soda on it. Best way to clean off sticky gunky residue.

[Topcat]

Re: Cleaning Motherboards - ATTN SMOKERS!!

Done this to my lga 1151 board for my 6700k when i spilled soda on it. Best way to clean off sticky gunky residue.

Yes, it works....I done this to LGA socketed boards. You just have to be very careful of the socket. If using an air compressor for the initial dry-out, don't hit the socket with a lot of pressure (use a regulator and turn it way down), or leave the CPU in it during that time.