Advice Needed - Dropped HD32 LED in Tank

NewRobert · Dec 20, 2024

Hi All,

I have dropped my AI Prime HD32 into the tank by accident (mount clip came off the glass). I have opened the bottom with the 4 screws, blew it out with compressed air as much as I could and have it in front of a 300mm extraction fan now. It was on sort-of-moonlight mode when it dropped into the water and was still shining underneath the water. Some water did enter the chassis and was sitting on the circuit board when I opened it up.

I plan to leave it in front of the fan for the night (it's 1am now) and tomorrow will put it outside in the african sun for the day before trying to connect it up again.

I just wanted to ask - Is there anything anyone can think of beyond what I am already doing that I can try beyond this to protect it or prevent any damage? I think my main concern is water shorting out or corrosion from the salt?

Thank you in advance

DanyL · Dec 20, 2024

it’ll likely corrode after awhile - Could be a month, half a year or enough time for you to replace it anyways, it’s unknown.

For best results what I would do is to fully disassemble the PCB, wash it in deionized water or IPA to remove any salt deposits and than run it through an ultrasonic cleaner.

Try contacting phone/computer repair shops that deal with water damage - they’ll likely have the tools to do it properly and it should significantly lengthen the lifespan.

What I wouldn’t do until you’re 100% sure you done everything you possibly can - is to connect it to power, even if it does work, it’ll accelerate corrosion underneath SMD components, and cleaning it off afterwords would require board rework, which probably wouldn’t be cost effective.