Description: This video is how I clean the exterior of electronic equipment, what I use & why.
When I make a new purchase I usually take the time to clean new item. This inspection is very important for four primary things for you.
1. It finds simple mechanical problems that could damage your equipment when it’s powered on.
2. It helps you become familiar with the knobs and controls.
3. It removes stickers or debris over the vents to help it breath better.
4. It makes it look better.
Here’s a list of items I use:
1. General purpose cleaner like: Mr. Clean, 409, or dish soap and water about 1 part soap and 3 parts water. Do not spray your test equipment directly. It gets into the cracks and parts sensitive to water and soaps. Spray it on the rag or dip the rag or cloth into it.
2. Isopropyl Alcohol: A little more aggressive and can help gently remove sticker residue, permanent Sharpe Ink & markers. If it’s been on there long enough, soak a paper towel and let it sit on the area. The Towel & Alcohol will pull it into the rag pores. The Con is if left it on to long the finish may start to dissolve finishes & paints. Test a area that won’t be seen.
3. Brake Cleaner or Carburetor Cleaner: Works wonders, but VERY Aggressive on whatever it’s on. Like circuit boards, coatings, Rubber & Pot ORings. Use it stuff sparingly on the end of a tooth pick so it can be applied right to a needed area.
4. Paper towels. Cheap throw away’s, so you can use a fresh one every time. Cons: They can leave bits of paper towel in areas can get into switches and pots. Know where the bits are going.
5. TShirt or Cotton Rags. They are capable of cleaning without larger bits that can get into things, can be washed & reused. They can leave micro fibers in your gear.
6. Lint Free Rags: These have the best attributes of TShirts or Cotton Rags. The best option, but are more expensive.
7. Acid brushes. Pros: One of my favorite tools. Can be made for soft scrubbers with long bristles or aggressive when cut short, or any manner of stiffness in between. So short bristles cut into heavy debris, and long they can sweep micro particles away. Resistant to most cleaners & chemicals. Cons: The metal sides can scratch components off a board or damage parts & surfaces. They fill up with contaminants and can be redeposited on areas you’re trying to clean.
8. Canned Air: Canned air is great in that it can get places that brushes and items can’t get, that might even be damaged it a physical items was used. It’s also usually very dry air, unlike some shop air systems. It does have a few drawbacks: The propellant can get into things if the can is shaken or turned upside down or angled. As the can is used it creates moisture on the outside of the can that can drip into the equipment. It can also push items into cracks like Switches, Relay Contacts and Pot contact areas. Always cover areas that you don’t want debris in when using the air.
9. Red Erasers. They are great for cleaning the contacts on boards that have flat edge connectors. Just make sure you wipe from middle of the pad to the edge and ONLY in line with the trace. If you go from the edge inwards or from side to side they can rip up a trace or pad. Gentle action and some common sense will allow them to be a great cleaning too. Also be careful, like paper towels the eraser particles can get inside switches, contacts and pots.
I hope that helped you learn some safe and known accepted ways to clean electronic equipment inside and out. If you learned something and found the video useful please give the video a thumbs up. I you would like to really help my channel and see more like this please subscribe.
Thanks for watching. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya.