Anybody ever put a PCB in a dishwasher?

[thebman80]

The only thing that would worry me with doing this is the dissolved stuff that's present in all tap water like salts, calcium and lime. It might not do anything in the first year or two but down the road if this stuff leached inside the chips it would corrode them from the inside out. Not like most of the chips on these boards was made from the highest quality materials so it wouldn't take much to ruin them.

 

[MarkMan]

I've done it, brought back a dead Defender board by running it through the dishwasher.

Def no dry cycle and don't use soap.

The only issue with electronics and water is when they are wet and you put electricity through them. No harm when power is not present. At least I've never had an issue.

I've also used a toothbrush and a bath tub to clean up PCBs. No issues there either.

+1 vote for using compressed air to dry them.

 

[YellowDog]

I used a garden hose on a couple of monitor chassis & left them out in the garage for a few days last summer. It worked great, but it was 102 degrees that week .

ken

 

[G-P-E]

Nope I never put just one PCB in there. Cleaned up these Asteroids board quite nicely.

When we built boards, we used to clean our boards in industrial board washer - an oversized dishwasher. For small runs, we actually had a Sears Kenmore dishwasher for cleaning boards. Special De-ionized water source for it, though.

DIP switches do NOT like to be washed.
I see CTS DIP switches on one of them boards. Good luck with this one in the future - the contacts WILL eventually turn a nice blue-green. No amount of compressed air will get the water and contaminants out of this style DIP switch. If you never change the DIP switch settings, then you will probably be fine. In the future, if you do try to change an open position to closed then there is a good chance that it won't go closed.

I used to have a nice collection of DIP switches that had this corrosion from being washed - but I tossed them a few years ago.

Ed

 

[Talon2000]

I used a garden hose on a couple of monitor chassis & left them out in the garage for a few days last summer. It worked great, but it was 102 degrees that week .

ken

I do that too, but it was only 40 last week. Still didn't get rid of the screen burn though

 

[Talon2000]

If you are referring to the asteroids boards I washed in the previous picture, all those dips are crushed/broken from being stacked. So they are getting replaced with new ones anyways.

For DI water, all you need is a DI filter. We use DI at work as well. You can actually use a Mr Clean car wash gun, put it on the DI rinse. Just remember that DI water re-ionizes if it's not flowing in the line.

When we built boards, we used to clean our boards in industrial board washer - an oversized dishwasher. For small runs, we actually had a Sears Kenmore dishwasher for cleaning boards. Special De-ionized water source for it, though.

DIP switches do NOT like to be washed.
I see CTS DIP switches on one of them boards. Good luck with this one in the future - the contacts WILL eventually turn a nice blue-green. No amount of compressed air will get the water and contaminants out of this style DIP switch. If you never change the DIP switch settings, then you will probably be fine. In the future, if you do try to change an open position to closed then there is a good chance that it won't go closed.

I used to have a nice collection of DIP switches that had this corrosion from being washed - but I tossed them a few years ago.

Ed

 

[blkdog7]

If you put that Domino Man PCB in your dishwasher... Just remind me to bring paper and plastic to dine off of at your place!!! haa ha

Yeah, I started thinking of all the mouse hair and crap I'd be putting in our dishwasher along with the PCB. Maybe I run a empty cycle with soap and high heat afterwards?

 

[ChompingQuarters]

Yeah, I started thinking of all the mouse hair and crap I'd be putting in our dishwasher along with the PCB. Maybe I run a empty cycle with soap and high heat afterwards?

Yes... Run a cycle or two after.

 

[PhoenixStar]

The proof is in the pudding that the boards can be washed, though after looking at that monitor bath a few pics back I still am amazed someone attempted this with success. Anyone have problems with any contacts immediately rusting up after the dishwasher?

 

[channelmanic]

Nope. Never have.

 

[88mph]

Anyone have problems with any contacts immediately rusting up after the dishwasher?

The metal parts on these boards--contacts, pads, legs, etc--in general don't contain iron and aren't prone to rusting.

 

[ScumBum]

Thinking about sticking a filthy PCB I have in the dishwasher? No dry cycle, hot water only, and no soap. What do you think? Good idea? Bad? Anyone ever do it?

I wouldn't put that nasty Domino Man PCB with dead mouse hair and crap in your dishwasher because its just straight gross !

 

[MKplayer1start]

Every single PCB I ever got I washed in my dishwasher.

Normal cycle with Heated dry turned off. I also put a couple drops of dish soap into the wash. Shake out the water, let dry for 24 hours atleast and no problems.

 

[Scucci]

Just let them air dry? I've been rinsing them down with alcohol afterwards to displace the water from under ICs/sockets...

Oh, well... it's cheap so I'll keep doing it, but man... I must be the only person that is that paranoid?

 

[cadillacman]

naqh i am too

 

[Talon2000]

Just let them air dry? I've been rinsing them down with alcohol afterwards to displace the water from under ICs/sockets...

Oh, well... it's cheap so I'll keep doing it, but man... I must be the only person that is that paranoid?

There's been a debate on the alcohol before. It's been said that Alcohol contains water. Which is true on store bought bottles. It can contain up to 90% water. But that still doesn't negate the fact that the alcohol helps evaporate the water.

With that said, I've done both with or without without problem.

Now for those thinking I'll run out and get 100% alcohol, you may be in for a sticker shock. Also keep in mind alcohol is a solvent, and as such could eat plastics.

 

[ELutz]

The proof is in the pudding that the boards can be washed, though after looking at that monitor bath a few pics back I still am amazed someone attempted this with success. Anyone have problems with any contacts immediately rusting up after the dishwasher?

A guy dropped off a couple monitors at my shop once. All the stickers on the tube and chassis were still intact, but they were all almost blank. I could just make out minute swirls of color on them. After they were fixed and the guy came to pick them up...I asked him about them. He chuckled and said, yeah, they've been setting out on my deck for almost a year.....I almost threw them away a couple times. I remember having to rejuvenate the hell out of them.

Edward

 

[Scott C]

It's water and ELECTRICITY that don't mix.... drying is the key here.

I do it all the time. Game pcb's, monitor chassis, power supplies, whatever.
Spray them down with some Simple Green, Super Clean, whatever and wash away.
Blow any excess water off with compressed air if you have it available.
Set out in the sun for a day, set over a heater vent, whatever is handy and helpful to speed the dry process up.

So yeah..... whatever.

I agree 100%. I have washed numerous monitor chassis in the kitchen sick. #1 rule is make sure it is 100% dry before powering-up.

Scott C.

 

[WadeLanham]

Thinking about sticking a filthy PCB I have in the dishwasher? No dry cycle, hot water only, and no soap. What do you think? Good idea? Bad? Anyone ever do it?

I've done at least a hundred boards this way and only had one lost (and it was question if the washing did it). A bunch of guys I work with used to manufacture boards in the 80's and 90's at a local company and they had a room full of dishwashers meant just for this purpose. They washed all their boards before shipping.

I wouldn't have the balls to do it with super high value boards ($250+).

Wade

 

[blkdog7]

Lots of awesome replies in this thread. I learned tons!

I am going to try my PCB and powersuppply in the dishwasher. I don't want to touch them. I might throw the wiring harness in too.

Any real serious contamination hazards for me or my family by putting this in the family dishwasher?

Yes, that appears to be mouse hair that is caked on the board. I am guessing it will all go down the drain. And, when I run a few empty cycles with heat and soap afterwards the heat should kill any bacteria that might have survived. No?