Electronics > Beginners
How to clean up lab after big capacitor blew?
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jtu:
Hi,

I'm not sure yet what was the reason, my mistake or just defective capacitor. In the afterthought, the view was gorgeous. It spew out some and then there was this cloud of electrolyte mist settling down. It was big cap: 10000uF 50V... Fortunately I'm alive and not injured.

But now the adrenaline is out and I'm left with my lab desk covered with splashes and electrolyte "snow". Unfortunately it is not just desk, it is everything: tools, equipment including scope, cables, screwdrivers, multimeters, etc, some got on to the computer display, keyboard and mouse... Couple pics attached.

In theory it is alkaline, but I'm a bit afraid to apply anything acidic without any peer confirmation. I tried contact cleaner a bit, it kind of helps, but is it good for computer accessories and scope? Display cleaner also kind of helps, but some mechanical force have to be applied to splashes, I'm afraid of scratching it.

Any experiences out here?

Veiksmi,
Janis

drussell:
Only 10,000 uF, you say?

You haven't really lived until you've seen (and hopefully survived) a 330,000+ or a 1F or something blasting apart!   ;)

Mild soapy water like nice, dilute dish detergent is probably enough for general cleaning up most things like that since it's not super corrosive or anything, but you do want to clean most of it up as much as possible, mostly just like general dirt and grime on equipment over the years. 

You probably don't really need to worry about completely neutralizing it like you would if you had a lead acid battery that exploded or something...  Even though a typical battery acid concentration might only be about 30% rather than 98% H2SO4 it will damage things much worse than any capacitor electrolyte ever could...
Monkeh:
A nice can of foaming window cleaner and a soft cloth. It's soothing as well as effective.
Brumby:
I feel like such an innocent.

I haven't had any caps detonate whilst exposed ... in fact, I'm hard pressed to remember if I've been around when any have.  I've had a couple of MOVs fail short across 240V, but even those were encased at the time.

Nice, even distribution though - I must say.
Jwillis:
I had experience in an exploding capacitor....It was harder cleaning up the blood that leaked from my face than all the shrapnel.... Any way a good house hold cleaner on a soft rag works fine .Just don't spray it directly on the equipment.
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