Clean Diesel Engine Exhaust from Microcontroller Boards

[japasetelagoas]

Hey guys,
I need some guidance on how to get rid of this layer of fumes originated by a locomotive engine. These particular boards started presenting communication failures after extensive stress tests. I suppose that it's related to how dirty the components are.
We do not have ultrasonic cleaning gear, so that's sort of ruled out.

Images:







Thanks.

[TheMG]

Diesel exhaust soot contains carbon which is slightly conductive, so it is a probably cause for the problems.

Can it be disassembled?

90%+ isopropyl alcohol and a soft bristle brush would be my choice. Don't be afraid to really douse it with a lot of alcohol, it is harmless to most electronic components.

Give it enough time for the alcohol to fully evaporate after cleaning before applying power.

[Skimask]

Hell, I'd just drop it in a bathtub full of IPA and swish it around for an hour or so.
That thing is about nasty.  Nothing insurmountable though...

[japasetelagoas]

Diesel exhaust soot contains carbon which is slightly conductive, so it is a probably cause for the problems.

Can it be disassembled?

90%+ isopropyl alcohol and a soft bristle brush would be my choice. Don't be afraid to really douse it with a lot of alcohol, it is harmless to most electronic components.

Give it enough time for the alcohol to fully evaporate after cleaning before applying power.

It sure can. I'll give it a try, thanks for the tips!   

[CJay]

Hey guys,
I need some guidance on how to get rid of this layer of fumes originated by a locomotive engine. These particular boards started presenting communication failures after extensive stress tests. I suppose that it's related to how dirty the components are.
We do not have ultrasonic cleaning gear, so that's sort of ruled out.

Images:







Thanks.

Clean compressed air to remove the loose stuff, soap and water on the cases unless it has some weird RFI coating that may be damaged and as others have said, once that's been done clean the boards off with Isopropyl or a suitable electrical cleaner.

Chemtronics have a range.

Might also want to consider a conformal coating for future.

[tautech]

Clean compressed air to remove the loose stuff, soap and water on the cases unless it has some weird RFI coating that may be damaged and as others have said, once that's been done clean the boards off with Isopropyl or a suitable electrical cleaner.

Chemtronics have a range.

Might also want to consider a conformal coating for future.

That was my thoughts too but I wonder if there'd be some impact on cooling nevermind the risk of trapping some contaminates if the cleaning wasn't perfect. 

Electronics can be washed in warm soapy water, rinsed and dried, even lightly baked to ensure all water is displaced. Maybe then an IPA bath, blow off and dried again before sealing properly against environmental contaminants such as the soot.

Makes you wonder why it wasn't done at manufacture.......seems like it's not really "fit for purpose". 

[CJay]

Clean compressed air to remove the loose stuff, soap and water on the cases unless it has some weird RFI coating that may be damaged and as others have said, once that's been done clean the boards off with Isopropyl or a suitable electrical cleaner.

Chemtronics have a range.

Might also want to consider a conformal coating for future.

That was my thoughts too but I wonder if there'd be some impact on cooling nevermind the risk of trapping some contaminates if the cleaning wasn't perfect. 

Electronics can be washed in warm soapy water, rinsed and dried, even lightly baked to ensure all water is displaced. Maybe then an IPA bath, blow off and dried again before sealing properly against environmental contaminants such as the soot.

Makes you wonder why it wasn't done at manufacture.......seems like it's not really "fit for purpose". 

Having repaired many pieces of diesel emissions testing and certification equipment I know how unpleasant and corrosive the soot can be, It really should have been coated at manufacture or at least put in a sealed enclosure..

[nctnico]

I'd use some general purpose cleaner with a mix of these ingredients:

C9-11 Pareth-6
Sodium Carbonate
Isopropyl Alcohol
Benzalkonium Chloride
Sodium Citrate
Alcohol Denat.
Sodium Hydroxide

In the US it is called 'simple green', in the EU it can be bought as 'St Marcs'. It attacks a lot more different kinds of dirt than just IPA. I have washed dirty boards with this several times.