Chosen Solution
DeoxIT D5 seems to be common in the electronics repair community so I went to their website to buy a can and was overwhelmed with the choices. http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category… I would be using it for water damage recovery, typically I brush the board and connectors down with 99-100% alcohol then brush on DeoxIT and leave to dry. The major differences in their products seem to be either 5% or 100% solution, and quick dry or slow dry (without solvents). Then the other differences are the application type; spray, pump, fine point, brush, etc. So what do you use? I would think the 100% solution without solvent would work the best but would it be too strong for some components? Would I have to remove the product if I used a 100% solution where the 5% can be left on the board and connectors during reassembly? All the fine precision tip applicators are the 100% solution making me think it can be left on connectors but maybe not on the board itself unless its 5% but I am just theorizing. Thank you!
Spray cleaners like DeoxIT is not something I use as it really doesn’t solve the root issue and it leaves a oily film which you don’t want. Lets use an example you spill a cup of coffee on your counter and its dried what would you use to clean it? Plain water as it will dissolve the coffee and sugar. But, what about the oils within the cream? You would need something to cut through it like a solvent like isopropyl alcohol. So lets get back to your issue here… We generally use distilled water to flush away sugars, salts and acids as it’s electrically neutral and offers the quickest way to flush away the harmful stuff. Now tap or bottled water should not be used! Unlike distilled water which has no dissolved minerals or salts within it, tap or spring water does! You could just make things worse! Its like washing your cloths in muddy water which is not clean! Jumping back here… We now have a wet (distilled water) device which still is not good! We now need to dry it out besides the physical action of shaking the excess water out or wicking it away with paper towels we can use a good grade of isopropyl alcohol (85% or better) which binds to the water and will then evaporate it out. Some people just go with isopropyl alcohol Vs going with distilled water first. It all depends on how wet and what got it wet. There is no perfect answer here. I’ve done both ways. And I often have to use a toothbrush to clean off the caked on junk and corrosion, as well as having to patch traces and replace components. The one action you don’t want to try is just evaporate what was spilled as the solids within the spill is what will hurt your device! So placing your wet device into a warm oven or a vacuum chamber is not a good idea!
Let me preface this by saying I work for CAIG Labs, the maker of DeoxIT, so this is not an unbiased opinion. That said, from the conversation, I believe you are really missing the point of using this product. The DeoxIT will restore and rejuvenate the connection, not just clean it, and it is the only product available that will remove the oxidation down to the microscopic level, even getting to that adhered dendrite corrosion that can get through the plating down to the wire. That “oily film” as you refer to it is key to the performance of your equipment. Initially, you should wipe of the part after applying the DeoxIT. There will be plenty of DeoxIT left on the surface to effectively restore you connection. By leaving a microscopic layer of on the contact surface, you are getting 3 benefits: (1) the DeoxIT continues to lift the oxidation down to the microscopic level protecting your connector from oxidizing; (2) the layer of DeoxIT left on the part stops future oxidation; and (3) as it is a lubricant, the DeoxIT will preserve your equipment and plating by reducing friction wear when you mate/un-mate connectors. The DeoxIT is non-conductive, but will not impede your signal in any way. In fact, it will maximize signal strength/data rates. Conversely, alcohol, being conductive, can lead to surges and other problems. Plus, alcohol will dry out plastics and rubbers that house your connectors. While alcohol may be a little cheaper, it is really not good solution.
Conductivity is improved by the chemical removing all contaminants from your connectors. Many connectors are plated with gold which is a fairly porous metal… when the plating is extremely thin, it can actually let corrosion through to the base wire. This is often when you will lose connectivity. The DeoxIT also penetrates the plating and bonds with the base metal, usually copper, and removes all corrosion. The totally clean metal is far more conductive. Using IPA or another volatile chemical designed to leave zero reside is not the answer because it simply evaporates too quickly to remove this adhered corrosion, think of using the hula-hoe in the garden - you are just taking the top of the weeds or in this case corrosion and leaving the root. With data speeds as high as they are, this “root” oxidation is enough to cause a intermittency or possibly a failure of the entire application. The fairly small amount of DeoxIT left on then part seals up the plating, but when a connection is made, it is displaced, allowing pristine metal to metal connections with DeoxIT sealing the around the connect point. This provides you with the highest possible connectivity. I understand it can be confusing as to which version of DeoxIT to use. Basically, first decide how best to apply the DeoxIT for your application: what is best/easiest - a spray, a wipe, a pen, a needle oiler or a brush. Whichever is easiest to use and works to get the DeoxIT on the appropriate surface is the one to go for! As to the strength of the DeoxIT solutions, 100% versus 5%, it depends on the application. If the equipment is vintage, created before 1980, use the 100% solution to be safe - newer propellants and solvents do not always agree with older materials. Also, use the 100% solution when you want the DeoxIT to go on thicker for extra lubrication. The 5% solution uses a propellant and carrier solvent which provide a flushing action and remove surface contaminants like dust and other debris, and then those chemicals evaporate. This is great for getting rid of contaminants other than the adhered corrosion. Once the carrier solvent and propellant have dissipated/evaporated, you have only DeoxIT left on the part. This will remove the adhered corrosion over time, increasing connectivity, protecting your connectors and increasing the life of your equipment.
