Dropped Cell In Coffee Can I Revive It?
May 3, 2006, 12:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Puget Sound Island
Posts: 2,314
Dropped Cell In Coffee Can I Revive It?
Dropped the phone in my coffee,it did not work at all now is working but acting strange.Is it save-able anything I can do to get it working like pre-dunk?Its a Motorola.Thanks
May 3, 2006, 12:33 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
What I learned from EEs (including my dad)... first thing you do after electronics are dunked into liquid is to REMOVE THE BATTERY, then let it dry COMPLETELY.
Your phone might be toast. Best thing to do is to let it dry for at least 48 hours, then turn it on (not before). I'm betting the coffee residue will have created shorts.
Your phone might be toast. Best thing to do is to let it dry for at least 48 hours, then turn it on (not before). I'm betting the coffee residue will have created shorts.
May 3, 2006, 6:10 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rockville MD USA
Programs: UA former 1K MM
Posts: 2,184
It may be too late now, but I'd rinse it in warm water to try to get the coffee residue off---black coffee shouldn't be too much of a problem, but cream and particularly sugar would be killers.
May 3, 2006, 9:02 am
#10
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,854
See this relevant thread, I just washed my son's cell phone.
May 3, 2006, 9:55 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Puget Sound Island
Posts: 2,314
Thanks for the suggestions,after attempting to pry open the back of the phone with a screwdriver to get at the battery the phone actually started to perform better,only problem I have now is that it makes no audible ring and the menu is slightly messed up but I can make and receive calls and voice mail works.I did dry it out
May 3, 2006, 11:10 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 186
I ran mine through the wash cycle two years ago and it still works.
I wouldn't recommend any further dunkings in anything, but once you get it apart, gently wipe all the buttons/contacts with alcohol on a cloth or swab, and then let it dry out for at least 48 hours before putting the battery back in. If you really HAVE to use it in the meanwhile, get the battery back out asap until it is really dried out thoroughly -- any kind of moisture inside it will cause corrosion very quickly.
I wouldn't recommend any further dunkings in anything, but once you get it apart, gently wipe all the buttons/contacts with alcohol on a cloth or swab, and then let it dry out for at least 48 hours before putting the battery back in. If you really HAVE to use it in the meanwhile, get the battery back out asap until it is really dried out thoroughly -- any kind of moisture inside it will cause corrosion very quickly.
May 3, 2006, 9:26 pm
#15
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,960
Originally Posted by roundtheworld
EIther lets it dry and even blowdry it... or pour alcohol 90% over it. Teh alcohol will bind with hte water and evaporate quicker. Also it doens corrode that easily.
Many circuit boards are dunked in isopropanol or ethanol and dried out before being coated with Conformal Coating.