[volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-10 Thread Stan Katz
Now that I've restored my HP419A to running order for the meantime, I have nagging questions regarding the continuous use of the attenuator switch. The main board of the instrument, A4, was badly polluted with an invisible layer of potassium hydroxide from the 30 years of being in the same box with

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-10 Thread Chuck Harris
Does KOH really evaporate, and spread in the wind? I don't think it does. In my experience, the damage done by nicad's is limited to where the electrolyte dribbles, spatters, or wicks. Powdered electrolyte can get all over things, but usually it can be just brushed away, as it is not too corrosi

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-11 Thread M K
On 11/03/2015 06:26, Chuck Harris wrote: Does KOH really evaporate, and spread in the wind? I don't think it does. In my experience, the damage done by nicad's is limited to where the electrolyte dribbles, spatters, or wicks. Powdered electrolyte can get all over things, but usually it can be j

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-11 Thread f...@gmx.net
Hello Stan, since KOH is water soluble, thorough cleaning with a moist cloth (di water) should do the job as well. Just wear proper protection, i.e. safety goggles and gloves. I myself would use disposable latex gloves from the grocery store in this instance, since you are dealing with very d

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-11 Thread ed breya
Yes, you are being a little too OCD about this. Instrument washing issues come up often, and there are plenty of opinions available - here are some of mine: In the 419s that I have, the battery leakage crud has not gone beyond the circuit boards or maybe the edge connectors. Cleaning the board

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-11 Thread ed breya
Forgot about the chopper assembly - washing would probably not be good for it. Ed Yes, you are being a little too OCD about this. Instrument washing issues come up often, and there are plenty of opinions available - here are some of mine: In the 419s that I have, the battery leakage crud ha

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-11 Thread Neville Michie
Potassium Hydroxide absorbs carbon dioxide from the air quite rapidly, so what you find on a circuit board is much more insoluble potassium carbonate and/or bicarbonate. Being an ionic compound you may well find copper carbonate, zinc carbonate, tin carbonate and lead carbonate from other metal

Re: [volt-nuts] OCD About My HP419A Attenuator Switch Gold Plated Contacts

2015-03-11 Thread Chuck Harris
That is a predominate reaction, but only on the surface. Under the carbonate layer, you will find lots of nice caustic KOH. When I clean up NiCad vomit, I put the crusted parts into a cup of white vinegar, where they fizz for hours. I use white vinegar because it is distilled, and as such, every