this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2024
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Electronics

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Instrument is a Geonics EM16 VLF receiver, using in the mineral exploration industry to find buried linear conductors.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Give it the vinegar and baking soda treatment.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

I greatly prefer citric acid. It comes in crystals so a small tub equals gallons of vinegar, it doesn't smell bad, and you can control the strength by dissolving more crystals into water.

It's incredibly fast compared to vinegar at cleaning battery alkaline.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

Cool, I thought there was a pretty good chance there are acids of which I've never heard.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Coca Cola works really well if you don’t have citric acid on hand. I’ve cleaned car battery terminals with it a bunch of times (over decades). The only bummer is that it’s sticky, but you can drink the leftovers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

To each his own. I've tried a few solutions. I use vinegar and apply it with some large cotton swabs. I usually wash them with the vinegar two or three times and let it sit for an hour. Then I use the baking soda dissolved into water and apply it several times. If possible to remove the contacts completely I will soak it in vinegar and then the baking soda solution. I buff the contacts if they are badly corroded. I can't stress enough how much a little dielectric grease prevents further corrosion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, I use baking soda and dielectric grease after acid too. I was only offering that citric acid is better than vinegar in every way.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

and make a nice vinaigrette with it

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

I understand the vinegar, but why baking soda?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Neutralize the vinegar after dissolving the corrosion? I've not done that, but seems plausible.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It works. I've done it quite a few times. I have used a Dremel tool to buff the contacts and used a light coating of dielectric grease to prevent further corrosion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yes, wear gloves and eye protection. Those small wires would be a nightmare get out of your skin even more so for the eyes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

I would recommend rinsing the vinegar away with water instead. It's already completely dissolved, but the baking powder might not be if you add that undissolved. You don't want to leave anything behind.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Abrasive maybe?