[LAD] [Somewhat OT] Strange failure mode of a PC

[Ralf Mardorf]

On Sun, 2010-07-18 at 11:14 +0200, fons at kokkinizita.net wrote:
> On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 10:56:47PM -0400, Gene Heskett wrote:
> 
> > Some lubricant obviously made its way in there, and one would have to 
> > assume that the switched current was sufficient to cause a microscopic 
> > arcing, which will in time create a smoke film on the internals, which is 
> > what you were measuring, and which caused the PSU to think the button was 
> > pressed full time.  Lubricants are a good idea only on a circuit that can 
> > be called a dry circuit, where dry=microamp currents at very low voltages.
> 
> Ah, yes, these plastic things are often lubricated.
> 
> > Washing it out with acetone was ok, but I would probably have reached for a 
> > can of paint thinning alcohol as it is less likely to degrade the plastics.
> 
> I know, but the acetone was all I had available...
> 
> Ciao,

Fruit acids or pure alcohols are effective and relatively harmless, but
most effective are products by chemical companies, there are cleaners
with qualities comparable to penetrating oil, but made to fit to
electrical properties. Those cleaners will clean, resp. repair and
protect.