Near epic electrical disaster.

glb · Jul 3, 2015

So today was a bad day for my tank. I was doing my monthly maintenance, including changing my gfo. When I turned the reactor back on, one of the hoses on the top came loose and saltwater started pouring out the top. I had removed the cover for the bottom of the stand to get at the electrical equipment. Unfortunately, this meant that all that saltwater poured right into my led power source fan opening. A small blue fire started but went out as soon as I ran and unplugged the power source. All of the other equipment was saved and the surge protector stayed dry. Now the house smells like an electrical fire and I'm totally freaked out. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I shouldn't even try to turn this thing on again should? It didn't stop powering the lights but I'm guessing if saltwater got in it that it's fried. Needless to say, I'm going to install acrylic barriers around the electrical equipment so this can never happen again. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't been here.

Rob.D · Jul 3, 2015

It definitely needs to dry out, if the light was still functioning, it's possible that there is minimal damage.

Reefing Madness · Jul 3, 2015

Take it apart, dry it out, fire it back up. You may have caught it before it fried anything.

tfink660 · Jul 3, 2015

get a large trash bag fill with rice and place light into it. rice will draw out the moisture..

glb · Jul 3, 2015

Thanks everyone!

glb · Jul 3, 2015

tfink660 said:
get a large trash bag fill with rice and place light into it. rice will draw out the moisture..

This is a silly question but how will I ever get the rice out of the power box after I'm done? There's holes for the fan.

saltyphish · Jul 3, 2015

tfink660 said:
get a large trash bag fill with rice and place light into it. rice will draw out the moisture..

this will work best to dry it out. and you never know today could be your lucky day

tfink660 · Jul 3, 2015

glb said:
This is a silly question but how will I ever get the rice out of the power box after I'm done? There's holes for the fan.

place scotch tape over the fan holes it should still be able to pull the moisture out..

d2mini · Jul 3, 2015

Try to rinse it in RO or tap water first to get the salt out.
It's not really the water that is damaging (with power off) but the salt.
Then dry it out in rice.

tfink660 · Jul 3, 2015

d2mini said:
Try to rinse it in RO or tap water first to get the salt out.
It's not really the water that is damaging (with power off) but the salt.
Then dry it out in rice.

personally i wouldnt use water.. Take apart casing carefully and clean with rubbing alchohol if your worried about the salt. Rubbing alchohol on a soft cloth it will evaporate. Personally i would just let it dry out first in the rice then take apart and wipe down with as described as above.

tfink660 · Jul 3, 2015

PS- Totally cover in rice and let sit 24 hours at least...

glb · Jul 3, 2015

tfink660 said:
place scotch tape over the fan holes it should still be able to pull the moisture out..

Ok I had a small bag of rice on hand so I put it in a big ziplock bag with the rice. How long should I leave it in there?

glb · Jul 3, 2015

tfink660 said:
PS- Totally cover in rice and let sit 24 hours at least...

Got it. I don't have enough rice yet but the end that got wet is covered. Wish me luck.

tfink660 · Jul 3, 2015

Keep me posted... Graab more rice the more the better

reefbeard · Jul 3, 2015

glb said:
Got it. I don't have enough rice yet but the end that got wet is covered. Wish me luck.

I would definitely open it up and wipe out any salt left behind after the rice treatment. It will pull out the moisture but does leave behind some of the corosive salt. Had to do this with a power supply that slipped out my hands into the sump.

tigerdragon · Jul 3, 2015

For cleaning the salt off get some crc electrial contact spray cleaner usually can get at an auto parts shop and spray it the cleaner will dry evap no need for wiping after spraying let air dry then should be good to go

tigerdragon · Jul 3, 2015

If you really want to dry it get a can or two of air that is used for blowing out computers this air is very dry no moisture content

glb · Jul 4, 2015

Great ideas!

miyags · Jul 4, 2015

can you dry it out using a hair dryer?

mcarroll · Jul 4, 2015

d2mini said:
Try to rinse it in RO or tap water first to get the salt out.
It's not really the water that is damaging (with power off) but the salt.
Then dry it out in rice.

This is the correct method - if the saltwater dries it will crust between circuits and definitely short something out.

Back in the eighties/nineties there were stories that some or all of the Chinese circuitboard manufacturers for computers would wash the motherboards in the river post assembly. The river water is soft enough that it works – RODI would naturally be even better.

Then you want to do something like the rice-in-a-bag trick...or leave it in your car on a sunny day, but not in the sun...maybe in the glovebox or under the seat.

Don't turn it on again until you're positive it's bone-dry inside.