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Tech and Marketplace => I need help with my game! - Technical Discussion => Topic started by: VWbus on January 20, 2016, 03:30:04 pm



Title: Washing a PCB
Post by: VWbus on January 20, 2016, 03:30:04 pm
Is it OK to wash an arcade PCB (specifically a Donkey Kong) with Simple Green and water?

I've heard you should spray the labels with Krylon Triple Thick first to protect them from falling off.

I've got a dirty PCB that I feel like I should clean. Is a toothbrush a bad idea?

Is there a standand procedure that everyone does to clean their PCBs?


Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: iankellogg on January 21, 2016, 12:44:21 am
I rarely clean PCBs since when they get this old funky things happen to them. If you want to just try to clean it up a little, some alcohol and a toothbrush is my goto.

If you don't feel like doing that you can always throw it through a dish washer cycle on low heat and no soap. Downside is you will have to let it dry for a couple days to be sure its good. Also depending on how bad your water is, it might make it look worse than before since you'll get calcium deposits.

Stick with the alcohol and a toothbrush lol.


Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: VWbus on January 21, 2016, 10:26:54 am
I rarely clean PCBs since when they get this old funky things happen to them. If you want to just try to clean it up a little, some alcohol and a toothbrush is my goto.

If you don't feel like doing that you can always throw it through a dish washer cycle on low heat and no soap. Downside is you will have to let it dry for a couple days to be sure its good. Also depending on how bad your water is, it might make it look worse than before since you'll get calcium deposits.

Stick with the alcohol and a toothbrush lol.

Thanks Ian! Appreciate the advice.

BTW, I got one of your Sanyo20EZ cap kits and it made my CRT look brand new! Thanks!


Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: jtslade on January 27, 2016, 08:27:02 pm
Aren't those capkits and the packaging awesome


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Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: VWbus on January 28, 2016, 11:14:40 am
Aren't those capkits and the packaging awesome

They sure are! Ian's kits are the the bee's knees!


Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: StevesArcade on January 30, 2016, 12:59:16 pm
I have washed almost every PCB i have and I have never had a problem.  I actually washed a pcb one night that was "broken"  just because I was bored and once it dried I plugged it up for the hell of it and it works now.   I just take them completely apart and  left them dry for a few days (usually one day on each side to help gravity pull out any water) and boom clean boards and working games.


Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: jtslade on January 31, 2016, 12:07:00 pm
Anyone ever bake a PCB in the oven to try and cure board flex issues?


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Title: Re: Washing a PCB
Post by: StevesArcade on January 31, 2016, 03:07:47 pm
never tried that buddy.