Does anyone use an ultrasonic cleaner ? Need advice on solutions to use.

[Rob Flinn]

I am currently fixing up an old desk with a friend that uses some mini molex connectors for plasma displays. We plan to buy a small ultra sonic cleaning tank to hopefully rejuvinate the contacts. DOes anyone have experience in ultrasonic cleaning of electrical kit that can give us some advice on solutions to use ? I searched the forum but didn't come up with anything conclusive.

 

[cyrano]

It works wonders, but not always.

Old plastic is still old plastic. If it was already brittle, it might fall apart.
Sometimes it works as a paint stripper. Could be because parts are rattling around, but some paint just seems to dissolve.
SMD boards might lose a component, on occasion.

All rare, but these are the things I've observed over the years.

 

[fazer]

I’m interested in this too. I contacted one person who said they used distilled water for solution. The person was cleaning 550 a api switches and dipped the whole module in the tank with water level at switch level so as not to touch transformers. I need a bigger tank to try this and have AB mod pots in my switching modules. Not sure but seems you would need to at least open the screws on the pots for cleaning action.

 

[cyrano]

I use demi water (cheaper than distilled) with some alcohol. Sometimes soap if needed. And brake cleaner for real greasy car parts.

Most of the pots I've washed, don't have screws, but are partly open anyway. Sealed pots don't need much cleaning, I suppose.

I used to wash PCBs with hot water and dish washing liquid before I had the ultrasonic cleaner. Works well too, if you rinse with demi water and allow lots of time for drying. Occasionally, some part died, but you're never sure if it wasn't already broken before the bath, so...