endotherm
First Officer
Flight distance : 503241 ft
Australia
Offline
|
Water isn't necessarily a killer for electronics. Circuit boards are routinely washed in manufacture to remove flux and construction debris. Same as for a phone, devices dropped in water are salvageable if you get to them quickly and remove the power. The cleanliness of the water is also important -- salt water and dissolved solids lead to accelerated corrosion. Salt water will start destroying components and tracks on their own and is almost impossible to remove -- microscopic salt deposits will continue destroying electronics regardless of how quickly you retrieve it or how thoroughly you wash it. "Dirty" unsalted water will enable electric current still present in the battery to make a path and complete the circuit. The result is electrolysis and once again, components and tracks break down. Pure water will not conduct electricity. The quicker you get it out of the water and remove the power, the better your chances of recovery. If you submerge the device in pure clean water to remove contaminants, then dry it thoroughly, you may have a good chance of recovery. Depending on how long it was submerged and how powerful the battery is will influence your chances of successful recovery. In your case the battery is capable of high current discharge and was left "in-circuit" for days, potentially causing heavy electrolysis. The dirtier the water, the less chance you will have. Batteries are unsalvageable once dunked, and it would be dangerous to continue to use them. Some components may not survive being submerged, e.g. barometer or and speakers/buzzers/beepers. These will have a label sealing the delicate parts from washing damage, but removed during manufacture. In operation, there is nothing stopping water getting in to the delicate exposed parts.
Regardless of all of this, you have recovered the aircraft, you have nothing to lose, start salvaging as much as you can as quickly as you can. Good luck! |
|