Hacking Hardware Is 70% of IPA available for PCB flux and thermal cleaning?

[DawnWorkout]

Hello Friends
Multiple Hwfly installation videos use Ipa99% for pcb cleaning.
But it's hard to get it in my city.
70% of IPA (for disinfection) is available.
Can this also be used for thermal paste and flux cleaning? I have an alcohol swap (cotton) and it's an ipa 70% configuration but it's well-thermal cleaned. But cotton soon dries up, so it's hard to use. If I buy it as a liquid, I think I can easily use it as a brush.
I couldn't see a 70% IPA user anywhere. Is this impossible?
(Actually, 70% of IPA is slightly concerned about the occurrence of corrosion due to the mixing of water.)
I wonder if there is a better alternative to this question. Thank you.

 

[Hayato213]

You need 90% or better.

 

[linuxares]

The higher IPA the less water content

 

[impeeza]

Hello Friends
Multiple Hwfly installation videos use Ipa99% for pcb cleaning.
But it's hard to get it in my city.
70% of IPA (for disinfection) is available.
Can this also be used for thermal paste and flux cleaning? I have an alcohol swap (cotton) and it's an ipa 70% configuration but it's well-thermal cleaned. But cotton soon dries up, so it's hard to use. If I buy it as a liquid, I think I can easily use it as a brush.
I couldn't see a 70% IPA user anywhere. Is this impossible?
(Actually, 70% of IPA is slightly concerned about the occurrence of corrosion due to the mixing of water.)
I wonder if there is a better alternative to this question. Thank you.

The higher IPA the less water content

The 99% is used because it have almost no water on it so it evaporate completely and leave no traces, the 70% leave traces of water which you may know are bad for electronics.

If you must use then you should remove the water using compressed air.

 

[ghjfdtg]

70% works but as said above you must make sure the water dries and it doesn't get under chips or hard to reach places. You will not get the water out easily once it got under chips.

 

[User154]

Can you not get it from amazon? Thats where I get mine from

 

[doctorgoat]

I was stunned to find recently that people are using ultrasonic cleaners with distilled water for cleaning PCBs. It makes sense if you have a very good method for guaranteeing a completely dry motherboard afterwards, but yikes.

I've used whatever the cheap isopropyl is around here for repasting. It takes some scrubbing, but as long as you can get a good polish you're fine in that particular case. I wouldn't let it get anywhere you can't guarantee you can get it out of though

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I was stunned to find recently that people are using ultrasonic cleaners with distilled water for cleaning PCBs. It makes sense if you have a very good method for guaranteeing a completely dry motherboard afterwards, but yikes.

I've used whatever the cheap isopropyl is around here for repasting. It takes some scrubbing, but as long as you can get a good polish you're fine in that particular case. I wouldn't let it get anywhere you can't guarantee you can get it out of though

Distilled water isn't dangerous to electronics, it's non conductive. It won't stay non conductive though, any crap that is on the board that gets dissolved can make it conductive (but all that should be washed off in the ultrasonic cleaner), but it won't easily corrode components unless it sits around and gets dirty.
I wouldn't power the board until it's completely dry, but blowing a fan on it will make short work of it.

I have even seen people rinse boards under the tap. It's actually not the worst idea if you don't have anything better, but you do need to dry it off quickly in that case since tap water is conductive and it will corrode components.

 

[ghjfdtg]

That's actually common in electronics repair because the flux makes a huge mess and can also corrode pads and traces over time. The difference is they make extra sure it's completely dry and they use distilled water with special cleaning solutions. There are cases where this will not work like boards with switches. Water will get in there and it's very hard to dry tightly closed components like these.

 

[DawnWorkout]

70% IPA is not suitable...
I'll look for another alternative
Thank you very much, everyone

 

[impeeza]

70% IPA is not suitable...
I'll look for another alternative
Thank you very much, everyone

There are electronic cleaners on can, they are basically 99% ipa on a pressure can, normally overpriced but if not alternative...

Sometime I see some guy cleaning a main-board on a pool

My grandpa used paint thinner to clean PCBs but after that he always remove any leftover with compressed air.

 

[Deleted member 559230]

Hello Friends
Multiple Hwfly installation videos use Ipa99% for pcb cleaning.
But it's hard to get it in my city.
70% of IPA (for disinfection) is available.
Can this also be used for thermal paste and flux cleaning? I have an alcohol swap (cotton) and it's an ipa 70% configuration but it's well-thermal cleaned. But cotton soon dries up, so it's hard to use. If I buy it as a liquid, I think I can easily use it as a brush.
I couldn't see a 70% IPA user anywhere. Is this impossible?
(Actually, 70% of IPA is slightly concerned about the occurrence of corrosion due to the mixing of water.)
I wonder if there is a better alternative to this question. Thank you.

70% alcohol will work just fine. I've cleaned many components with it.

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Hello Friends
Multiple Hwfly installation videos use Ipa99% for pcb cleaning.
But it's hard to get it in my city.
70% of IPA (for disinfection) is available.
Can this also be used for thermal paste and flux cleaning? I have an alcohol swap (cotton) and it's an ipa 70% configuration but it's well-thermal cleaned. But cotton soon dries up, so it's hard to use. If I buy it as a liquid, I think I can easily use it as a brush.
I couldn't see a 70% IPA user anywhere. Is this impossible?
(Actually, 70% of IPA is slightly concerned about the occurrence of corrosion due to the mixing of water.)
I wonder if there is a better alternative to this question. Thank you.

Yeah and even 50% works just make sure to dry before powering on. I use acetone since its slightly cheaper, dries super quick and works better

 

[DawnWorkout]

70% alcohol will work just fine. I've cleaned many components with it.

Good news! Hasn't there been any corrosion issues?

Post automatically merged: Apr 4, 2023

Yeah and even 50% works just make sure to dry before powering on. I use acetone since its slightly cheaper, dries super quick and works better

Acetone? Is that possible?
I can get it easily
Are there any corrosion and any disadvantages?
Why didn't I see it on the website?
Thank you!

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Good news! Hasn't there been any corrosion issues?

Post automatically merged: Apr 4, 2023

Acetone? Is that possible?
I can get it easily
Are there any corrosion and any disadvantages?
Why didn't I see it on the website?
Thank you!

No corrosion. Acetone works best just stay away from plastic.

 

[ghjfdtg]

Acetone is not recommended. It will not do any harm to your board but it can dissolve plastic. Keep it far away from wires and plastic components.

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Acetone is not recommended. It will not do any harm to your board but it can dissolve plastic. Keep it far away from wires and plastic components.

I use acetone in an ultra sonic cleaner to clean switch motherbaords - Works about 5 times better than IPA 99%, dries quicker and no harm to plastic components. Not recommended to use as cleaner for backplate, front plate etc as it will stain those. Works amazing for liquid damage motherboards.

Keep in mind that not all acetone are the same and do a quick test first.