BS: Drying a Cell phone

Subject: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 02:42 PM

O omniscient 'Catters - Cell phone fell in toilet. Any idea how to dry it out, or should I just get a new one?

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 02:53 PM

I'd just get a new one. I had one fall in a sink full of water and while it wasn't in there long it was fried. DON'T sign a new contract!

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 02:54 PM

I think its a bit of a lottery ! I would take it apart - Batterry and SIM card out , Paper towel to make sure ALL Surplus liquid is removed , and leave it somewhere warm to dry out ! IF the battery carges up OK , you may well get away with it ! Good Luck .

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:02 PM

The iPhone has a water sensor switch which the pro's inspect with a loupe to confirm it was a water-death. Chances are you will need a replacement. You'll be quite lucky if you can get it to fire up after careful drying as described above.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:31 PM

I've got one that supposed to be MilSpec for dust, water, and things. One that is supposed to survive a nuclear battlefield or something, even though there's no one alive to answer the damned thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:39 PM

Just yesterday we were discussing this and someone said tech support had told them to put it in a container with some rice. Even if the phone itself can't be saved it seems some things (contact list and such) can be saved this way and transferred to a new phone.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Melissa
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:50 PM

When people started wearing digital watches..and getting them wet..the remedy was to wrap them in a paper towel and put them in the refrigerator.

If the water wasn't freshly flushed, I'm not sure the phone would be a very nice thing to put on your face/ear..in case it was hosting something unwanted.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:55 PM

My daughter used the cell phone-in-rice mathod and had great hopes - but it didn't work.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:56 PM

If it has a SIM card, get thee to thy place of purchase-- they can switch it into a new phone.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 03:57 PM

Three minutes on high. Turn over. Three minutes on high. Let stand for 30 minutes. Caution, contents are hot.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 04:18 PM

Were you using it to take a picture when it happened? Or were you startled by a large alligator? Just curious.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 04:59 PM

Startled by the large snake, I expect. Ol' One Eye.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 05:09 PM

Hairdryer. Worked for a friend of mine. Wasn't down the loo though.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: jeddy
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 05:37 PM

we put our through the washing machine, couldn't get it to do a thing. the sim card was okay though might i suggest to everyone to keep all contacts on the sim rather than memory it was a bugger putting all the numbers into the new phone.

good luck

take care all

jade x x

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 05:41 PM

If there is any water inside, it may take a very long time for the phone to dry out completely. Turning it on and "testing it" before it's completely dry is almost certain to "fry" something inside. If the water was sufficiently "contaminated" it may leave residue that shorts something out regardless of how long it's dried.

Some phone makers have had detailed instructions posted on the web, but it's been a long time since I've looked and I don't remember which site(s) I found that had anything. Since we only use $10 throwaway phones it seemed a bunch of trouble for little reward.

My recollection is that the instructions I've seen called for removing the battery immediately but beyond that I wasn't sufficiently impressed with the need (for my kind of phones) to remember much more. My vague recollection is that several days "drying" before testing was suggested.

For a close approximation to the procedure, you might look for treatments for "wet laptops" since similar rules should apply. Since laptops used to be more expensive than 'phones, the makers generally gave more information about how to handle dis-ass-ters of a variety of kinds.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 05:55 PM

A lot of phones have labels hidden inside that change colour if they get wet. This tells the manufacturer that you got it wet, so it doesn't matter how much you dry it out and claim innocence - they know you got it wet. You can try to angle for a new replacement, and good luck to ye, but if they tell you it was your fault because you got it wet you haven't a hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: ranger1
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 06:01 PM

Um, Seamus...nope, not gonna say anything. Don't wanna know.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 06:12 PM

Some excellent advise, and I have nothing to add...except...{snicker}.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 07:14 PM

Right! Thanks for the suggestions one and all.
Here's what I did - not MY phone by the way, but daughter-in-law to be.

On one piece of advice, I put it in the freezer of my refrigerator for a few hours.   No good.

Took it out and there was condensation all over it.

Wiped it off, and as per Gnu's suggestion, put it in the microwave on high for 3 minutes.
When it started arcing and burning (the smoke really stinks) and the plastic bits melting after THREE SECONDS. I took it out. It was hot.

Now it won't even turn on. Oh well....

Thanks.

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Gurney
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 07:36 PM

Seamus, my IPod Shuffle fell into a cup of tea -whilst I was loading it! Brand new!
I dismantled it as far as was possible, rinsed it very thoroughly with Metylated Spirit, and blew it out with compressed air.
It didn't work before this treatment, and has worked perfectly since.

Too late for you. Sorry.

Microwaves don't like metal. Put a cup with a gold rim in one, and see what I mean.

What do you call Meths in the USA? Denatured Alcohol?
It is Ethyl Alcohol, cheaply made so that it contains dangerous amouts of Methanol, and denatured with a bitter taste, a smell, and a purple colouring , to try to stop desperate people drinking it.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 07:50 PM

Well, either cell phones are different in the Maritimes, or gnu was reading the directions on a TV dinner. Soon to be daughter-in-law, huh? The important question is...who dropped it in the can? And did she have the repair/replacement coverage on her cell account. If answer A is you, and answer B is no...does she LIKE her prospective pop-in-law? Still?

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 08:19 PM

Art and Gurney - I knew it was gonna arc and fry, but I wanted to see the show anyway. Basically, I knew it was buggered, so I hoped it would go all popcorn on me.

Then I figured I didn't want to bugger up the microwave too, so I halted the procedure.

Gurney - I don't know what they call Methylated Spirits here in the U.S.

I haven't heard that term since my old Primus stove days at home!

Art - she did. and yes, but I don't know if it covers nuking!! And, I think so.

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 09:26 PM

Will I be first to suggest the microwave oven?

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 10:27 PM

I dropped one in the dishpan, got it out fast, opened it up completely, popped the battery, let everything sit and air dry for the rest of the day. It worked just fine, probably still does, though I have upgraded since then.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 11:43 PM

You can get almost pure alcohol in the US, but mostly at liquor stores. It comes in a couple of "proofs" but I think the higher one that I've seen recently was 180 proof (90% alcohol by volume). "Everclear" is probably the most popular brand name in places where I've noticed it. I lost interest in it decades ago, and don't remember whether it was claimed to be methyl alcohol (methanol) or ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

Medical practice I believe uses both methyl and ethyl alcohol (methanol or ethanol) or sometimes a mix of the two.

For most home "medicinal" uses, the most commonly available stuff is called "rubbing alcohol" and is mainly propanol (propyl alcohol) which is, itself, toxic. Most drug stores / pharmacies have it in 60% and (at higher price) 90% versions here.

Some art shops and paint (house paint) outlets sometimes have "thinners" that may (or may not) be fairly pure somethin'-ol, but they're usually "denatured" by adding something really nasty to make them useless for anything fun.

Of course you can get almost anything in "pure form" for industrial or "real" medical uses, but you may find guys in black suits watching your door through dark glasses at midnight if you don't have an obvious "need" for "unusual" products.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 01:29 AM

No, Peace, you're not the first.
I tried it. see my post of 7:14.
Doesn't work, but a fun experiment!

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 01:31 AM

Thanks, Seamus. I was in a hurry and didn't read all the posts before mine.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 04:15 AM

From my own experience, I think your best bet is to scrap the one that fell in the bogs and sort a new phone out.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 04:58 AM

The greatest comeback since Lazarus was Jesus, but I've had both a clock radio and a tv return to good order just a few hours after breaking down due to water spillage.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:59 AM

I am working on a parody of "Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphy's Chowder" for you Seamus. Still no explanation as to how this haoppened...
When my basement flooded I "tried" the washing machine. All was fine until it went into spin cycle. When the smoke cleared I needed a new washer.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: goatfell
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:59 AM

I go to the toilet to either have a shit or a piss, I never take my moblie/cell phone with me or use it at a sink.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 08:03 AM

My son Tristan just dearly loves his cell phone. Last year at the lake we were able to coax him into the water past his knees. He was finally relaxing a bit after 20 miutes and having a pretty good time when it dawned on Karen that he probably had his cell phone in his pocket........and indeed he did.

Of course it wouldn't work at all and he was just completely distraught. Trying to explain that it was now junk was difficult enough but when the "Rain Man" syndrome kicks in things get really bad. A new one would not do, it had to be that one!!! So efforts were made to dry it out and after about 24 hours of distress, the damn thing turned on! Another 12 hours and it was almost functional AND 24 hours later it worked just fine!

Had this been my phone and it had been simply out on a humid day, it would have been fragged. Somehow there is a special law of nature which takes care of special people sometimes and Tris was so happy to have HIS phone back that even 6 months later he wouldn't accept a new one........still hasn't!

I do recommend LG brand phones..........


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 12:23 PM

Awww Spaw. There ya go making me cry again. Special indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 01:17 PM

Rice often works, just make sure it's RAW rice!

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Gurney
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 06:32 PM

I still think copious alcohol and compressed air is the best bet for water, after having removed the battery quickly, but I have no answer for vino collapso in television remotes! Perhaps a reversed polarity knackered a diode.

John, here, I believe that they make the alcohols from milk whey. It's just a wonder that little miss Muffett COULD run away.
Isopropyl alcohol is very expensive, but also very clean for cleaning. Meths is used for all sorts of reasons, particularly spirit stoves.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 06:12 PM

"I go to the toilet to either have a shit or a piss..."
Good to hear from someone with an adequate sex life.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Scorpio
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 05:24 AM

Dropped mine in the toilet while I was having a piss. Drowned and pissed on too. Took it apart, dried it in the boiler room for a week, works perfectly.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Peace
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 04:50 PM

You people with your newfangled shit deserve what ya get!

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Gurney
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 05:09 PM

Peace, if you call me, you'll need a longer string!

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: gnu
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 05:12 PM

String me up sometime?

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 07:44 AM

If the worst comes to the worst then a spin dryer will get out every last drop of water!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: goatfell
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 10:57 AM

why take your cell/moblile phone into the tolilet anyway? I mean you go to the toilet to take a pee or a jobbie, what are going to do thalk to someone on the other end and tell them what your up to? Can't people not live without their mobile/cell phones I mean you won't die because you don't have one, I mean for years we did all right without them.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Gurney
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 01:01 AM

Goat, mate, I suspect that phones fall out of pockets when trousers are being re-hoisted.

That's what happened to me, anyway, but it fortunately missed the yodelling telephone.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: open mike
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 03:17 AM

how about dessicant--silica gel--to absorb the moisture
you bget those little packets in everything from shoes to pills
and electronic objects...

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: mandotim
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 03:30 AM

If you drop your cellphone down the toilet, are you really trying to fish it out, or are you just going through the motions?
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: Skivee
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 03:40 AM

If you drop it into the average camp outhouses, it's probably best to just leave the poor thing inturd.

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 09:05 AM

Seamus, I beg you, in fact I insist, leave the above mentioned cell phone to home when you come to visit us. Alice will smell it out and pee on it if you bring it. She can't help herself...

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: cobra
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 09:20 AM

Seamus, I wouldn't worry that it fell into the bogs. Just carry on talking intil it. Sure you've been talkin' shoite all yer life anyway! *scarpers*

Subject: RE: BS: Drying a Cell phone
From: goatfell
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 01:03 PM

what did people do whithout moblie phones, computer games, televison why they talked to one another