Electronics & Cleaning Battery Acid

[1cargarage]

What is the preferred method for removing crusty battery acid out of the battery compartment(s) and wherever it has leaked into the components of a tool?

I have quite a few tools/electronics that this has happened to -
calculator, digital torque wrenches, multimeter, stud finder, etc.

I'd imagine that the aerosol electronics cleaner would work ok, but I don't know if that stuff neutralizes battery acid. I know that stuff works great for cleaning electronics without damaging or affecting circuitry, but I don't know if it neutralizes the acid. I have used battery acid neutralizer on car batteries, but I'm reluctant to spray that stuff all over circuit boards and the like.

Any ideas? proven methods?

Obviously the batteries would be removed and I'd be very prudent to dry everything completely before installing fresh batteries.

Thanks

 

[alcorelli]

Warm water and a q tip

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[unslow1]

I had to do a couple of flashlights last week. The electronics cleaner and battery acid cleaner did some but white vinegar worked much better.

 

[CJM8515]

baking soda and warm water work well.

 

[Rabid Badger]

If the solder mask on the circuit board hasn't been compromised:

Scrub off as much gunk as possible with a nylon brush and rinse with 90% isoproyl alcohol. Repeat if necessary.

If traces have started to corrode:

Clean gently with vinegar, rinse twice in 90% isopropyl alcohol.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

If the stuff leaked out of alkaline batteries, it's not "acid", it's alkali. That makes a difference in what's the better choice to clean it up. Acid electrolyte cleans up best with a mild alkali, say baking soda. Alkali electrolyte cleans up best with a mild acid such as dilute vinegar.

Then rinse THOROUGHLY with distilled water. Follow up rinse with 90% isopropyl alcohol. Blow it dry with a blow dryer or let it sit out for a day or so.

If that doesn't do the job, you can repeat the process. Or, you can give up. Giving up may not be a bad option. These sorts of repairs can be quite the trip down the rabbit hole.

 

[bonneyman]

baking soda and warm water work well.

Then a good thick coat of Krylon.

 

[tym]

If the stuff leaked out of alkaline batteries, it's not "acid", it's alkali. That makes a difference in what's the better choice to clean it up. Acid electrolyte cleans up best with a mild alkali, say baking soda. Alkali electrolyte cleans up best with a mild acid such as dilute vinegar.

Then rinse THOROUGHLY with distilled water. Follow up rinse with 90% isopropyl alcohol. Blow it dry with a blow dryer or let it sit out for a day or so.

If that doesn't do the job, you can repeat the process. Or, you can give up. Giving up may not be a bad option. These sorts of repairs can be quite the trip down the rabbit hole.

+1 on this.

And when you put fresh batteries in, be sure they don't have a copper top.

 

[Danglerb]

My one added technique is to do all of the wet stuff with the device upside down over the sink and squirting any liquid up into the battery area so that it drains out and not into the bowels of the device.

 

[M6erfan]

baking soda and warm water work well.

^^^This

 

[Tallpilot]

https://caig.com/deoxit-d-series/

Says it dissolves oxides. What's the alkaline battery ****? Potassium hydroxide. I'd rather use this than vinegar and water since it won't encourage further oxidation and it is non-conductive so it won't short stuff out. Use a nylon brush for fragile stuff or a brass brush to help the process along.

YMMV

Add this after if you want to go crazy.

https://caig.com/deoxit-shield-s-series/

 

[Negen]

At work I deal with multiple electronics and also batteries of multiple types for multiple types of backups. We use industrial type of contact cleaner but any normal contact cleaner should work. Also we use brass or synthetic plastic type brush to get off any "crusties"

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[kblee27]

I'd use baking soda solution in a pressurized hand sprayer.

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

Definently baking soda, you could also make a paste with a lot of baking soda and a little water then use a toothbrush/qtip whatever.

Whatever you do, clean up with 99% isopropyl alcohol. If you see any oxidation after, maybe consider cleaning up again with some good flux and remove the residue with alcohol