Hello! Let me start by saying that I'm a total novice with programming and electronics, and that the LilyPad is my first foray into this exciting world. If this topic doesn't belong here, my apologies, and please relocate it.
My question is: I know that LilyPad's sensors and other components are hand-washable, but are run-of-the-mill LEDs and Resistors, like the 50c ones from RadioShack, water-safe? I'm trying to learn as much as I can about what can and can't get wet before I make a big mistake! Thank you!
i'm not sure, but the best solution, is to test that!
try making a very simple circuit:
one battery connected to a resistor, connected to an led. then try dipping it in water, and see if it still works good.
btw, get stuff on the net, it's MUCH cheaper then radioshack, and then you can afford to do this test without having to go spend 5 bucks on another set of led's and resistors, which u could have payed under a dollar for on the net!
just to be safe, maybe remove the battery, then dip in water and wash with soap, and try with battery again, like 10 times...
Okay, you've got my curiosity up. Why in the world would you want to hand wash electronic components?
BTW, LEDs and resistors are sealed and will survive washing, you wouldn't believe how intense the washing is after automatic soldering, but most metal is subject to rusting, so don't leave them wet or do it often.
@CasNet: The components that were designed especially for the LilyPad, as well as the LilyPad board itself, are handwashable, and meant to be integrated into clothing. I was just curious if I had to pony up 8 bucks for a tricolor LilyPad LED if a plain, 5c LED would do the trick. I will take the advice of the first replier and wash some, then post my results here. Thanks, guys!
Why in the world would you want to hand wash electronic components?
He says he's working with an Arduino LilyPad - the variety of board designed to be sewn into clothing. I'd imagine you'd need to wash the clothes eventually!
One thing to note though: You will need to remove the batteries when you do wash. Otherwise, there's an excellent chance the battery's terminals will get shorted, and that's generally a bad thing. As it says on the Sparkfun page: "They're even washable - but be sure to remove the battery!"
(:
I'd recommend making the lilypads removable. LEDs and resistors for the most part are water proof but the leads are not though the leads are tin or tin/lead coated and take time in water before they degrade.
You can wash some electronics. I've done so in a dishwasher without soap but you MUST remove it and dry it quickly with a blow dryer. I've washed some with dish soap by hand but they were small. In one case I used scent free dishwasher soap in a dish washer and finally got the gunk off.
Anything that is open to the water may not work afterward such as buttons, sockets, potentiometers and the like though I have hand blow dried them then baked them in a 150 degree oven and salvaged some of those parts. Remove batteries before subjecting the device to heat! I'd not put clothing in an oven this way and tumbling them in a dryer would probably be bad.
This was for some pretty nasty smoke damaged electronics that the owner wanted to save. I've done similar with roach infested crap but only for those willing to pay a stiff price. I was willing to destroy some of the parts during cleaning then replace them afterwards, this did kill several buttons and some small potentiometers but the device was not replaceable.
Commercial PCB makers now use water and a surfactant to clean boards. Aquanox is one brand of the 'soap' used. The cleaners have a built in air knife and heating element but they still need oven dried.