Re: Do's and don'ts about cleaning keyboards

From: Paul Sture (p_sture_at_elias.decus.ch)
Date: 06/21/03 

Date: 21 Jun 03 08:45:45 +0200

In article <17JUN200321024679@gerg.tamu.edu>, carl@gerg.tamu.edu (Carl Perkins) writes:
> In article <2RFHa.2737$lv.2468@news.cpqcorp.net>, "John E. Malmberg" <Malmberg@dskwld.zko.dec.compaq.hp> writes...
> }David Michaels wrote:
> }> Paul Sture wrote:
> }>
> }>>My heartful thanks to the person who recommended putting my LK keyboard
> }>>through the dishwasher.
> }>>
> }>>It is beatifully clean now.
> }>>
> }>>But a pity it doesn't work any more...
> }>>
> }> WD-40 = water displacement - 40
> }>
> }> I've never seen it harm electronics. Not to say it can't, but I haven't
> }> seen it.
> }
> }Any high pressure stream of gas or other small propellent, if fast
> }enough can build up a static charge and can destroy some electronics.
> }
> }I know from personal experience spray paint has enough pressure to do
> }that. I was attempting to waterproof a circuit, coincidentally for a
> }keyboard, back in the days when people were building Z80 based systems
> }from parts.
> }
> }
> }The fumes from WD-40 are quite combustable for at least a minute or two,
> }so any sparks near them can cause a fire to start.
> }
> }The small spark from the ON/OFF switch of most electrical devices that
> }do not have specially rated switches is enough.
> }
> }-John
>
> Your keyboard gets dirty, so you run it through the dishwasher.
> It then doesn't work so you use WD-40 on it to dry it out. When
> you plug it in it bursts into flames. This then triggers your
> machine room's fire suppresion system.
>
> Now that's comedy.
>

And just to follow on, your fire suppression system is Halon, so
once it has dumped that, you are legally not allowed to replace it, so
have to buy a new system. 

-- 
Paul Sture