Can a Bus Coupler survive a swim?

Discussion in 'C-Bus Wired Hardware' started by jr_away, Jan 29, 2009.

  1. jr_away

    jr_away

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2005
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    After a deluge a few weeks back it was noticed that the lights in one room didn't work. Turned out that the bus coupler behind the heritage switches was dead. We know there had been some water inside that wall. so the question is whether the bus coupler is dead forever or whether it may dry out?!
     
    jr_away, Jan 29, 2009
    #1
  2. jr_away

    ashleigh Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2004
    Messages:
    2,400
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    Hard to know.

    Some electronics, sometimes, is actually cleaned using water during manufacture (not Clipsal products, the point being I *have* heard of it).

    Seeing as its DEAD already, here is my suggestion, for what its worth.

    Prise the BC casing apart, and extract the small circuit board inside.

    With a toothbrush and some distilled or demineralised water, wet the board thoroughly, and scrub all over - everywhere you can get at - with the toothbrush. Rinse LIBERALLY with the distilled / demineralised water.

    Then put the BC board in a warm dry place (eg, sitting on top of a fridge, or in the kitchen) - not in direct sunlight. Let it dry for around 2 to 5 days.

    Similarly, clean up the case.

    Then re-assemble and see if it goes.

    The toothbrush treatment shouldn't do any damage to things that are soldered down. It sounds a bit rough but isn't.

    ----

    The BC may come good just with drying out, but if you have had water in a wall, there will most likely be all sorts of salts and dissolved minerals in that water, and that lot *wont* do the electronical thingumies any good at all.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 29, 2009
    ashleigh, Jan 29, 2009
    #2
  3. jr_away

    jr_away

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2005
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how i get on!
     
    jr_away, Jan 30, 2009
    #3
  4. jr_away

    Basil

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2005
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Isle of Wight UK
    Can C-bus swim?

    Just to let you know about a project I had a year ago where I had 2 -12 channel relays 4 -4 channel dimmers and 2- 8 channel dimmers all wired up programed and ready to power up ( so no mains 230v applied )while I was away from site the plumber managed to hose down the complete system with an open 15mm pipe at mains pressure when I arrived back I was slightly ammused to be told that "it will be all right we have a hair dryer!!" to cut to the end I replaced all the system but after letting all the equiptment dry out by it`s self (it was dripping water out of every gap) evey bit worked fine on the test bench under full load and is now used as a test rig and at home

    So can C-bus swim? yes but I would not reccomend it, It cost the plumber big time!
     
    Basil, Jan 30, 2009
    #4
  5. jr_away

    ashleigh Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2004
    Messages:
    2,400
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    Basil

    In general I'm not too surprised.

    The really important thing is to allow a drying out, slowly (not forced).

    And get rid of any minerals and gunk that might have been in the water that the equipment was doused in.

    Such equipment (as you note) is not really a saleable item after, and it won't be covered by warrantee, but it is quite likely to work. At least for a time. (If you don't remove gunk and minerals you can be 100% sure of one thing: IF it works after a dry-out, it won't work for as long as it did after normal manufacture.)

    (ha ha ha... I bet that plumber was pissed off!)
     
    ashleigh, Jan 31, 2009
    #5
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.
Similar Threads

  1. Bus coupler

  2. Bus coupler no scenes!

  3. Using a 4CH Bus Coupler & Trigger Groups

  4. Bus coupler with scenes

  5. Tactile switches for use with bus coupler

  6. Bus coupler for dimming

  7. Is good for bus coupler

Loading...