Is my Hand held VHF dead?

stav

stav

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Hi All,

Standard Horizon HX750E which has been knocking around the boat for a 3 or 4 years was taken to the new mirror dinghy where it had a rough ride down a long cobble y slip then was immersed by water coming from the slow leak through the self drainer for an hour then dragged up the slip.

Today on switching it on no more than a slight squeak from the speaker, a battery flat flashing symbol despite having just been charged (same with 5 new AAA batteries). The green receive LED comes on but no sound, no red LED when the PTT button is pressed. Have set the vol and squelch to min and max, no difference. Do I need a new one? Any suggestions on how to make it better? Has also been baked in the car today?

Anybody got a spare? Just simply out of money having just bought the mirror to get the daughters more in to sailing rather than watching the TV in the aft cabin.......Aggghhhhh.......

Thanks for suggestions in advance.

Will try leaving it switched on until goes flat and recharge again and perhaps do that a couple of times....
 
If this was salt water, then do this:

Take the batteries out, take the back off. Soak the entire radio and other parts in hand-hot water with a bit of washing-up liquid in it, leave for several minutes, then drain thoroughly (swing the radio in an arc to force water out) and repeat a couple of times. Now use water alone for a couple of rinses. Finally use de-ionised water, again for a few rinses. Finally, shake as much water out as you can, and put in a warm and dry place for at least a week. If you have access to compressed air, use it to help drive out the water after each rinse.
 
The trouble with salt water in a radio with a batteryb in it is that the battery power provides electrolysis at a rapid rate on the tiny copper strips of the circuit board and battery contacts. The water cleaning described above is good if done imediately after submersion but will not fix electrolysis damage. Chances are she is brown bread however if you open it up and can treat any signs of corrosion with WD 40 or similar you may be able to clear any bridging between copper strips but I doubt you cna fix broken conductors. good luck olewill
 
colind3782 said:
Which question is more likely to get a yes answer?

a: Got any rice in the cupboard?
b: Got any calcium chloride in the cupboard?
Click to expand...

I have both :)

In practice I have found that it makes little difference, providing you put the device somewhere warm and dry: airing or boiler cupboard for example. If on a boat, then put in a bag with either of the above, and leave in the sun.
 
Perhaps not calcium chloride but common drain openers contain sodium hydroxide crystals and have to be kept in airtight bottles as they readily absorb moisture. Never seen liquified rice due to storage hence the question ;)
 
Thanks for the replies. I perhaps should have said the radio is waterproof and should float. Any how phoned SH today and helpful man but not much chance of progress so have taken apart to night and found a damaged corner to the case and evidence of water damage on the circuit. Have cleaned the circuit board but to no avail on its condition. Guess the credit card will need to be found and flexed! Funny having not had a radio in dinghies etc for years having had one feel bad about using the dinghy without one on board.
 
Stav, if all else fails and you end up needing a new one, I've got an S/H HX290e that is under a year old and pretty much unused, mint condition, still with all boxes, packing, etc. I've been eyeing up the new offering from S/H with the USB charging dock and have done the bloke+gadget thing and considered selling mine to upgrade. Drop me a P/M if you might be interested...
 
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