question about cell phones getting wet

[steve2470]

If you accidentally get your cell phone really wet, will it lose all audio and text capabilities or retain text capability ? I would think it would be totally ruined unless you can fix it somehow.

Thanks.

[ChromeFoundry]

1. Take the battery out

Stick it in a bowl of uncooked rice to dry it out for about 24 hours. The try it again. Don't turn it on when it's wet.

[TheJames]

2. It entirely depends on

how much/what part of the circuitry gets wet and how much/what kind of corrosion subsequently occurs. Absolutely, DO NOT TURN IT ON while still wet; the moisture will, odds are, short out some portion of the circuitry. Dry it as rapidly as possible, consonant with not doing further damage; i. e. VERY low oven w/ the door open or putting in direct sunlight after draining/shaking as much moisture as possible. You MIGHT be able to save it and its worth a try, unless you dropped it into sea water!
from an ex-Air Force trained radar tech from back in the days of discrete component systems, who retrained into digital professional audio equipment support. Your mileage may vary.


Edit: absolutely, take the battery out as soon as possible, dry it physically, and very gently swab out the inside/whatever you can access, being very careful not to damage anything in the process.

[Fumesucker]

3. I've had success soaking accidentally wet electronics in distilled water before thoroughly drying

It's not the water that causes problems later, it's what's dissolved in the water, if you cut the concentration of dissolved minerals with distilled water less residue is left in the gadget whatever it might be.

[Mnpaul]

4. I would try alcohol

isopropyl alcohol would probably draw out the moisture/contaminants. You would have be very careful doing this away from all sources of ignition(including the cell phone battery). We use it at work in the small refillable spray bottles. I did find it at a Microcenter in an aerosol can. Very useful but also very dangerous.

[steve2470]

5. I hate to be a nag but....

can someone address my original question ?

If you accidentally get your cell phone really wet, will it lose all audio and text capabilities or retain text capability ?

I am assuming the answer is, the phone is totally shot if too wet for too long, correct ?

The phone is working 100% now, thank you for your input.

[ManiacJoe]

6. See reply #2 for the "it depends" answer.

[steve2470]

7. thank you! nt