New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

[Stumpknocker]

After a few hours in the rain, my VHF gave me a new look. Turned it on and it worked for a few minutes til I tilted the radio up.... now its dead. Any hope for this? Fogged up once before but it cleared up after an hour or so. Definately not waterproof. <br /><br />Fuse is good. Power is there. Just no radio.

 

[lawyertob]

Re: New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

Originally posted by Gil009:<br /> After a few hours in the rain, my VHF gave me a new look. Turned it on and it worked for a few minutes til I tilted the radio up.... now its dead. Any hope for this? Fogged up once before but it cleared up after an hour or so. Definately not waterproof. <br /><br />Fuse is good. Power is there. Just no radio.

Gil09,<br /><br /> Were your connections crimped or soldered? Seriously, sometimes these things will resurrect if they are allowed to dry out. Generally, it is better to let them dry out BEFORE turning on the power to see if it still works. Also, if they get repeatedly wetted it will usually kill it eventually form either corrosion or the circuit boards expanding and contracting. You definitely don't want to let it freeze while it is wet. Probably the best bet would be to disassemble and let it air dry for as long as you can. However, I suspect that when you tilted it, that it allowed enough water to get to something that fried....but you might have just messed with an elevated ground or something and it might work if it is allowed to dry out. Good luck.<br /><br />Just my $0.02 worth

 

[CTD]

Re: New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

If it were mine, before I tossed it I would put it in a warm dry place and dry it out first then if it didn't work toss it. I had in mind an oven set at about 120 degrees for a few hours. It gets that hot in the summer sun.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

Gil - Pack it in a plastic bag with a bunch of silica crystals for about a week. After that, if it doesn’t work, toss it. If it does work, toss it.<br /><br />Your VHF is a piece of serious safety equipment and not something to gamble with. Although electronics can ‘resurrect’ after such extremes, they often do so with cancerous corrosion on the boards inside. I don’t recommend playing games with this piece of safety equipment. And DON’T even think about selling it on Ebay!!!<br /><br />If it comes back to life, think about grabbing a 12v transformer (those common ac-to-dc wall plug/charger things that seems to accompany almost every piece of home electronics equipment) and using the radio at home to listen to VHF. You won’t be broadcasting so you won’t need much power.

 

[lawyertob]

Re: New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

Originally posted by 18rabbit:<br /> Your VHF is a piece of serious safety equipment and not something to gamble with.

Hmmm...after careful reconsideration, I think Rabbit is right. At most a unit that has gone through this would be a back-up...and frankly, if you are down to using your back-up, do you want it to be a unit that has drowned?<br /><br />Another $0.02 worth,<br />Joe

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

I have thought it through and come to the same conclusion. It is DOA either way because of the safety issue. I would like to go with an ICOM but have concerns over the quality of the 402/302 microphones ref the below reviews. Anybody out there have any comments or actually own an ICOM 402? <br /><br /> http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...d=60456&storeNum=3&subdeptNum=64&classNum=657

 

[llfish]

Re: New Meaning for Liquid Crystal Display

When a unit fogs up, not drenched, one can place them on top of the old hot water heater and in no time they will clear up.<br /><br />I have to do this with my ff when i get caught out in the rain.