New Life Games LLC
General NLG Chat => General Chat, Slot Shop **Tech Talk** Welcome wagon and other stuff. (Off-Topic Post Welcome) => Topic started by: Midcoastsurf on August 21, 2022, 06:54:17 PM
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I’m curious what everyone does to clean up their games that have had a mouse living in them at one point. Specifically wiring harnesses, connectors, circuit boards, etc. Its one thing to wipe off and disinfect a solid surface, but these other areas, would love to hear thoughts on cleaners, tools, and techniques. I posted in the Vid Poker thread because I’m currently cleaning up an IGT Fortune 1 with evidence of a mouse at one time. I also searched mouse and poop, but didn’t find much. Apologies if this content exists and I missed it. TIA!
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I removed as much as I could from my Sigma, then just used a general cleaner (after vacuuming poop), reassembled and then assessed all the wiring damage. It wasn't fun!
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Yeah same here, had an s2000 with misc critter damage. I basically removed everything out of it and just left the shell. Then cleaned it out and repainted inside then inspected all wires before I put everything back. I probably had to fix about 10% of the wires due to critter damage.
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Although I've only had critter crap once, I think I'm lucky to own one of those small ShopVacs...it sucked everything outta there!
Then I meticulously dissembled EVERYTHING and used a generous amount of Windex and paper towels.
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All good tips! I plan on using gloves and a mask, spraying the area down with a disinfectant, then pulling out stuff by hand.
Definitely some wire damage, but as people are saying here, I think the key is to empty the cabinet as much as possible to disinfect parts, but also to better troubleshoot the wiring issues. Also gives the opportunity to clean up the boards.
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With mouse droppings present, you need to be very cautious. They can contain disease viruses like Hantavirus. You don't want to create airborne dust by using a vacuum cleaner or air hose. Your idea of a disinfectant and hand cleaning is good. Don't use anything containing ammonia around plastics.
One thing that's always safe on wiring, plastics and electronics is isopropyl alcohol. You could spray or wash it down (outdoors), however its flammable. Use caution.
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Good call on isopropyl alcohol. I have some 99%
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Isopropyl Alcohol can have a severe effect on some polyamide plastics. (Nylon). Be careful. Ethanol is fine tho.
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Isopropyl alcohol is safe to use on polyamide or any other polymer I know of. It's widely used in the electronic industry. I've used it myself for cleaning injection molded polyamide housings and for cleaning and ionic testing of circuit board assemblies. I have never known it to damage any materials used in electronics.
For cleaning actual circuit boards, I prefer electronic grade isopropyl alcohol (99.9%).
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Isopropyl alcohol is safe to use on polyamide or any other polymer I know of. It's widely used in the electronic industry. I've used it myself for cleaning injection molded polyamide housings and for cleaning and ionic testing of circuit board assemblies. I have never known it to damage any materials used in electronics.
For cleaning actual circuit boards, I prefer electronic grade isopropyl alcohol (99.9%).
Curious to hear more about your approach to cleaning boards. I’ve also heard ammonia free foaming glass cleaner and a toothbrush.
Does the 99% alcohol leave a film?
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All isopropyl alcohol seems to leave a film, even 99.9% pure. I suspect it's from whatever impurities it dissolves is left behind when it evaporates.
Alcohol is not a great flux cleaner, but it is handy and gets the job done when doing hand soldering rework or repair. It is not used in production board cleaning processes.