spv c500 + water = :-(

[Guest m_birtwisle]

Right then,

I have managed to drop my spv c500 into a pint glass of water in the early hours of this morning - clever I know! Within seconds, the screen started to go white (not grey like when you remove the battery), I then dried it off as best I could, took out the sim, battery and sd card and put them all on the radiator to hopefully dry out.

Upon returning home this evening, what are the chances that my phone is a) even going to turn on, ;) still have all the data/numbers/calender date/pictures etc on that it did before it tried a little sub-aqua exploration, and c) survive the affair like nothing has happened apart from the fact that it is now a little cleaner?

Thanks very much,

Mat.

[Guest Disco Stu]

Welcome to the forum ;)

I have read about some miraculous recoveries from immersion, but would rate your chances of a happy ending at something like 20%

[Guest jporch316]

you need to leave it dry for at least 48hrs

[Guest Gajet]

Advice for the future. Remove battery immediately, don't wait to turn off or anything. Then dry phone off with a towel, incl battery and SIM.

The airing cupboard if you have one is best place for phones, warm dry air, leaving phone as dismantled as possible without going into undoing screws etc. Leave for 48 hrs then reassemble and cross fingers.

I have managed to save a few phones like this. ;)

[Guest Driekus]

I've read a post on this just the other night on a dutch forum

link (for all dutch readers)

Quite a few people who posted in this topic managed to save their phone.

These are some of the tips that were given:

- immediately remove battery and all easily removeble parts (memorycard, sim etc).

- open up your phone as far as possible. Use screwdriver if possible/available.

- some people put their phones in the dryer (wrapped into something of course) or used a hair dryer to dry the device (not too close, don't melt it!)

- if you've washed your phone in a washing machine, rinse it with clean water (not the battery of course), as the salts in the detergent can be quite devastating to the circuits in your phone

- aim a fan at your phone to speed up the drying process.

- let it dry for about a week before recharging the battery. Never recharge when wet!

- sometimes the phone is still okay, but it's just the battery that's dead. If your phone doesn't work, try replacing the battery.

- if the contacts on your phone are corroded (for instance when the keypad doesn't work anymore) you could try soaking it in a bath of good old Coke. Or try a chemical corrosion-cleaner from your local hardwarestore.

Most of these tips regarded simpler phones however. I'm not sure how the camera for instance will handle a swim. And the dust issue in the C500 is not an indication for superb submarine qualities I guess.

Some damage caused by the water could also occur at a later time.

If someone is going to try any of these tips, it's of course at their own risk!!!

Good luck on the CPR!

[Guest steeevc]

I took my original SPV out in a dinghy to take some piccies (with the trusty camera attachment). It survived the wave at first but later on in the day it only got as far as the boot loader, followed by just a strange whining from the speaker. It officially died later that evening.

My mistake was not drying it for long enough, but I doubt the salt helped either.

I don't take my phone out on boat trips anymore.

[Guest motorolampx200]

R.I.P

[Guest brykins]

- if you've washed your phone in a washing machine, rinse it with clean water (not the battery of course), as the salts in the detergent can be quite devastating to the circuits in your phone

I've heard that whatever you spill on it or immerse it in, it's the impurities that do more harm than the water itself. Even good old tap water can have enough rubbish in to cause problems. People have suggested rinsing with distilled or purified water and then drying.

[Guest Geert4]

I did the same to my SP3i.....

Took out battery immediately, dried on radiator for one night, put in battery......voila, alive again!! I only needed to update the time!

Keyboard now is a bit creaky though, but otherwise working OK for 2 months already. There is hope!

Gtrz.

[Guest m_birtwisle]

Ok, me again, just to let you know how it all went.

Left it on the radiator to dry for the entire day, and then next to a de-humidifier for the next day. Turned it on finally last night with everything crossed and would you believe it but it worked! Thank the lord for radiators.

Everything seems to be working fine although there is now a sort of watermark on the screen when you tilt it slightly and there are several very faint lines on the display as well. Nothing too major though.

So thanks for all the suggestions, and I'll try not to leave phones and drinks in close proximity to one another in the future.

Cheers,

Mat.

P.S It does seem that I've found one way to solve the "dust behind the screen" problem with these phones ;) Perhaps not one for anyone else to try though!

[Guest Paraklas]

Most of the damage is done not by water but instead from the salt and other impurities contained in it.

Even if you dry the phone with the usual way, those impurities which are corrosive for the ICs etc, will remain on the PCB and eventually destroy the phone.

You should better find a shop that has an Ultrasonic device that is used specifically for water submerged phones. It should be able to disolve anything that is left underneath the circuits.

Cheers

Edited April 28, 2005 by Paraklas

[Guest Vorzico]

I did a similar thing to my SPV e100. I dried it out on the radiator and oven(!), and it worked fine for about 6 months afterwards!

[Guest Matty.PW]

I've litterally just dropped my C500 in the bath!! Scooped it out, took the battery out. Dried with a towel, then hair-dryer on it full blast for about 10-15mins. It ended up so hot i couldnt touch it, lol :) Put it back together and its working perfectly :D Yey!!