AI twentysix dumped into tank

Nihoa · 05/04/2015, 02:29 PM

A friend and I got into my homebrew over the weekend and he managed to knock my new AI twentysix into the tank. I hadn't wired them up yet as I'm still adding rock and setting the tank up and he bumped into the glass slat it was resting on. Right to the frigging bottom it went.

It was in the tank less than a minute and I rinsed it with fresh water before drying it, pulling it all apart, and putting it into rice. Who thinks there is a even a remote chance this thing is going to survive this? Don't worry about letting me down gently, I think I already know the answer. Sigh.

oldbones · 05/04/2015, 02:32 PM

You just might be surprised. It was, after all, designed and built to withstand a "marine" environment.

I can tell you that my AI prime has been pretty well doused with salt water more than once. I need to develop a better method for refilling tank after w/c... So far, it hasn't skipped a beat. (maybe I should knock on wood now!)

d2mini · 05/04/2015, 03:20 PM

Electronics can get wet as long as they aren't plugged in and have current running through them. The salt is the culprit. If you really got it rinsed throughly and let it completely dry out afterwards, you very well may be pleasantly surprised.

chadfarmer · 05/04/2015, 03:48 PM

clean with alcohol hint hint

Nihoa · 05/04/2015, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Electronics can get wet as long as they aren't plugged in and have current running through them. The salt is the culprit. If you really got it rinsed throughly and let it completely dry out afterwards, you very well may be pleasantly surprised.

The light was running at the time. It was no longer running by the time it hit tank bottom. FML

mcgyvr · 05/04/2015, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nihoa

The light was running at the time. It was no longer running by the time it hit tank bottom. FML

We assume your "hadn't wired them up yet" meant they were not plugged in..

Good luck.. probably toast.. not sure if there is an internal fuse you could check.. could have shorted something out though..

Friendly reminder...
All submerged equipment MUST be protected a GFCI device
(lights aren't "typically" submerged and do not need to be on that device assuming they feature an isolated remote mount AC/DC converter or ballast that won't ever get wet )

Nihoa · 05/04/2015, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

We assume your "hadn't wired them up yet" meant they were not plugged in..

Good luck.. probably toast.. not sure if there is an internal fuse you could check.. could have shorted something out though..

Friendly reminder...
All submerged equipment MUST be protected a GFCI device
(lights aren't "typically" submerged and do not need to be on that device assuming they feature an isolated remote mount AC/DC converter or ballast that won't ever get wet )

Shoot, my bad. I meant wired up as in hung with my hanging kits. I was still working in the tank and wasn't ready to suspend them yet so they were resting on glass slats. It is a nice compliment to my brew that it made my bud sway into the tank but I now wonder if these two hobbies can be complimentary! Or maybe I just need new friends.

Steve Atkins · 05/04/2015, 05:41 PM

Accidents like you describe can easily happen without the aid of alcohol.

What you need to do is to plan a bit better for things to go wrong. Resting a valuable and running light on loose glass slats above a body of salt water does not really qualify as sound planning.

My forte is leaning kit against something and then kicking/tripping over the cord.

Steve

Bobabooie · 05/08/2015, 11:23 AM

Any progress or is it toast?

sidewinder2180 · 05/08/2015, 11:33 AM

The 12v power supply could be what blew out when it went in the tank. The light may still be good even if it doesn't turn on after it drys if the power supply blew.

Nihoa · 05/08/2015, 11:26 PM

I reassembled it tonight after a week in rice and it fired back up. After about 5 min it faded off so I've sent it back to the rice. The power supply has corrosion in the output plug so on Sunday I will try again and maybe use the cord from my intact unit to see whether that might be the issue. I spoke with AI about it and was told that if it isn't working by next week to send it to them and they feel a repair is possible.

kegogut · 05/08/2015, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Atkins

Accidents like you describe can easily happen without the aid of alcohol.

What you need to do is to plan a bit better for things to go wrong. Resting a valuable and running light on loose glass slats above a body of salt water does not really qualify as sound planning.

My forte is leaning kit against something and then kicking/tripping over the cord.

Steve

Gg. Thanks for the advice mom....

Ryan009 · 05/09/2015, 07:13 AM

Keep trying as you got nothing to lose - you already own it.

If AI is willing to help you out, I'd definitely take them up on it.

My guess is that you will be able to get it up and running in the short term, my concern would be the long term viability. Electronics can survive if they get wet, but they're not intended to. It's the minerals, not to mention salt, in the water that once it evaporates, can corrode components and bridges components in the long run.

You would never had a better shot if it fell into pure RODIN water, but saltwater? Best of luck my friend.

ace_92101 · 05/09/2015, 07:38 AM

A fellow homebrewer! Hope it works out, even with the repair. By the way, that's a great avatar!

05/04/2015, 02:29 PM	#1
Nihoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nu'uuli, American Samoa Posts: 108	AI twentysix dumped into tank A friend and I got into my homebrew over the weekend and he managed to knock my new AI twentysix into the tank. I hadn't wired them up yet as I'm still adding rock and setting the tank up and he bumped into the glass slat it was resting on. Right to the frigging bottom it went. It was in the tank less than a minute and I rinsed it with fresh water before drying it, pulling it all apart, and putting it into rice. Who thinks there is a even a remote chance this thing is going to survive this? Don't worry about letting me down gently, I think I already know the answer. Sigh.

05/04/2015, 03:20 PM	#3
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Electronics can get wet as long as they aren't plugged in and have current running through them. The salt is the culprit. If you really got it rinsed throughly and let it completely dry out afterwards, you very well may be pleasantly surprised. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

05/04/2015, 03:48 PM	#4
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	clean with alcohol hint hint __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

05/04/2015, 05:41 PM	#8
Steve Atkins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 552	Accidents like you describe can easily happen without the aid of alcohol. What you need to do is to plan a bit better for things to go wrong. Resting a valuable and running light on loose glass slats above a body of salt water does not really qualify as sound planning. My forte is leaning kit against something and then kicking/tripping over the cord. Steve Last edited by Steve Atkins; 05/04/2015 at 06:15 PM.

05/04/2015, 02:32 PM	#2
oldbones Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 940	You just might be surprised. It was, after all, designed and built to withstand a "marine" environment. I can tell you that my AI prime has been pretty well doused with salt water more than once. I need to develop a better method for refilling tank after w/c... So far, it hasn't skipped a beat. (maybe I should knock on wood now!)

05/08/2015, 11:23 AM	#9
Bobabooie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lancaster, Ohio Posts: 69	Any progress or is it toast?

05/08/2015, 11:33 AM	#10
sidewinder2180 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 139	The 12v power supply could be what blew out when it went in the tank. The light may still be good even if it doesn't turn on after it drys if the power supply blew.

05/08/2015, 11:26 PM	#11
Nihoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nu'uuli, American Samoa Posts: 108	I reassembled it tonight after a week in rice and it fired back up. After about 5 min it faded off so I've sent it back to the rice. The power supply has corrosion in the output plug so on Sunday I will try again and maybe use the cord from my intact unit to see whether that might be the issue. I spoke with AI about it and was told that if it isn't working by next week to send it to them and they feel a repair is possible.

05/09/2015, 07:13 AM	#13
Ryan009 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Bend, WI Posts: 433	Keep trying as you got nothing to lose - you already own it. If AI is willing to help you out, I'd definitely take them up on it. My guess is that you will be able to get it up and running in the short term, my concern would be the long term viability. Electronics can survive if they get wet, but they're not intended to. It's the minerals, not to mention salt, in the water that once it evaporates, can corrode components and bridges components in the long run. You would never had a better shot if it fell into pure RODIN water, but saltwater? Best of luck my friend.

05/09/2015, 07:38 AM	#14
ace_92101 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cebu, Philippines Posts: 763	A fellow homebrewer! Hope it works out, even with the repair. By the way, that's a great avatar!