Circuit board cleaner is important when you are repairing or maintaining circuit boards, and there are a few features to look for in choosing one. Getting a non-static or non-conductive circuit board cleaner usually is important, because this keeps static from interfering with the circuit board and destroying it. You also should check to ensure the cleaner is safe on plastic, metal, rubber and other materials commonly used on circuit boards. Some circuit board cleaners can remove a range of contaminants, while others can only remove one or two, and this may be important to check. The circuit board also may have some problems if it is exposed to liquid for a long time, so getting fast-drying cleaner usually is the best.
One of the most important things when getting a circuit board cleaner is ensuring that it does not promote static. Most circuit board cleaners are non-static but, if you are using a generic cleaner that is not specifically made for circuit boards, then you should check to be sure of this. Any static electricity from any source has a high chance of destroying the components if it touches the board.
There are many different materials used on a circuit board, but the most common are plastic, metal and rubber from the wires, board and contacts. Many cleaners are not safe for these materials and may even corrode the board. This means you should check the circuit board cleaner to make sure it is safe on these materials, along with any other materials on your specific board.
When a circuit board is used for a long time, it usually builds up contaminants such as oil, grease and dirt, and these interfere with the effectiveness of the board. Depending on what you need to clean, you should check the circuit board cleaner to see what contaminants it can remove. While a general board cleaner may seem to be the best, cleaners that can only remove a specific contaminant usually can remove that contaminant better than a general cleaner would.
Liquid and circuit boards rarely mix, and their combination can lead to major problems if the liquid stays on the boards for too time. To keep this problem from happening, it usually is best to check the circuit board cleaner for fast-drying properties. This will keep the liquid from destroying the board as a result of long exposure, and it will allow you to place the circuit board back in the machine quicker.