Curse

Synthos · Jul 13, 2005, 05:52 PM // 17:52

This information is potentially harming. Do not use. If you need assistance please start a new thread.

A few weeks ago i was getting frustrated because My computer would suddenly shut off playing guildwars, i later found out that this was my Video Card overheating wich was strange to me because the fan seemed to be working fine. Well this would have been all well and great if this was the start of my problems. I was on home and on break from school and i had my case open because my case wasnt getting enough ventalation which was causing my videocard to over heat, and mabey a day later.. A coffee cup was set on an iorning board, it was bumped and the iorning board TIPPED OVER and coffee splashed all over my computer case miracuously very few drips inside.. The biggest drips got on the cables that are in huge jumble inside my computer but for the most part there was just very small splashes.. I reached for the power cord in less then a second and yanked it out of the wall, the computer was still working at the time..

My question for all you chemists out there, Is sugar a conductor? The biggest splashes on the motherboard must not have been bigger then a pin head, i couldnt see them when i examined it directly after but on the black parts it has a slight reflection. I waited 3 days to let it dry and odly enough the computer im using right now is the one that surivived the coffee splash, does anyone know if i should have any long term concerns or problems? I was convinced it was a gonner at the time, but seeing that i got it quick enough and let it dry a sufficient amount of time i hope it works..

Yes laugh at me if you want,
i was just looking for some answers

Aniewiel · Jul 13, 2005, 05:52 PM // 17:52

This might need to go in the Tech Support forum.

Synthos · Jul 13, 2005, 05:53 PM // 17:53

I actually thought this was GWonline.net, i must of accidently hit my other link..

I thought Guru was gone for good, hasnt been up for weeks for me..
Im sorry you can move it if you want.

Principa Discordia · Jul 13, 2005, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Sugar isn't a conductor, but every time the part it's on warms up it will soften and partially liquify.

Jwh6913 · Jul 13, 2005, 05:54 PM // 17:54

spilled plenty of sugary drinks on my keyboard, but thankfully, none on my pc!

just had to replace my keyboard like 5 times in the past few years
becuase of that

Damon Windwalker · Jul 13, 2005, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Not a chemist, but 5 seconds on Google gave me this gem:

"Sugar is a poor conductor because it is uncharged. Pure water is not a
very good conductor of electricity, because it, too, is uncharged.
However, when salts are mixed with water, electricity very readily moves
through the water. The ions that are released when the salt dissolves are
charged, and thats why electricity can now move through the water. In
contrast, sugar is not a salt. (A salt consists of positively and
negatively charged ions held together into a crystal. Common table salt
consists of ions of sodium and chloride.) When sugar dissolves in water,
no ions are released and therefore no increase in the conductivity of water
is observed."
http://www.seps.org/oracle/oracle.ar...16403.377.html

KuTeBaka · Jul 13, 2005, 05:55 PM // 17:55

grab a air or alchohol motherboard cleaner, and clean it up good.

Synthos · Jul 13, 2005, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Principa Discordia

Sugar isn't a conductor, but every time the part it's on warms up it will soften and partially liquify.

Yeah thats what i was concerned about, but theres so little on there its almost residue, I keep thinking ill smell caramel from this thing lol.

Auntie I · Jul 13, 2005, 06:02 PM // 18:02

I am a chemist and I think you'll be OK.
Coffee with lots of sugar (Umm! Just the way I like it) doesn't conduct electricity any better than plain water. I'd be more concerned about the organic compounds in the coffee than the sugar and even then only about it eating away the substrate of the board. Pinpoint drips that have dried well won't hurt your motherboard as bad as rolls of dust bunnies which act like blankets for your motherboard.
If you're concerned take a Q-tip, moisten it and clean the coffee off the motherboard and let everything dry well (again).

Synthos · Jul 13, 2005, 06:05 PM // 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auntie I

I am a chemist and I think you'll be OK.
Coffee with lots of sugar (Umm! Just the way I like it) doesn't conduct electricity any better than plain water. I'd be more concerned about the organic compounds in the coffee than the sugar and even then only about it eating away the substrate of the board. Pinpoint drips that have dried well won't hurt your motherboard as bad as rolls of dust bunnies which act like blankets for your motherboard.
If you're concerned take a Q-tip, moisten it and clean the coffee off the motherboard and let everything dry well (again).

Awesome thanks

See a hearty protective layer of dust protected me from the splashes hehe..
Thanks again.