So far I never did experience problems with corrosion of electrodes, but on my recent trip to Mafia Island/Tansania in November, two HF-1 strobes almost simultaneaously let me down for most of the time of the stay (it turned out later the reason was corrosion of the electrodes)...

I was using them for approx. 2 years, never flooded them and cannot remember that I ever dropped a single drop of (salt)water into the battery compartment. I fear that this problem will come again and plan to put together some kind of "emergency kit" that I can use when I am abroad.

The strobes had the electrodes replaced at Backscatter (kind, quick and labour as a goodwill case), are now on their way back and I asked Sevag (the Service Manager), what components he would suggest for such a kit. I think his suggestion may be of interest also for others here:

"...The best tools to have with you are some alcohol wipes, liquid isopropyl alcohol if possible (90-99% is best), a brush to help reach the contacts at the base of the strobe, and a fiberglass cleaning tool like one of these: https://www.backscatter.com/Hama-Contact-Cleaner-CAUTION-Fiberglass ..."

What is the opinion of UW- photographers, who have had problems in the past with strobe electrodes, about such a "kit"? How did you deal with corroded electrodes? Any additional suggestions?

Thanks for the input, Wolfgang

26 minutes ago, Architeuthis said:

So far I never did experience problems with corrosion of electrodes, but on my recent trip to Mafia Island/Tansania in November, two HF-1 strobes almost simultaneaously let me down for most of the time of the stay (it turned out later the reason was corrosion of the electrodes)...

I was using them for approx. 2 years, never flooded them and cannot remember that I ever dropped a single drop of (salt)water into the battery compartment. I fear that this problem will come again and plan to put together some kind of "emergency kit" that I can use when I am abroad.

The strobes had the electrodes replaced at Backscatter (kind, quick and labour as a goodwill case), are now on their way back and I asked Sevag (the Service Manager), what components he would suggest for such a kit. I think his suggestion may be of interest also for others here:

"...The best tools to have with you are some alcohol wipes, liquid isopropyl alcohol if possible (90-99% is best), a brush to help reach the contacts at the base of the strobe, and a fiberglass cleaning tool like one of these: https://www.backscatter.com/Hama-Contact-Cleaner-CAUTION-Fiberglass ..."

What is the opinion of UW- photographers, who have had problems in the past with strobe electrodes, about such a "kit"? How did you deal with corroded electrodes? Any additional suggestions?

Thanks for the input, Wolfgang

The standard emergency kit is:

• Diet Coke to remove battery acid, if needed

• Blunt end of a chopstick or pencil with a bit of t-shirt or makeup pad rubber-banded to the end

• Some alcohol for the pad on the chopstick

• Rubbing action

• If that doesn't work, use fine sandpaper in place of alcohol soak cotton pad

You can get better products like DeOxit Gold to clean your contacts before you are on a trip with fewer resources.

For travel, I have a fiberglass scratch pen https://www.amazon.com/TAURISH-Fiberglass-Electronic-Applications-Corrosion/dp/B0DT9P7C62/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2V0ITNPSAKKGQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iQBCYi28DSmpLll6MvLJFJKIJ6ZCCW_ZiI-0WBcvdVj9F68Cv_CDYmKPUaPg7nTs6TEp5oQqQ-ij72dMbUV6-ML96Met5HW1jH9Eqlg8yV0apjNrmnNMt3iEVkM1y3US49AdqT9YuQkg1N0qslVNv4SVQxiA6ljDEwSDJX48xlVTy3CxqZA_kDIfwuVAMq2T_mPKLK0lon0hVmo4D60CzPvCahNgLA-_1bm-FHkwLTU.l035Urp2_-K0k6uiyXU0mtBZkI873uouugTlQRRclCU&dib_tag=se&keywords=scratch+brush&qid=1770322388&sprefix=scratch+brush%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-4

and some 6" bamboo cotton swabs (like long Q tips) and small bottle of 99% isopropyl alcohol. They fit in a baggy and weigh very little, and I have started doing a quick alcohol wipe of contacts when changing batteries or if on a small boat, later when back in room or whatever. Maybe overkill to clean that often, but it only takes a minute. Scratch pen would get used for a problem instead of precautionary. If the compartment had leaked water or a battery leaked, cola or water and baking soda would probably be needed.

Only recently did I learn that especially with lithium ion batteries we now use, frequent cleaning of contacts is prudent

https://www.sealife-cameras.com/troubleshooting-and-product-updates/sea-dragon-lights-updates/

https://thebw-100.com/the-importance-of-cleaning-electrical-contacts-to-prevent-corrosion/

1 hour ago, JohnD said:

For travel, I have a fiberglass scratch pen https://www.amazon.com/TAURISH-Fiberglass-Electronic-Applications-Corrosion/dp/B0DT9P7C62/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2V0ITNPSAKKGQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iQBCYi28DSmpLll6MvLJFJKIJ6ZCCW_ZiI-0WBcvdVj9F68Cv_CDYmKPUaPg7nTs6TEp5oQqQ-ij72dMbUV6-ML96Met5HW1jH9Eqlg8yV0apjNrmnNMt3iEVkM1y3US49AdqT9YuQkg1N0qslVNv4SVQxiA6ljDEwSDJX48xlVTy3CxqZA_kDIfwuVAMq2T_mPKLK0lon0hVmo4D60CzPvCahNgLA-_1bm-FHkwLTU.l035Urp2_-K0k6uiyXU0mtBZkI873uouugTlQRRclCU&dib_tag=se&keywords=scratch+brush&qid=1770322388&sprefix=scratch+brush%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-4

and some 6" bamboo cotton swabs (like long Q tips) and small bottle of 99% isopropyl alcohol. They fit in a baggy and weigh very little, and I have started doing a quick alcohol wipe of contacts when changing batteries or if on a small boat, later when back in room or whatever. Maybe overkill to clean that often, but it only takes a minute. Scratch pen would get used for a problem instead of precautionary. If the compartment had leaked water or a battery leaked, cola or water and baking soda would probably be needed.

Only recently did I learn that especially with lithium ion batteries we now use, frequent cleaning of contacts is prudent

https://www.sealife-cameras.com/troubleshooting-and-product-updates/sea-dragon-lights-updates/

https://thebw-100.com/the-importance-of-cleaning-electrical-contacts-to-prevent-corrosion/

Didn't we have a long thread about this with some parties claiming they go years without cleaning and its a manufacturing defect at fault? Despite the wide spread existence of gold contact cleaning products?

Yes, we did, but I had some additional info and a link to a much less expensive scratch brush than Backscatter is selling, so I thought that merited a direct response.

Thank you all again for this great advice...👍

I will take the fiberglass stick plus isopropylalcohol as first treatment and, if this is not enough, antioxidant cleaner and even coca cola...

(I should add that Backscatter definitely does not recommend to use contacts cleaner and/ore coke, but what can we do when the milder treatments fail (Sevag from BS service department writes: "...I would strongly advise against using Coca Cola or anything other than either pure fresh water or isopropyl alcohol on any strobe equipment...")?)...

The DeOxid Gold, recommended by Dave, is very expensive here in Europe (about 50 Euros), I found a cheaper product (produced in EU), I hope that it will work equally well: https://www.amazon.de/Kontakt-Chemie-KONTAKT-70004-AA-Kontaktreiniger/dp/B004SGL2T0/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Architeuthis

15 minutes ago, Architeuthis said:

Thank you all again for this great advice...👍

I will take the fiberglass stick plus isopropylalcohol as first treatment and, if this is not enough, antioxidant cleaner and even coca cola...

(I should add that Backscatter definitely does not recommend to use contacts cleaner and/ore coke, but what can we do when the milder treatments fail (Sevag from BS service department writes: "...I would strongly advise against using Coca Cola or anything other than either pure fresh water or isopropyl alcohol on any strobe equipment...")?)...

The DeOxid Gold, recommended by Dave, is very expensive here in Europe (about 50 Euros), I found a cheaper product (produced in EU), I hope that it will work equally well: https://www.amazon.de/Kontakt-Chemie-KONTAKT-70004-AA-Kontaktreiniger/dp/B004SGL2T0/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis

As I understand things Coca Cola is not a routine cleanup medium, I have seen people suggest using it after a Li-ion battery has been flooded and the battery compartment is full of sea water mixed with battery innards, The blend of sea water and the internal components of a Li-ion is going to be far worse than Coca Cola. The active ingredient of coke is phosphoric acid, that's why it makes tarnished coins look like new. I don't think I would put it a battery compartment unless I had a flood.

You do need to consider what the strobe is made from - plastic strobes could be harmed by hydrocarbon solvents used in some contact cleaners, likewise just pouring isopropyl alcohol in is not advisable as it may react with some plastics. There was a post some years back with advice from Reef photo about what could happen to a flooded INON strobe, they said that plastic used in INONs was strong but not chemically resistant. Isopropyl should only be applied to contacts with a Q tip not poured in. IMO Coca cola would do less damage than alcohol - plastic is generally inherently resistant to acids especially relatively mild ones like phosphoric.

14 hours ago, JohnD said:

.....If the compartment had leaked water or a battery leaked, cola or water and baking soda would probably be needed....

From the chemical point of view, there is a huge difference between Cola and Baking Soda. Cola contains an inorganic acid, namely phosphoric acid, and has a pH of ~ 2.5. Bakery Soda is basic, ph of ~11.5.

If modern lithium-batteries leak, when combined with water or air humidity, hydrofluoric acid can be formed. This acid cannot be neutralized with another acid (Cola), but with bases. I would, therefore, strongly recommend Baking Soda, followed by alcohol or, as a compromise, distilled water. Don't underestimate the effect of cola, as it can corrode many metals upon contact!

Stay dry!
Jens