Water Was Low Res

Robert Billing

I was once called in to repair a GE Terminet printer that was no longer working after a humidifier overflow. When I first got there theree was not much evidence that anything had happened except that it was dead and the paper in it looked like it had been wet at one time.

Not much was to be seen in the upper section, but that area was all mechanical stuff anyway so a little water couldn't bother it anyway.

When I got into the lower section where all of the power supply and control cards reside, there was a heavy, crusty layer of corrosion and lime buildup. It seems that when a humidifier evaporates the water, it leaves behind a water like substance with a high concentration of whatever crud is present in the local water feed. As the printer was always powered, this substance made a great electrolyte. I guess that the power supply held up for a long time judging by how much etching had taken place.

I marveled at it for a few minutes, put the covers back on, removed all of the external connections, and told the customer that it could not be repaired.

-- do not cover any holes I may be demented - but I'm not crazy! * SPAyM trap: there is no X in my address *