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If you spill liquid onto a live conductive thread circuit, will it short out? Answered

Will liquid exposure ruin a live conductive textile circuit? How about if it's powered-down? Can you wash (gently, by hand) a garment with a conductive textile circuit in it? What happens if you're wearing one and you get caught out in the rain?

Tags:conductive threadconductive textilewashliquidshortshort outwearrainspill

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frollard
frollard

12 years ago

Depends on the liquid- water technically doesnt conduct, but if theres any ions (sweat, salt, etc) in the fabric, they'll make the water conductive and it will short. Generally electronics are 'waterproof' when they are off. Shorts tend to fry various components when switched on. Rule of thumb, you can get them wet, but not while theres power. Dont let those two mix.

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Gorfram
Gorfram

Answer 12 years ago

Thanks for your reply. :) (Isn't there some sort of saying about how every answer leads to its own questions?...) - So powering-down isn't enough, the circuit needs to be fully disconnected from the power source? - Hunh... I had understood that in most water (tap water, rainwater, even distilled water), some percentage of the H20 molecules separated in H+ ions and OH- anions, making the water conductive; and that only water that has been super-purified and de-ionized is non-conductive. Have I got this wrong?