PDC 18-4 got water in it.

[Anthony99]

Was fixing the washing machine, and among other things happening, left my drill standing upright in the sink and it got water up to an inch above the battery and now doesn't work.  Would it just be the electronic trigger?  If so, anyone got a spare one they want to sell?  Thanks.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Anthony,

Welcome to the forum.

Our drills shouldn't be affected by water quite like other drills with brushed motors. Did you let it dry out well?

That's not to say that they are impervious to the affects of water.



Shane

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Also, did you try the other battery?

 

[Anthony99]

Whoa, that's a good demo, and I haven't had any problem with mine prior.  Mine was in the water for 24hrs so it's possibly egressed in there?  Will put it back together and see if it's dried out. 

 

[Anthony99]

Yeah, didn't work with the spare battery either.

 

[rst]

As long as you do try to run the drill  while wet,it should be OK.  A very reliable way to dry out wet electronics is to place them in a sealed bag with a large quantity of rice.  In a couple days the rice will have absorbed any moisture.

 

[Stone Message]

I think that rst means do not try to run it whilst wet.

Peter

 

[AlexThePalex]

Being immersed in water for 24 hours is something different than short exposure like in the video. I don't know much electronic stuff that can survive 24 hours in the water. You're probably right that the electronic trigger is toast. You can order a new one from Festool, but it's gonna cost ya, it's 105 euro over here.

 

[Stone Message]

We went to a wedding last Friday and in the train on the way home I put my hearing aid in my top shirt pocket. Needless to say it went in the washing machine the following day. The battery was eventually found and I took great care not to put another in until it was thoroughly dried out. Well, after drying it carefully in the sun for a couple of days, telling my wife it would be fine - it is completely destroyed.

I think that I would rather kill my hearing aid than a lovely Festool drill.

Peter

 

[Rick Christopherson]

... and it got water up to an inch above the battery and now doesn't work. 

From this description, your electronics didn't get wet. They are higher up inside the drill. I believe Li-Ion batteries do have some embedded electronics, and these could have gotten wet, but that doesn't automatically mean they're fried. This isn't like a cellphone, which is more or less a computer.

Check the contacts between the drill and the battery. Aside from the main power contacts, there are some low-power communication contacts that could be more susceptible to poor connections and corrosion.  Take the spare battery and exercise the contacts by inserting and removing it many times.

Do not put the old battery into a charger until it is completely dried. Let the battery sit in a warm (not hot) place for a day, such as in the sun.

The switch is solidstate, so if it did get wet, the worst that would happen is it gets a film covering the resistive surface. Exercising the trigger should help wipe away the film.

The electronics are sealed. So the worst that could happen if they got wet is that the cable connectors got corroded.

 

[mike_aa]

Shane,

Nice video.  All I can say is I hope that wasn't the drill I bought on the recon sale (LOL)!

Mike A.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Mike,

That video is several years old and done by some anonymous person. I have no idea who he is or whether the tool was tortured and returned or not. When the video popped up, I did let dealers in what I thought to be his area know to be on the look out.

Shane

 

[mike_aa]

Not to worry, Shane.  I wasn't being serious.  The one I got was immaculate and looked like it was new.  I just used it again yesterday and it works flawlessly.  It's good to know it will last through a lot worse conditions than I plan on putting it through!

Too bad he didn't return it.  You could have put it on display!

Mike A.

 

[rst]

Thanks Peter, that not was an important omission