Clean Memory Card

[martyjward]

Errrr..... OK i was out for the day, took a spare CF card and put it in my jeans pocket.

Unfortunately said jeans have been through the wash...with....err.... the CF card still in the pocket.

Do you the CF card would be OK?
Would you stick it in your camera?

[Daveart]

Re: Clean Memory Card

Hi if the card is fully dried out give its go, it should be ok I have done a similar thing in the past and worked never had a problem with it, you wouldn,'t harm your camera, if in drought put it in a card reader and insert it into your computer and try to save a image to it, if its damaged at all it will not be recognised by the computer.

Dave

[Zuiko]

Re: Clean Memory Card

I've no experience of this so can't really say, but personally for the cost of a card I don't think I'd risk a malfunction. That's one of the reasons I use several 4gb cards rather than a big expensive one.

[Zuiko]

Re: Clean Memory Card

if in drought

Dave

No, he's got the opposite problem, Dave - more like a flood!

[Ricoh]

Re: Clean Memory Card

I would bin it.

[George Dorn]

Re: Clean Memory Card

I washed CF card once and it didn't work.

Then I put it on the mantlepiece for a week or so to gently dry out. After this it still didn't work.

Steve has the right idea.

[Guest]

Re: Clean Memory Card

Stick it in a bag with dried rice for a couple of weeks, then use a card reader on your computer to see if it works.

[Ricoh]

Re: Clean Memory Card

It's not simply the case that the card's electronics are dry. Although I'm not sure what chemicals make up washing up liquid, there's a fair chance that some are ionic in nature and the residue inside effectively become part of the circuit, causing things to happen inadvertently. Even capacitive effects alone would allow charge transfer. (By design the switching elements within the 'card' are metal oxide, and it's the capacitive effect that is used to affect switching.
If you really want to have a go at this, wash the card repeatedly in distilled water, rinsing many times, then let it dry.
I would only do this if a) I was bored and wanted something to do, or b) it was the last memory card on planet earth.
Good luck.

[Wally]

Re: Clean Memory Card

I work on the principle that electronics and water, much like oil and water, don't mix.

Bottom line is if you are willing to try it out? It may work initially then either pack in or become erratic?

The question you have to ask yourself is: What shots can I afford to lose?

Remember that SOD's law will come into play when you can least afford it.