Would a PCB or a motherboard be damaged if I dipped it in pure alcohol or distilled water WHILE TURNED ON?

[Rodion15]

Since pure alcohol, for example pure Isopropyl alcohol and distilled water are supposed not to conduct electricity. What would happen if I dipped a turned on PCB into it?.

What would happen to a motherboard?

 

[Onus]

Alcohol in particular is a solvent. Anything dissolved in it could very well turn it into an instant conductor. I predict a very quick death. This could apply to varnishes, glues, or other adhesives (e.g. on labels) that may be on the components.
To a lesser extent, even distilled water will dissolve some things, with similar results.

 

[USAFRet]

What would happen to a motherboard?

You'll let the magic smoke out.

 

[jimmysmitty]

Probably a short, a bit of zapping and smoke. You might also see a few chips pop.

Unless you can make sure the distilled water stays 100% clean (near impossible) it will have some sort of dust in it that will probably cause it to fry.

Alcohol, same thing.

The only thing I have ever seen a system "dipped" in was this:

https://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

I particularly enjoyed the THG modded PC:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/strip-fans,1203.html

Man this is almost 10 years old? Toms really needs to start doing things like this again. It was fun.

That even reminds me of when it was super important to keep the chipset cooled and we had after market cooling fans for them.

 

[Rodion15]

Thanks. PCBs are rinsed with water at manufacture, right?. So I guess it's electricity that would make it act as a solvent.

 

[Rodion15]

Probably a short, a bit of zapping and smoke. You might also see a few chips pop.

Unless you can make sure the distilled water stays 100% clean (near impossible) it will have some sort of dust in it that will probably cause it to fry.

Alcohol, same thing.

The only thing I have ever seen a system "dipped" in was this:

https://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

I particularly enjoyed the THG modded PC:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/strip-fans,1203.html

Man this is almost 10 years old? Toms really needs to start doing things like this again. It was fun.

That even reminds me of when it was super important to keep the chipset cooled and we had after market cooling fans for them.

very interesting the oil dip!

 

[synphul]

I don't know if pcb's are rinsed with water during the manufacturing process, if so they're adequately dried. Electricity wouldn't turn the water into a solvent so much as water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Joining paths that should be isolated will short the board. I wouldn't dip a motherboard into anything to be honest. Despite things like 'pure' alcohol and 'pure' distilled water not being electrical conductors it's not worth risking that it's completely pure especially the minute it hits the air or any other container. If anything were to short in alcohol by the odd chance, consider than alcohol is extremely flammable. Just enough spark and you'll have bigger problems than a fried motherboard. Saw the aftermath of a model who was cleansing her skin with rubbing alcohol and absentmindedly smoking - her face lit up like a fireball and the burns were horrendous. That was just with a thin application of rubbing alcohol, imagine what a container/vat full of it would be capable of.

 

[Rodion15]

Thanks for your answers, they were all clarifying.