Using Denatured Alcohol To Clean Flux ???

556man · Nov 3, 2009

Hello,

I've seen a guy on youtube cleaning a PCB using denatured alcohol to clean flux after soldering. Would denatured alcohol hurt the emitter after soldering?

Thanks in advance for the info.

556man

Mick · Nov 3, 2009

You should go to the manufacturer of the "emitter" (LED?) for this information.

csshih · Nov 3, 2009

alcohol should be fine on the emitter, which one are we talking about? some emitters, like the cree xr-e, have very easy to knock off domes.

556man · Nov 3, 2009

csshih said:
alcohol should be fine on the emitter, which one are we talking about? some emitters, like the cree xr-e, have very easy to knock off domes.

It's a Cree XR-E Q5. I'll clean it carefully around the dome and blow it with compressed air.

Thank you,
556man

Nake · Nov 3, 2009

I use a Q-tip and alcohol to clean the flux up. No need to touch the emitter.

Al Combs · Nov 3, 2009

556man said:
It's a Cree XR-E Q5. I'll clean it carefully around the dome and blow it with compressed air.

Thank you,
556man

As csshih pointed out, the XR-E domes are very delicate. The glass hemispherical dome is glued onto the reflector with a tiny bead of white silicone glue. Take a close look with a magnifier and you can see it. There is special "goop" in between the back of the lens and the delicate emitter. If you hit the dome too hard with compressed air, you just might blow the dome right off the LED. Nake's idea of a Q-Tip is much safer.

556man · Nov 4, 2009

Tried cleaning it with a Q tip and it worked great. Thanks!

556man

nailbender · Nov 4, 2009

The manufacturer Osram actually says to use alcohol to clean emitters in their guidelines.

Using Denatured Alcohol To Clean Flux ???

556man

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