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    scratched motherboard on my laptop

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by alwaysfaithful, Jun 17, 2009.

  1. alwaysfaithful

    alwaysfaithful Notebook Enthusiast

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    I spilled some water on my laptop, dv5t. So I had to take it apart and dry it. When I was removing the keyboard, I accidentally left a scratch on the motherboard. I looked at the scratch under microscope. The scratch definitely cut through a conductive track. Fortunately the track is pretty isolated from other tracks and is one of the wider ones. The scratch completely destroyed the yellowish green coating of the track and I could see the exposed copper underneath. Is this bad? Will this track still conduct?
     
    alwaysfaithful, Jun 17, 2009
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  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    As long as the copper is still intact, it should still conduct. I suggest you re-coat it somehow, though, as it must be very vulnerable now that bare copper is exposed.
     
    Mastershroom, Jun 17, 2009
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  3. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    LOL.. you have a microscope? Congrats.

    No, it's not that bad. My mobo is scratched as well and it still works. As long as the underlyig copper *track* is intact, then I see no reason why your mobo won't work properly. Just make sure it doesn't short circuit at where you scratched it.
     
    jackluo923, Jun 17, 2009
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  4. alwaysfaithful

    alwaysfaithful Notebook Enthusiast

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    I work at a research lab. So I used scope there.
    What would happen if I just leave the exposed copper there?
    If I do something about it, what should I cover it with? Solder? or silver paint?
     
    alwaysfaithful, Jun 17, 2009
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  5. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Nothing would happen as long as you don't shortcircuit... Actually.. copper could oxidize, but the effect of that is small.

    If you want to cover it, get some hotglue or something. Silicone or something that's non-conductive works well.
     
    jackluo923, Jun 17, 2009
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  6. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    go swipe some nailpolish and cover the trace ... it works great untill my wife finds her favorite shades in my toolkit
     
    crazycanuk, Jun 17, 2009
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