We have a lighting ballast in for failure analysis and arent sure how to get the encapsulant "tar" from it?
This is a lighting ballast and we have the metal covers removed and are left with a ballast assy built on a pcb, and covered in a thick,  black,  semi-pliable, tar-like encapsulant. 
The tar-like encapsualant smells just like roofing tar.  If you lay it on a piece of notepaper it stains it just like roofing tar.  It can be peeled away just like a roofing tar.  We are afraid of poking too much and damaging components or circuits.  Anybody have experience with it? - and know what it is?  and how to let it soak in a pan of something and rinse this stuff of instead?  Better ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Lenny Carter
Design Engineer
ERG, Inc.
ph (607) 754-9187 x3063
www.ergpower.com

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