Lenny, How OLD is this thing?! Some fluorescent light ballasts from the 1980s and earlier had PCBs in them and I ain't talkin' printed circuit boards here! Bev RIM -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Terry L. Munson Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 4:11 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] lighting ballast encapsulant removal Lenny I would suggest a different non-chemical approach by freezing the ballast and then chipping or cutting the frozen pitch material to get to the surface for Failure Analysis. We have found that pitch can be contaminated and cause leakage and corrosion problems. We have also found that capacitors can leak and the electrolyte will dissolve the material and cause leakage and corrosion problems. If you have solder joint problems then this approach works well to investigate the joint quality as well. If you have an question please call. Terry Munson 765-457-8095 In a message dated 5/29/2009 2:01:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: 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 --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- **************We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. 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