Flooded SD Card

Triple Jumper wrote:

> Hi
>
> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>
> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
> completely dead).
>
> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
> the salt water affect the device?
>
> Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
> its contents?
>
Saltwater is a virtual death sentence for anything electronic. I have
actually resurrected some electronics that were immersed in freshwater.

My only suggestion would be to soak the card in fresh water (distilled
water would probably be better) for a couple of hours. Take the card
out and put it in some 91% rubbing alcohol for another couple of hours.
Take it out and let it air dry. If it does not work, it is totalled.
You are no worse off than when you started.

Triple Jumper wrote:

> Hi
>
> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>
> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
> completely dead).
>
> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
> the salt water affect the device?
>
> Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
> its contents?
>
Saltwater is a virtual death sentence for anything electronic. I have
actually resurrected some electronics that were immersed in freshwater.

My only suggestion would be to soak the card in fresh water (distilled
water would probably be better) for a couple of hours. Take the card
out and put it in some 91% rubbing alcohol for another couple of hours.
Take it out and let it air dry. If it does not work, it is totalled.
You are no worse off than when you started.

Triple Jumper wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>
> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
> completely dead).
>
> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
> the salt water affect the device?
>

Probably by creating electrical currents, especially if it was in the
camera. Salt water is conductive enough to short out a live circuit
across the sort of gap between contacts found on an SD card.

David

Triple Jumper wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>
> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
> completely dead).
>
> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
> the salt water affect the device?
>

Probably by creating electrical currents, especially if it was in the
camera. Salt water is conductive enough to short out a live circuit
across the sort of gap between contacts found on an SD card.

David

Try cleaning it with lemon juice and water. The contacts may have some salt
on them which can short them out.
I found a camera (without a housing) in 40 feet of fresh water which had
been on the bottom for some time by the look of it. I cleaned the card and
it still had pictures on it. My dive buddy is still using the card in his
camera a year later.
BTW: I read the tip about lemon juice on the net, it was a fix for dive
computers that are draining batteries because the water contacts are dirty
and shorting out. When this happens the computer doesn't shut off or it
stays on for longer periods.

Al
Bottoms Up Divers


"Triple Jumper" <no_email_thanks@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:rfKdnQX1Ae0ty2HZnZ2dnUVZ8qWdnZ2d@eclipse.net. uk...
> Hi
>
> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>
> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
> completely dead).
>
> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
> the salt water affect the device?
>
> Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
> its contents?
>
> Thanks
> TJ

Try cleaning it with lemon juice and water. The contacts may have some salt
on them which can short them out.
I found a camera (without a housing) in 40 feet of fresh water which had
been on the bottom for some time by the look of it. I cleaned the card and
it still had pictures on it. My dive buddy is still using the card in his
camera a year later.
BTW: I read the tip about lemon juice on the net, it was a fix for dive
computers that are draining batteries because the water contacts are dirty
and shorting out. When this happens the computer doesn't shut off or it
stays on for longer periods.

Al
Bottoms Up Divers


"Triple Jumper" <no_email_thanks@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:rfKdnQX1Ae0ty2HZnZ2dnUVZ8qWdnZ2d@eclipse.net. uk...
> Hi
>
> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>
> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
> completely dead).
>
> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
> the salt water affect the device?
>
> Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
> its contents?
>
> Thanks
> TJ

The alcohol is a good idea but do that after you clean it with lemon juice
and water.

Al
Bottoms Up Divers

"nitespark" <nitespark@cox.net> wrote in message
news:i%YKg.132471$LF4.42178@dukeread05...
>
>
> Triple Jumper wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
>> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>>
>> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
>> completely dead).
>>
>> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
>> the salt water affect the device?
>>
>> Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
>> its contents?
>>
> Saltwater is a virtual death sentence for anything electronic. I have
> actually resurrected some electronics that were immersed in freshwater.
>
> My only suggestion would be to soak the card in fresh water (distilled
> water would probably be better) for a couple of hours. Take the card out
> and put it in some 91% rubbing alcohol for another couple of hours. Take
> it out and let it air dry. If it does not work, it is totalled. You are
> no worse off than when you started.
>

The alcohol is a good idea but do that after you clean it with lemon juice
and water.

Al
Bottoms Up Divers

"nitespark" <nitespark@cox.net> wrote in message
news:i%YKg.132471$LF4.42178@dukeread05...
>
>
> Triple Jumper wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
>> having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>>
>> Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
>> completely dead).
>>
>> Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
>> the salt water affect the device?
>>
>> Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
>> its contents?
>>
> Saltwater is a virtual death sentence for anything electronic. I have
> actually resurrected some electronics that were immersed in freshwater.
>
> My only suggestion would be to soak the card in fresh water (distilled
> water would probably be better) for a couple of hours. Take the card out
> and put it in some 91% rubbing alcohol for another couple of hours. Take
> it out and let it air dry. If it does not work, it is totalled. You are
> no worse off than when you started.
>

ajtessier wrote:
> The alcohol is a good idea but do that after you clean it with lemon juice
> and water.
>
> Al
> Bottoms Up Divers
>
> "nitespark" <nitespark@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:i%YKg.132471$LF4.42178@dukeread05...
>
>>
>>Triple Jumper wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
>>>having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>>>
>>>Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
>>>completely dead).
>>>
>>>Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
>>>the salt water affect the device?
>>>
>>>Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
>>>its contents?
>>>
>>
>>Saltwater is a virtual death sentence for anything electronic. I have
>>actually resurrected some electronics that were immersed in freshwater.
>>
>>My only suggestion would be to soak the card in fresh water (distilled
>>water would probably be better) for a couple of hours. Take the card out
>>and put it in some 91% rubbing alcohol for another couple of hours. Take
>>it out and let it air dry. If it does not work, it is totalled. You are
>>no worse off than when you started.
>>
>

I am not sure what, if any, effect the acid in the lemon juice would
have on the SD card. Certainly, if there is are any dissimilar metals
within the SD card, exposed to the lemon juice would result in
electrolytic action. I suggested distilled water because (1) it would
not leave any type of deposit and (2) it would dissolve and greatly
dilute any salt buildup on the device. I suggested the alcohol since it
has a great affinity to water and would evaporate quickly.

ajtessier wrote:
> The alcohol is a good idea but do that after you clean it with lemon juice
> and water.
>
> Al
> Bottoms Up Divers
>
> "nitespark" <nitespark@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:i%YKg.132471$LF4.42178@dukeread05...
>
>>
>>Triple Jumper wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>I have a Transcend 4Gb 150x SD card which has just spent half an hour
>>>having its first swim in the Caribbean Sea at some 30m / 100ft.
>>>
>>>Unsurprisingly it is no longer readable (and of course the camera is
>>>completely dead).
>>>
>>>Can anyone explain technically what has made it unreadable, e.g. how did
>>>the salt water affect the device?
>>>
>>>Is there any chance that a specialist data recovery firm could retrieve
>>>its contents?
>>>
>>
>>Saltwater is a virtual death sentence for anything electronic. I have
>>actually resurrected some electronics that were immersed in freshwater.
>>
>>My only suggestion would be to soak the card in fresh water (distilled
>>water would probably be better) for a couple of hours. Take the card out
>>and put it in some 91% rubbing alcohol for another couple of hours. Take
>>it out and let it air dry. If it does not work, it is totalled. You are
>>no worse off than when you started.
>>
>

I am not sure what, if any, effect the acid in the lemon juice would
have on the SD card. Certainly, if there is are any dissimilar metals
within the SD card, exposed to the lemon juice would result in
electrolytic action. I suggested distilled water because (1) it would
not leave any type of deposit and (2) it would dissolve and greatly
dilute any salt buildup on the device. I suggested the alcohol since it
has a great affinity to water and would evaporate quickly.