Should I trust the waterproofing on water-safe Kobos? - Page 3

Quoth · 06-04-2020, 01:01 PM

I don't think "Rubbing Alcohol" is Meths.
Meth is unrelated.

Methanol: Evaporates very quickly. Rare outside of a lab. Very poisonous. Makes you blind if you don't die.
Methylated Spirit: Meths, denatured alcohol, wood alcohol. Usually a mix of Methanol and Ethanol. May have other additives and is usually coloured/ dyed. Used to start a Primus, degrease and for small spirit burners (used to boil a small kettle up to 1940s, also toy steam engines and beginners chemistry sets).
Surgical Spirit: Mostly Ethanol, perhaps a little Methanol and Antiseptic. Some water. At a pinch it will do for cleaning/degreasing.
Ethanol: Pure form of what is in alcoholic drinks. The strongest drinks are about 50% water. A 100 degrees proof was originally the mix of water and alcohol that didn't prevent gunpowder burning? Degrees Proof is different in USA & UK.
Propanol: AKA IPA, used industrially for cleaning / degreasing. Obviously different when poured/ shaken, evaporates slowly. Also called rubbing alcohol. Probably poisonous.

NiLuJe · 06-04-2020, 01:17 PM

@Quoth:

Small correction: IPA (Isopropy alcohol/2-propanol) actually evaporates *quickly*

. (And, yeah, mildly poisonous, and obviously extremely flammable).

ZodWallop · 06-04-2020, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

methylated spirits -- looks like it's a term used in NZ for the ethanol version (as opposed to isopropyl) of what we'd call rubbing alcohol in the US, also called denatured alcohol in the US.

Here 'meths' make us think of something entirely different.

Rusty100 · 06-04-2020, 09:08 PM

Sorry if the shorthand was confusing.

The point is that methylated spirits (largely methanol) mixes well with water and thereby can be used to flush out water from a wet device replacing the water with alcohol that is a poor conductor of electricity.

Other pure alcohols might well do the same. I just used what was to hand - and had complete success with two wet electronics devices.

Nightflyer · 06-04-2020, 09:44 PM

Kobo website referring to their waterproof eReaders, “ Avoid submerging your eReader in salt water, soapy water, or chlorinated water”.

That covers most probable types of water like pool, beach, bath in places with chlorinated water...

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...-Kobo-eReaders

shalym · 06-07-2020, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Here 'meths' make us think of something entirely different.

Yeah...that was my thought at first, too, which is why I asked.

Shari

JSWolf · 06-07-2020, 03:43 PM

When the original H2O came out, Kobo made a video showing it in a swimming pool.

MGlitch · 06-07-2020, 04:25 PM

They suggest not doing it because despite the marketing the devices are not waterproof they are water resistant. Over time and with consistent exposure that resistance weakens.

The system they use is meant to protect it from accidental drops in the pool or bath etc. you’re not intended to use the device under water.

06-04-2020, 09:08 PM	#34
Rusty100 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: Aura HD	Sorry if the shorthand was confusing. The point is that methylated spirits (largely methanol) mixes well with water and thereby can be used to flush out water from a wet device replacing the water with alcohol that is a poor conductor of electricity. Other pure alcohols might well do the same. I just used what was to hand - and had complete success with two wet electronics devices. Last edited by Rusty100; 06-04-2020 at 09:11 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Safe way to update older Kobos?	rcentros	Kobo Reader	7	09-12-2019 03:32 AM
EuGH zu Safe Haven USA: Not safe enough.	beachwanderer	Deutsches Forum	0	10-06-2015 04:25 AM
Waterproofing your ebook reader	RickyMaveety	Lounge	7	05-09-2011 04:01 PM

06-04-2020, 01:01 PM	#31
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 12,268 Karma: 89531599 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	I don't think "Rubbing Alcohol" is Meths. Meth is unrelated. Methanol: Evaporates very quickly. Rare outside of a lab. Very poisonous. Makes you blind if you don't die. Methylated Spirit: Meths, denatured alcohol, wood alcohol. Usually a mix of Methanol and Ethanol. May have other additives and is usually coloured/ dyed. Used to start a Primus, degrease and for small spirit burners (used to boil a small kettle up to 1940s, also toy steam engines and beginners chemistry sets). Surgical Spirit: Mostly Ethanol, perhaps a little Methanol and Antiseptic. Some water. At a pinch it will do for cleaning/degreasing. Ethanol: Pure form of what is in alcoholic drinks. The strongest drinks are about 50% water. A 100 degrees proof was originally the mix of water and alcohol that didn't prevent gunpowder burning? Degrees Proof is different in USA & UK. Propanol: AKA IPA, used industrially for cleaning / degreasing. Obviously different when poured/ shaken, evaporates slowly. Also called rubbing alcohol. Probably poisonous.

06-04-2020, 01:17 PM	#32
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,494 Karma: 26047188 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	@Quoth: Small correction: IPA (Isopropy alcohol/2-propanol) actually evaporates quickly . (And, yeah, mildly poisonous, and obviously extremely flammable).

06-04-2020, 09:44 PM	#35
Nightflyer Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 2122502 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Asia (from USA) Device: Meebook M6, Kobo Clara HD	Kobo website referring to their waterproof eReaders, “ Avoid submerging your eReader in salt water, soapy water, or chlorinated water”. That covers most probable types of water like pool, beach, bath in places with chlorinated water... https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...-Kobo-eReaders

06-07-2020, 03:43 PM	#37
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,041 Karma: 134368292 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	When the original H2O came out, Kobo made a video showing it in a swimming pool.

06-07-2020, 04:25 PM	#38
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,851 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	They suggest not doing it because despite the marketing the devices are not waterproof they are water resistant. Over time and with consistent exposure that resistance weakens. The system they use is meant to protect it from accidental drops in the pool or bath etc. you’re not intended to use the device under water.