Protecting against the foggy dew
Tom Shelley reports on a simple idea to deal with items, especially electronic devices, that have either got wet or are in danger of doing so
Brownell, best known for its sophisticated equipment for the dry gas purging of electronics, has brought out a simple device to keep items dry or dry them out if they have become wet.
The DryDisk is small and light weight and can easily be placed in equipment bags. It may thus be used to ensure that delivered or transported equipment remains dry, and, more importantly perhaps, may be used to help dry items out that have become wet. Having shaken out the loose water, putting the equipment into a plastic bag with the disk will dry it out more reliably and safely than placing it next to or on a stove.
The silica gel inside the device is orange when dry but turns green when saturated. The disks can be re-activated many times by putting them in an oven. For transportation, the disk will protect under normal conditions for about four months. Motorists, photographers and those who work outdoors should find the devices particularly useful for protecting binoculars, radios, cameras, tapes, films, maps, portable computers and all kinds of electronic instrumentation.
In the company's more traditional business, dry gas purging electronics prior to sealing up, the NEPS 1000 Advantage is placed in the supply line between the gas regulator and the equipment being purged, in order to control and monitor the purge process to achieve maximum drying efficiency. The device uses an aluminium oxide sensor to measure dryness as the gas is exhaled. Purging is continued until the desired dew point is achieved, or the device is automatically switched off. In addition to military and civilian electronic equipment, the device is now beginning to be used by some of the more upmarket installers of double glazing. The company holds ISO9001 manufacturing approval and is a member of the Defence Manufacturers Association.
Brownell
