My VEVOR 30L Ultrasonic Cleaner is approaching 4 years of sporadic use and I'm doing a water change now so I thought it might be interesting to create a thread to share my experience and hopefully hear from others too. Let's share recommendations, tips and tricks!
I have a feeling this specific model has gained some new users after @Branchus and @Mac84 did some great videos on it a while back:
Overall I'm pretty satisfied although honestly not sure if there are other options in this size and price range.
Problems
Unfortunately, I have had two issues so far that certainly fall in the "not great" category:
I replaced the switch and its been working okay since. Maybe just a random faulty part?
Just recently, after almost 4 years of use, in doing my second water/cleaning solution change the drain valve seems to have given out. When I first opened the valve I only got a trickle until I used a chop stick to agitate the drain hole at the bottom of the tank. I think I underestimated how much gunk had found its way in there in the 2.5 years since I last did this. When it was empty I took it outside and used the garden hose to flush the valve from both sides and some little corroded metal bits came out. When trying to fill it back up with distilled water the closed valve had a steady leak. I thought about trying to replace the valve but ended up just getting a brass screw plug. I wonder if the cleaning solution and/or what’s been coming off the boards could have played at part in the apparent corrosion?
Filling and Cleaning Solution
As others have noted the “30L” size seems to be like the old “15 Inch” CRT monitor marketing (13.3 inch viewable!). I’ve used 6 gallons (22.7L) of distilled water which is as close to the top as makes sense to me (~3/4 inch). Using distilled water at least starts you off without any minerals and impurities that might be in your tap water. Although after a while I wonder how that would compare to what comes off what you are cleaning…
For cleaning solution, up until now I have used “Elmasonic 800 0102 Elma TEC Clean A1 Ultrasonic Cleaner Solution Concentrate for Electronics and Optics” Its $113 for 2.6 Quarts (2.5L) on Amazon (10/27/2024):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0725WP9Z9/?th=1
The Elma instructions recommended using 3-10% of the water, I used 3%, 23 fl oz (681mL).
However, this go around I’ve decide to give Branson EC a try as it seems highly recommended. I ended up getting it off eBay, “Branson EC Concentrate Circuit Board PCB Ultrasonic Cleaning Cleaner Solution”, $70 for 1 Quart (950mL). Pricier than the Elma.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185929230724
The Branson instructions say to use 2-5% by volume, with 3% recommended. Which I’m just about to do (anyone go higher or lower with this stuff?).
Temp and Time
The Elma instructions recommend 65 C for 3-10 min. 4 years ago I read/saw other recommendations for lower temps and longer times, like 50 C for 5-15 min per side. Not sure I have a great reason butI have typically been doing 60 C for 10-15 min per side. Its worked well for me.
The Branson instructions say 54-71 C, with 60 C recommended.
Looking for other guidance from their videos above:
@Branchus recommends 45 C and 30 min per side, only 15 for modern/delicate boards.
@Mac84 recommended 20 min first side and then 10 min for the other, going to 20 there too if it’s very dirty. I don’t think he had a temp recommendation.
Think I’ll try it a couple different ways and see if I can tell a difference, Bruce’s low and longer vs maybe a middle ground of 55 C and 20 min.
Rinse and Dry
After coming out of the bath I’ve been using and reusing IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) which I pour over the boards into a disposable aluminum baking tray. For smaller boards, LC to Quadra 630 size that can sit on the bottom of the tray I get to slosh is back and forth which I think does a great job of displacing the remaining water and cleaning solution. It’s a bit more tedious on bigger boards pouring it over and over (I drain the pan into a quart container in between). I’m going to start with some fresh rinsing IPA with after this water change.
To accelerate drying I often use my regular kitchen oven. I use dedicated silicon baking tray liner and some chop sticks to elevate the board a bit. I set my oven to its lowest temp, 145 F (63 C) and go about 10-15 min.
Other Questions…
I wonder if there are any rules of thumb folks have on how often to change the water out? Something like X numbers of cleaning cycles or Y months whatever comes first?
I think that’s all I have for now, hope to hear others thoughts and experiences!
I have a feeling this specific model has gained some new users after @Branchus and @Mac84 did some great videos on it a while back:
Overall I'm pretty satisfied although honestly not sure if there are other options in this size and price range.
- Great, useful size, I've used it on logic boards up the size of a Macintosh IIci/IIvx
- Relatively affordable
- Cleans really well!
- Problems I've encountered were fixable enough...
Problems
Unfortunately, I have had two issues so far that certainly fall in the "not great" category:
- Faulty power switch
- Leaky drain valve
I replaced the switch and its been working okay since. Maybe just a random faulty part?Just recently, after almost 4 years of use, in doing my second water/cleaning solution change the drain valve seems to have given out. When I first opened the valve I only got a trickle until I used a chop stick to agitate the drain hole at the bottom of the tank. I think I underestimated how much gunk had found its way in there in the 2.5 years since I last did this. When it was empty I took it outside and used the garden hose to flush the valve from both sides and some little corroded metal bits came out. When trying to fill it back up with distilled water the closed valve had a steady leak. I thought about trying to replace the valve but ended up just getting a brass screw plug. I wonder if the cleaning solution and/or what’s been coming off the boards could have played at part in the apparent corrosion?
Filling and Cleaning Solution
As others have noted the “30L” size seems to be like the old “15 Inch” CRT monitor marketing (13.3 inch viewable!). I’ve used 6 gallons (22.7L) of distilled water which is as close to the top as makes sense to me (~3/4 inch). Using distilled water at least starts you off without any minerals and impurities that might be in your tap water. Although after a while I wonder how that would compare to what comes off what you are cleaning…
For cleaning solution, up until now I have used “Elmasonic 800 0102 Elma TEC Clean A1 Ultrasonic Cleaner Solution Concentrate for Electronics and Optics” Its $113 for 2.6 Quarts (2.5L) on Amazon (10/27/2024):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0725WP9Z9/?th=1
The Elma instructions recommended using 3-10% of the water, I used 3%, 23 fl oz (681mL).
However, this go around I’ve decide to give Branson EC a try as it seems highly recommended. I ended up getting it off eBay, “Branson EC Concentrate Circuit Board PCB Ultrasonic Cleaning Cleaner Solution”, $70 for 1 Quart (950mL). Pricier than the Elma.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185929230724
The Branson instructions say to use 2-5% by volume, with 3% recommended. Which I’m just about to do (anyone go higher or lower with this stuff?).
Temp and Time
The Elma instructions recommend 65 C for 3-10 min. 4 years ago I read/saw other recommendations for lower temps and longer times, like 50 C for 5-15 min per side. Not sure I have a great reason butI have typically been doing 60 C for 10-15 min per side. Its worked well for me.
The Branson instructions say 54-71 C, with 60 C recommended.
Looking for other guidance from their videos above:
@Branchus recommends 45 C and 30 min per side, only 15 for modern/delicate boards.
@Mac84 recommended 20 min first side and then 10 min for the other, going to 20 there too if it’s very dirty. I don’t think he had a temp recommendation.
Think I’ll try it a couple different ways and see if I can tell a difference, Bruce’s low and longer vs maybe a middle ground of 55 C and 20 min.
Rinse and Dry
After coming out of the bath I’ve been using and reusing IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) which I pour over the boards into a disposable aluminum baking tray. For smaller boards, LC to Quadra 630 size that can sit on the bottom of the tray I get to slosh is back and forth which I think does a great job of displacing the remaining water and cleaning solution. It’s a bit more tedious on bigger boards pouring it over and over (I drain the pan into a quart container in between). I’m going to start with some fresh rinsing IPA with after this water change.
To accelerate drying I often use my regular kitchen oven. I use dedicated silicon baking tray liner and some chop sticks to elevate the board a bit. I set my oven to its lowest temp, 145 F (63 C) and go about 10-15 min.
Other Questions…
I wonder if there are any rules of thumb folks have on how often to change the water out? Something like X numbers of cleaning cycles or Y months whatever comes first?
I think that’s all I have for now, hope to hear others thoughts and experiences!
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