Midnite MiniChamp do I have to worry about water since it has battery/LED

[demonoflust]

Hi,

Usually I won't think twice about rain or washing a regular SAK. I have a Midnite MiniChamp coming and I am now thinking do I have to worry about water contact/rain that might damage the circuitry etc?

Any comment?

[dks]

A bit of rain, no but generally yes; it has no water resistance, which means that you can not wash it or stick it in a dishwasher..  also remember it has a pen that may not appreciate getting wet.

Realistically:
I would guess that if you get it wet and then dry it quickly then you should get away with it, but I would not try it with mine.
I have washed USB sticks and phones, accidentally, in the washing machine and as long as I took them apart immediately, rinsed them and stuck them out in the sun they came out fine.

[GigaHz]

I wash my cybertool lites, midnite minichamps and spartan lites. I just take out the battery before and then let it dry, then put the battery back in. There really is literary a LED and battery, that is it.

[Neil]

On the red LED 58mm models and the 91mm Lites,  I wouldn't worry too much about washing them if they need it

The 58mm white models have voltage boosting circuitry but I can't remember if that's encapsulated or not

[GigaHz]

Wow, I didn't know that. It must have an inverter in there. It takes DC and converts it to AC steps it up and rectifies back to DC to light the LED.

[Neil]

You got it

I've taken a couple apart but it was quite a while ago when they first hit the shelves and I can't remember if the circuitry was encapsulated   Don't think I took photos either ... Neil is bad 

[Chain Gang]

I wouldn't wash it my myself but if you take the battery out you should be ok.Put it in a container of raw rice and it will suck out every bit of moisture.

[stressmaster5000]

I have seen the batteries and battery contacts rust a bit when left wet! A little cleaning takes care of it usually.

[demonoflust]

There is a picture here:


from:
http://jethomson.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/how-to-replace-the-led-in-the-victorinox-midnite-minichamp/

[GigaHz]

I took my red LED midnite manager apart. All I see is a LED, a battery and a switch. The red part is a switch. It is like the above pictures. It must be different than the white ones.

[demonoflust]

I wrote to Victorinox, this is what they answered me:

"The electronics in your tool are not waterproof. If liquids seep into the housing, remove the batteries and let the housing dry thoroughly. Because the contacts have a protective lacquer coating, the electronics will not be damaged."