Accidents happen, even when cell phones accidentally “dive” in water or are hit by some type of humidity. The trick of place the device in rice It may work, but it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid permanent damage.
HAS CNN BrazilAdriano Ponte, an expert at Canal Tech, explained what the risks are, what to do when one gets wet and which tricks are effective on these occasions. Read the interview below.
How much water can a cell phone hold?
Manufacturers are willing to protect the phone within IP standards, a certification called Ingress Protection, which says that the cell phone resists up to a certain depth for a certain time.
Samsung and Apple devices, for example, have IP 67 and IP 68, but despite the standard speaking of temporary immersion in water for up to 30 minutes, at 1.5 meters, the iPhone owner raises the limit to almost six meters, depending on the device.
The answer is: whatever is on the manufacturer’s website is the rule.
A reminder is to always keep the screenshot, the manual or somewhere that mentions this, so that, if the manufacturer denies defect coverage, it shows that the brand is committed to this resistance.
Is there any risk in leaving it wet?
Yes definitely. Although the device is resistant to temporary immersion, aesthetic stains can and will occur on the materials. Even if water does not enter the device, it may be aesthetically damaged.
A stain on the camera lens can compromise the equipment’s functionality and some items can oxidize.
Connectors and other exposed parts, once wet or in contact with water, must be dried as quickly as possible. If it is water with contaminants or salty water, the manufacturers say that it is necessary to rinse it with fresh running water immediately.
What to do if this limit is exceeded?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do other than hope because, although exceeding the water limit is a risk, it’s not a death sentence for the device.
We have documented cases of for months at depths above what the manufacturer suggests and which were rescued in perfect operational conditions.
If the limit is exceeded, it is important to immediately return it to within the limit, take it out of the water, dry it and check that everything is ok with the equipment.
Placing no rice works?
It’s not something that will magically restore your device, but if it has excessive water and this is interfering with its functioning, it is very likely to help.
Rice absorbs a lot of moisture and this helps a lot. Silica is better than rice, but it’s expensive and rarer to get, so it’s much quicker and more practical to add it to these grains. But when the cell phone has very severe contact with water, which enters the circuits and other internal components, the rice rarely has any effect.
When can you use your cell phone again after it gets wet?
If the cell phone is IP 67 or 68, immediately. What should be avoided is connecting to the socket right after getting the charging port wet — and it becomes deactivated and this could result in the component still being damp.
The connector may not work as it should or complicate the life of the charger and the cell phone.
If the person has a device capable of dealing with humidity and wet environments, all they have to do is wait, dry the ports and then use the charger normally. The use of the cell phone itself can be done immediately.
If the device has zero water resistance and has stopped working or is still working, it makes no difference — in a few days, it will show signs of possible corrosion or even other complications.
Ideally, if the cell phone has no resistance or has turned off after contact with water, the person should completely stop using it and seek assistance. Putting it in rice makes sense, but it still won’t solve more serious problems that may have occurred.
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