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This page is devoted to that nasty scourge of the electronics hobbyist: corrosion. I will try and present BOTH examples of corrosion's effects, as well as preventative measures, along with specific units and practices to watch out for, or avoid.

The Heathkit HM-10A Tunnel Diode Grid Dip Meter has two sources of serious corrosion problems: the cushioning foam used in the lid; and the battery compartment. I was quite surprised with one of my HM-10A GDOs, because-except for the battery compartment-it was in quite good shape.

The plug-in coils have a connector that resembles the ordinary audio male RCA plug. Shown below is the mess it creates as it deteriorates, as well as the corrosion the stuff is capable of doing to the coil-connectors-even though they were bright-plated (probably nickel).

The battery is a single A-cell, that sits in an aluminum battery compartment. I own three of these units: one that has mild corrosion of the coil-tips, and in only a little messy; one that is a foam-deterioration basket case (that's the one you'll see below) AND has the bad battery holder corrosion that will also be below; and a third that is in much better shape, thanks to it's single owner's careful practices.

Despite the mess, all three units are operational!!!

There's no reason to have a high-resolution picture of this second photo (the oxidized plugs below)-this photo shows it all!!!

Below: Note the oxidation in the battery compartment.

I plan to clean both of the not-so-nice GDOs, and post the results here-along with the method(s) that worked.