Hey all, seller here So to go into further details on this one, what initially lead me to believe that it was corrosion was a build up around the inside of the charging port on both the tablet and docking station connectors, when i was trying to figure out how to clean these areas i noticed a white residue that fell out of the air intake where the fan is, which made me think it was worse on the inside. As for where it was located, me and my fiance kept this on our entertainment center which is in the corner of the livingroom, we kept the tablet part docked in the station and only ever used the joycons/controllers when we played on the device, so it never really moved from that spot. This lead me to believe someone did this intentionally as my mother was living with us until she got back on her feet, I'm sure you can imagine how well that went.

@argcades

6 ай бұрын

better your mother than your mother in law XD

@makinamara321654

6 ай бұрын

Your own mother! I really didn't expect that, my condolences for your dead switch

@HendoAU

6 ай бұрын

Your mother probably tried to destroy it because of the Diablo artwork on it thinking it was some kind of evil devil device.

@beckykerr5829

6 ай бұрын

Are you buying it back now Steve’s fixed it

@02337755

6 ай бұрын

Geez family huh?

It was Professor Plum, in the library, with the salt shaker.

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Lol!

The shape of salt crystals is a six-sided cube similar to a dice. Sugar crystals on the other hand resemble a hexagonal prism. The edges of sugar crystals are often more sharp.

@Thatonefuckinguy

5 ай бұрын

Time to bust out the microscope. lol

Omg I love your work! I'd love to be able to do this! I used to do phones and laptops a little on the side but ended up running out of free time and wasn't good enough to do it full time! You make me happy watching your videos 😊

I can't count the times I've mistaken a switch for a hummingbird feeder....

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Lol

@crayzcubing

6 ай бұрын

becuase it's 0

A couple of tests you can try: When you dissolved it did you use distilled water? If so, you can use your ohm meter to test...If it's salt then you should get a reading of some kind... If you have enough to light on fire then sugar burns a brownish color, whereas salt burns yellow

@nukfauxsho

6 ай бұрын

watch the video

@tank2045

6 ай бұрын

@@nukfauxsho Did he mention what it was in the last two seconds of the video??? Because that's about when I stopped watching...

@RickDarko

6 ай бұрын

Great !!! Good Info.

@ToddNZMTB

6 ай бұрын

​@@tank2045 no he didn't, but at about 07:03 ~ he puts some in a glass of water. I was wondering how someone would test this and checked the comments to see if any clever people [such as yourself] had any interesting suggestions! 👍🏻

@maklogetrich2378

6 ай бұрын

​@@nukfauxshohe did watch the video, and still you don't understand

Another great video! Always appreciate the uploads and the informative commentary :)

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Much appreciated!

Salt is a great electrical conductor while sugar conducts electricity poorly. That tells me that it is probably sugar, since the board is not fried. Maybe you can check the solution and its resistance while you dissolving the grains.

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Hmmm...interesting idea.

@johnrambo1349

6 ай бұрын

How about just faawking lick it. So easy to find out. If you can't tell taste of salt vs sugar maybe you shouldn't be able to breathe. Js

@realfoggy

6 ай бұрын

@@johnrambo1349 maybe he can send you a sample and you can lick it for him

@PenguinYayOne

6 ай бұрын

@@johnrambo1349 Yeah, it's always a good idea to lick unknown powder coming from a random console.

@leviathanx0815

6 ай бұрын

@@PenguinYayOne Works fine in movies, though 😁👍

I love watching these videos. I should have used the link for iFixtit since I ordered a tool kit and track pad for my Macbook Pro. Can’t wait to use the tool kit and star doing my own repairs.

I love your video. Especially how you take special projects that alot of repair tech wouldnt touch. Like the house fire PS5

Looks like sugar to me. Granulated sugar has almost rounded off edges and readily clumps together even when dry; whereas salt keeps very sharp edges and when dry won't clump together as easily. I think if it had been salt it would have noticeably scratched some surfaces and wouldn't have been clumping up in places like in the fan(3:24).

I always thought this special edition was pretty low effort, effectively a normal grey switch with a tiny bit of added artwork

@Dedman_Tech

6 ай бұрын

Whatever they can do to keep a bottom line ;)

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, I can see your point there. I love that they included the custom case though.

@heyafehya8453

6 ай бұрын

funny because this variation of the switch just doesn't seem to exist even on eBay, been searching for some years and nobody is selling this one

@Jedzelex

6 ай бұрын

So like the PS5 Spider-man "special edition" that is actually no more special than a regular PS5 besides the plates? (Its actually a lesser console internally).

@t4nk3d402

5 ай бұрын

@@Jedzelex how is it a lesser console internally? AFAIK its the exact same console but instead of white plates its the spider-man plates

Just toss some grains in pan and heat it up. If it melts it's sugar, if it doesn't it's salt. You could even do it in a spoon with a lighter.

I love your channel, always a great video to have in the background or to watch

The taste test got me 🤣

@dwl815380

6 ай бұрын

For sure! Got me too 😂🤣😂

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Lol, so glad to hear this

What a steal! Just a bit of cleanup and it's a perfectly working switch.

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, this one was a good deal

@sto3319

6 ай бұрын

@@Tronicsfix sell it back for $150 lol

@colin_1270

6 ай бұрын

@@Tronicsfixlucky this one is pretty rare to find

Nicely done Steve!

I had my switch and dock behind the tv which is a location liquid entering it would be suspicious. Maybe they had it in a place where liquid would not be likely to accidentally enter. That’s my guess.

@mjc0961

6 ай бұрын

Agreed, that's what I would take it to mean too. My Switch is docked in an entertainment center, there is no reasonable way that any food or beverage should be getting in it, so if some did end up in my Switch I would also find it suspicious.

Wow mission accomplished! I believe it was particles of sugar inside of the Nintendo Switch though! You've got the Master of Fixing trophy lol!

2:00 Literally did what I was thinking but glad you didn’t actually go through with it 😂😂

You the best bro... Learning from you alot just started......

I have a question regarding the paste under the shield (processor). Have you tried replacing it PTM 7950?

The right thing to do would be to give it back to couple. Good job on fix.

need to get yourself one of those little vac/blower for stuff like this i bought one awhile ago and its a life saver for getting dust out of stuff (mostly pc parts for me but i do tear consoles sometimes to if they get very dirty)

I'm leaning towards sugar. I believe salt is more conductive and it could've shorted the components where sugar would just melt. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks for the content

To sabotage a switch, sugar seems more effective to me. Maybe the person hoped it would melt, as sugar does at the right temperature. Salt does dissolves faster in water tough.

@cj.wijtmans

6 ай бұрын

salt is very corrosive. maybe someone figured just putting salt in there will corrode the device.

@lorduggae

6 ай бұрын

The melting point of sugar is 186 C, I would hope that switch doesn't get that hot. Salt also melts, but at like 800 C.

@MyRegardsToTheDodo

6 ай бұрын

@@lorduggae With enough heat, everything melts (or starts to burn).

@soulismissing

6 ай бұрын

heat, air circulation..... maybe a drop of water ..... this seems like revenge to me @@MyRegardsToTheDodo

@lorduggae

6 ай бұрын

@@MyRegardsToTheDodo yes but, pouring sugar into a handheld device hoping it would melt is a bit silly.

Brother I’ve been binge watching all your videos and I’m hooked. Are you self taught and how did you go about learning to repair stuff like this??

Sugarry water doesn't generally leave crystals when it dries as it simply becomes a sticky stain. Salty water definitely does, though.

Do you resell the items that you fix and if so, where can I go to purchase them?

Another great video. Thanks ❤

How would you go trying to get a Sega Saturn fixed?I have 4 off them with only power but no vision.if I can send you them would you have a go at fixing them

Love the video steve as always keep it up

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Thanks, will do!

I literally screamed "NO" out loud when I thought you were going in for a taste 😂

Dissolve them and then evaporate the water. Salt will form into cubes while sugar will form into pointy crystals

Sprinke a bit into a blue gas flame - if it the flame goes yellow it's salt (or at least contains sodium).

This is hard to tell considering that when salt is dropped in the water you cannot see it so you can't tell if it is dissolved until you stick your finger in the water. Salt does take some time dissolve so this may be just sugar since a lot of things were pretty much untouched. Salt would cause some corrosion onto the board.

Alcohol dissolves sugar, and is unreactive when it comes to common salt. Therefore it is generally used as a solvent when a mixture containing both sugar and salt is present. Ethanol is preferred, but isopropyl alcohol works as well (just slower).

i believe that is sugar. Sugar dissolves faster then salt.

going off topic here (apologies) do you have any videos on how to Delid a Slim Ps3? looked at other vids but don't trust them, and i always watch your repair videos (bought a couple of sets of iFix it kits due to watching you)

Put the stuff on a hotplate and slowly increase Temperatur. If it melts at around 200°C (360 °F) it's sugar...if it never melts because you cannot reach 800°C on a hotplate it's salt.

This is one of my beautiful Switch version with Monster Hunter 😊

if you have a TLC plate you can put a spot if this crystal in water on it, dry it ,then spray with 50% sulfuric acid and heat it up with a heat gun. Sugars will burn and give a brown spot , salt will be nothing. Or you can check salt with solution of AgNO3 for chloride anions. If you were near me, I could take crystal for you and check in the lab

Try and burn the powder. Salt turns or bright yellow due to the sodium contained.

My first thought was borax. Some people spread it around their carpets when they have a flea problem. I like the idea that it might have been accidental instead of sabotage.

I'd say it's salt because it dissolves much faster than sugar in hot water

@benemery1644

6 ай бұрын

@TronicsFix You could have really taken it to the next level by sending a sample of the powder to a lab and having it analyzed. Great video always and thanks for the ❤

I'd say sugar from the shape of the grains. Had to share a kitchen with someone who had unlabeled jars of salt and sugar. Quite easy to tell apart.

My favorite is the Scarlett and Violet special edition

Hi, the screw head of my controller is worn. what do you recommend me to do to unscrew it?

Hey steve hope you doing great i have weird issue i have ps5 that it shuts down when i put it upside down i would really be happy if could answer me whata the problem with it ?

If you burn the substance with a torch you would know if its sugar if it turns brown and caramelize. If its salt nothing would happen as salt has a very high melting point.

I believe it will be sugar from a sugary drink. Mix a lot of it with a small amount of water, dissolve and touch it with your finger, if its stickyish then its sugar

If its sugar, the wather in the cup will nor conduct energy if sugar it will... So its possible to identify it without drinking

Try applying heat to the residue, salt and sugar will react very differently.

I love your videos im an OG gamer love the older machines i would like you to fix or tear down a Panasonic 3d0 if you can find one

My son bought me that ifixit toolkit, I love it.

Is the battery on the joycon swollen or was that just camera angle?

Thank you.

Might be rice pieces after someone put it in a bag of rice and shook it. Thinking after the liquid damage it might dry it up. I've seen this before and it looked like the same type of substance inside.

Chem class, how does it react to ice? Salt will make it melt faster.

Time to get a high powered microscope to look at all of the crystal structures, stray hairs and roach babies that you find.

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

That would be really interesting.

Very interesting video ....... my guess is that, I know that many people are watching this video and have said.......Steve could of been a chemistry professor or an investigator!!

With damp fingers, touch the granules and rub your fingers together. Salt will not feel syrupy.

Has Steve ever talked about a preferred brand of thermal paste? I have been using a some weird unbranded tubes that a Dell repair tech gave me for years. Dude gave me like 50 tubes.

@philoneousjwhoopie

6 ай бұрын

Artic Silver 5, it's linked above.

@volvo09

6 ай бұрын

I had a bunch of Dell ones from my years doing support, and most of them dried out and became thick after 5+ years. I'd get new stuff, especially if you are repairing things where temps matter (aka, not office pc's). I tossed most of them.

GREAT JOB!!!

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Hey thanks!

You could always take the granules and get them wet and then let it dry. If it's sugar, it will be sticky.

It’s definitely sugar as if you filtered that water the salt will be in the filter it doesn’t dissolve

Judging by the speed the substance dissolved at in the warm water my guess is sugar because sugar dissolves quicker than salt in warm water. I’m a baker and try to observe

Sounds like a girlfriend got upset about them playing the switch too much.

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Or maybe a kid, lol

@freeRadioArmageddon

6 ай бұрын

Diablo 😅 😈

@Tefz.

6 ай бұрын

​@@No_direction-99Damn bro chill, its ok bro

@Taegreth

6 ай бұрын

@@No_direction-99 What the?

@Tefz.

6 ай бұрын

@@No_direction-99 tf i do?

Sugar has a lower melting point compared to salt you could always throw some into a hot pan and see if it melts.

This was a golden opportunity to do the old switcheroo with a duplicate glass of clean water that you drank. LOL

Where do you find all these broken consoles and games?

Het it up in a spoon if it melts it's shugar if not is salt

😮 if you want to find out its sugar or salt then put 2 electrodes in the solution and connect it to - + battery. if electrolysis occurs then its salt. If dosent then its sugar.

The best way to know for sure is to taste it… got me there! 😂

I hope the taste test becomes a standard troubleshooting step in future videos. 😂

😅you could test the conductivity of the water. If it is conductive, salt it is. If not, probably sugar!

Your videos are the best

Clearly the owners broke up and the other tried to sabotage the switch as it had some emotional value. That would be my theory.

@ZiiT3k

6 ай бұрын

She was... salty

@dj_noxxie

6 ай бұрын

Or someone did a huckleberry finn and destroyed it so tronicfix would upload an video about it

@geoffreyjett600

2 ай бұрын

She got mad because she asked him to give her some sugar. And he said no, so she gave him some and his console lol

How much to recap and replace the screen on my sega game gear

wet sugar should be sticky. Salt wouldn't be, or would actually be the exact opposite and get slicker.

Unless there was a toddler involved, it looks fishy how the liquid got in, great video cool looking console

Would think salt is more fine and would cloud water?

I love these videos!!

Awesome purchase

Fun vid ty❤

Were the grains dull or shiney? If they were dull its salt, if they were shiney grains its sugar

I would say it's most likely sugar as sugar can cause electronic components to erode much quicker than liquid alone. Obviously grasping at straws, but that's my opinion for whatever it's worth.

@Tronicsfix

6 ай бұрын

Interesting. Thanks for chiming in

Sugar. It was most likely LaCroix that was spilled in it. I'm guessing they spill the can of LaCroix on the table and some it got in the switch before they removed it.

A way to test whether it's sugar or salt, you can try to dissolve it in IPA. Sugar dissolves in alcohol, salt does not. And yes, I studied chemistry.

2:01 LMAO that made my day. I was serious as f*k and a laughter came out of nowhere

i would say sugar, based on the fact that you said it was sticky. if it was salt, i would expect to see a ton of corrosion. sugar would just make a sticky mess

Hey do you still repair psps? i have some I need looked at before christmas so i can use them as gift.

Looks nice

I have an Xbox one x that got hit by lightning and won't turn on. Any chance you'd be interested in that? Parts may be worth something but was thinking of selling for $50-$100

most likely it is from hard water aka calcium as the chunks are all different sizes just my thoughts my water is very hard so if i leave the water to dry out it forms that rock salt kinda stuff

No try to turn on before the breakdown?

i got the same type of crystals on a minn-kota boat remote used on a sea boat. it was salt. maybe somebody took it to the beach, or played with wet salty hands on the seaside.

@WebMonster-jf6eq

6 ай бұрын

also, sugar will always create a sticky surface, while salt will create a more neutral touch-awareness sort to speak

could be powder Laundry detergent

If I were going to try to damage a system, I would use salt because of the corrosion it causes. However, the condition of the board makes me think it was sugar.