Condensation??

[Arcygenical]

Just a quick and random question for the sub-ambient TEC crowd...

Technically, isn't condensed water "distilled" of all it's impurities? How come (other than the obvious soaked board) we have to prevent condensation if it's technically distilled water?

Forgive the noob question, I've been sippin the purple drank all day* and man it's hard to think straight


*im sick.

 

[BrokenMonkey]

Well, I'm not an expert, but I would think that if left on the board too long, the water will dissolve any solutes that are present on the board, which would make the water conductive and short out the board. You're right that condensation is distilled, but it will dissolve any solutes present on the surface it touches. It may also dissolve any solutes present on the surface on which it condenses, so if it condenses on a pipe it may dissolve anything on the surface of that pipe.