Cleaning a machine's electrical cabinet using deionized water is possible, but extreme caution is required. While deionized water does not conduct electricity initially, it instantly dissolves contaminants on the equipment, turning it into a possible conductive hazard.

Not DI water - this is a dielectric solvent and as bizarre as it looks, it is real, relatively safe, and used widely throughout Asia.

I have always used WD40 to clean electrical equipment. I remember when WD40 was introduced. I saw a TV running while submerged in a glass tank filled with WD40.

That isn't water, it's mineral oil.

Cleaning an electrical cabinet with deionized water is only done in controlled industrial maintenance environments, and even there it is treated as a high-risk de-energized procedure, not a routine wash like most people realise, The key danger is that DI water is initially non-conductive, but the moment it contacts dust, metal ions, or residues, it becomes conductive and can create unintended current paths across sensitive components. That is why such cleaning is only performed after full lockout-tagout, complete power isolation, discharge of stored energy, and controlled drying cycles using filtered air or vacuum systems. Even then, it is done in staged steps apply, rinse, and dry with strict humidity and contamination control. A small mistake, like residual moisture in a connector or incomplete drying, can create short circuits, insulation breakdown, or lethal shock risk during re-energization, which is why most modern facilities prefer non-liquid methods unless absolutely necessary in very rare cases.

As a mechical engineer all I can say is "Not a good idea"...Just imagine ~35,000 viewers around the world somebody somewhere might get the idea to get a water hose or pressure spray tank to clean a controller panel...!...What can possible go wrong...?

Extreme caution is not being used in this video so why are you saying that?

This may seem a bit controversial, perhaps even heretical, but I'm a firm believer in unplugging it first.

It’s why when live line washing we start at the bottom and work your way up

Nope, it's hydrofluoroether

There is no shortage of electrical component aerosol cleaners.

This is why the risk isn’t the water itself… it’s what the water becomes after it meets the environment inside the cabinet. That shift can create unexpected short circuits or tracking paths on components.

Why not turn the equipment off while doing that?

I'm surprised they have whatever that machine is running. Wouldnt it be much safer to have it off, then blow some compressed air to drive out any moisture that could cause a short?

Why cleaning this ? You clean it when it fail, not when it works fine.

I mean technically you can do it but it is sooooo tricky. I would not recommend it. You have to analyse the solution like take samples and you can see the red stick with insulated handle and the dude is in full arc protection. 99% cases just no.

I hope he has his Marigolds on! 🤯

We use to use freon. Great stuff. Then Trichloroethane great stuff. Then a citrus/water based cleaner that nobody told me was flammable, just here use this...set a motor/gen set on fire! Assholes!🫩

Take off the mains current first ⚡️

And you may wash lubricants out of fans, switches, breakers, relays, etc.

Gives me the heebie-jeebies just watching. I wouldn't be doing that in a powered-up unit, deionized water or not.

Technology

Blasting the psu fan with a high pressure hose?

Not me, no way!

DI water doesn’t dissolve anything.

Yes, but you must still be careful because the water re-ionizes as it picks up dirt, so, the pressure washer guy should be starting at the bottom and working upward and continuing to rinse down as he moves up. I mean in theory right?

I could watch this like forever 🫶

I could watch that for an hour.

@Grok How did it get that dirty?

Bunk, not in the US. Not like that. The NEC & OSHA would like a word with you for spreading these lies. De-ionized nonsense. This is not how things work in the US. Not one bit. They should try improving their NEMA or IP rating for prevention. The friggin cabinet has open vents.

Look at all that dirt.

Experience

Watching is quite hypnotic.. Does it come in a tablet form?

I use deionized water in the shower.

Better to use CO2 ice

Why not just wash it when it's unplugged? 🧐🤯