Is it safe to use 70% isopropyl alcohol on electrical contacts on any device with a battery as long as it's powered off?

Solution 1:

are these devices safe to have their electrical contacts cleaned with alcohol as long as they are shut off and it won't cause any short circuits or issues?

Broadly speaking yes. Use care, do not use too much, clean up excess and do not leave undue residue. Practice on an old board. Any cleaning should be done with a large surplus of care.

Wet a soft rag with alcohol and make sure not too wet. Clean with the rag.

I clean connection contacts, potentiometers, oscilloscope contacts and parts, other electric equipment and parts, charger contacts, outside of USB connectors, outside of BNC connectors and so on. Cleaning inside a USB plug needs to be done delicately with Alcohol and a thin cloth.

I have been using Isopropyl Alcohol 70% USP for many years and keep it handy in my electronics shop.

I also use top quality electronic contact cleaner (electronic parts stores) for some contacts (not delicate contacts), model train rails, and so on. I use this on a cloth to clean BNC connectors and USB connectors that I use in my shop (Raspberry PI, chargers and like).

Use care, safe to use, clean up residue, do not apply too much. All equipment OFF when cleaning.

Quote from the instruction manual for a Tektronix 7A29 Amplifier plugin from a 7000 series oscilloscope:

"Avoid the use of chemical cleaners which might damage the plastics. Use a non-residue cleaner preferably isopropyl alcohol, totally denatured alcohol, or a flourinated solvent (trifluoroltrichorolethane)"