Track Damage Caused by Water ingress or Capacitor damage

Track Damage Caused by Water Ingress or Capacitor Leakage

Moisture, electrolyte, or corrosion can cause serious damage to fine copper tracks on printed circuit boards (PCBs). Once this type of damage sets in, signals can be lost between critical components often resulting in intermittent faults, complete failure, or unusual system behaviour.

At Get Electronic, we specialise in component-level restoration of damaged trackwork. Under the microscope, our technicians painstakingly trace each affected copper path, identify open circuits, and rebuild the track connections using fine wire link repairs and precision soldering techniques.

This process requires years of experience, steady hands, and the right tooling, including stereo microscopes, micro-tip soldering irons, and high-magnification inspection equipment to ensure every repair is strong, neat, and electrically sound.

The photo shown illustrates one of our recent restorations where corrosion from water ingress and capacitor leakage had eaten away several copper traces. Each affected track was carefully mapped, re-linked, and sealed, returning full operation to the control module.

Common Causes

• Water or moisture intrusion into sealed housings

• Electrolytic capacitor leakage over time

• Residue from coolant or battery acid

• Salt corrosion or chemical vapour exposure

Our Process

1. Inspection & Imaging: Identify all corroded tracks under microscope and X-ray (if required).

2. Track Mapping: Verify continuity and signal paths against known working modules.

3. Micro-Repair: Rebuild damaged sections using fine wire bridging and conformal coating.

4. Testing: Electrical validation on our custom test bench to confirm full function.