Why I think no-clean flux is overrated after my repair disaster

I tried no-clean flux on a PS4 HDMI port fix because everyone online swears by it. A week later, the console came back with a new short from flux residue under a chip. I lost money and time redoing the whole job properly. Now I clean every board with alcohol, no matter how many people say it's fine.

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3 Comments

caleb_bell6mo ago

Why do they even call it no-clean?

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val_henderson6mo ago

Good question! If it's called no-clean, why does everyone still scrub the boards? That residue can actually gunk things up and cause electrical issues over time. So is the name just a hopeful suggestion, or what?

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fisher.diana6mo ago

No-clean flux leaves residue that's safe under ideal conditions. Real-world factors like humidity and contaminants turn that residue problematic over time. The name is more about engineering intent than practical advice.

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