Originally Posted by
AlexGG
I wonder, considering there are not that many contacts, why aren't they made of gold or something which does not corrode? Sure that can't be overly expensive? That's assuming the recorder is built around memory chips (not tape or wire).
I believe gold is still subject to electrolytic corrosion. Salt water is a good conductor so two dissimilar metals become a battery and the current can erode both metals (this is why boats have 'zincs' attached to their hulls). Distilled water is a very poor conductor so it will prevent electrolytic corrosion.