Thanks for the feedback (except Bartman who can "go cook his head")

Ive opened the unit water, ran out. I think water got in because in situ the plastic cresent cover wasn't sealed properly to the VX ( now have new double sided tape for that and will also tape the unit once I've got all the moisture out)

I've put the ajar unit in a tin tray in an unused cat litter tray and cling film the top. Effectively the rice and bag trick. Electricity + water + winter is what killed the unit a few years ago ( and it was a right pain and expense to fix it then and probably impossible now)

Fingers crossed