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Computer help: compressed air
compressed air
by LAG - 7/5/05 11:15 AMI'd like to clean out the inside of my computer, always had it done on the warranty in the past. I just would like to know how close I can safely get to the parts and if there is anything I SHOULDN'T do or should look out for. Thanks!
Dusting out a computer
by El Alquimista - 7/5/05 11:43 AM In reply to: compressed air by LAGThese are the rules I follow:
First, unplug the power! Turning off the computer switch does not turn off all the power. Let it sit a few minutes for capacitors to discharge.
Second, do not touch any electronic components unless you are grounded to the case.
Third, use canned ''air'' made espcially for cleaning electronics, such as Endust for Electronics, or The Blaster by Belkin. Also use the long thin nozzle so that the can need not get close to the electronics. You should not need to actually touch anything with the nozzle.
Fourth, if there is a large collection of dust on the bottom of the case, wipe that up first so that it will not be blown over everything (I use a pad dampened with alcohol). Pay particulat attention to the second item, above
Fifth, start ''dusting'' in the ''back'' areas and blow toward the largest opening.
Frank
Compressed air
by stewart6 - 7/6/05 8:28 AM In reply to: Dusting out a computer by El AlquimistaHi. IMO using compressed air inside a computer is not a great idea. It can do more harm than good and at best it tends to just move the dust around. You can get small nozzles that fit in a regular vacuum cleaner hose. make sure you don't use anything metalic inside your Box. On the matter of capacitors, Large capacitors such as in the power supply can hold a stiff charge for several days. Regards Stewart
Dell Recommends
by Warren Schroeder - 7/9/05 7:35 AM In reply to: Compressed air by stewart6Dell recommends powering off, unplugging the computer, and then hitting the power button again to ground the system board
Dusting out a computer
by jcrobso - 7/6/05 8:45 AM In reply to: Dusting out a computer by El AlquimistaThe only thing I would add to this post is gat a vaccume and vaccume the lose dust first, then use the canned air. John
Watch out
by chinson - 7/8/05 4:04 PM In reply to: Dusting out a computer by jcrobsoI do this from time to time and I have a word of warning to add. Keep the can of air upright, or you can risk having fluid come out of the can onto your components. It could possibly ruin something.
ESD WARNING!!!
by Capt Runnamok - 7/9/05 10:03 AM In reply to: Dusting out a computer by jcrobsoDo not use a vacuum cleaner to suck dust bunnies out of your computer unless you want to start replacing your components. Any plastic that is not specifically designed to be used around electronic equipment should be kept far away. This includes keyboard, mouse, jewel cases, drink cups and front panel of the PC when removed. Plastic is/can be a highly charged insulator that will not become neutral until it is neutralized by ionized air and remains in the ionized air path and I don't mean one of those ionized air fresheners advertised on TV.
Have fun,
Capt Runnamok
"It's not a toy."
by R. Proffitt
- 7/5/05 11:54 AM
In reply to: compressed air by LAG
One owner thought it was fun to blast the FAN and see how fast it could spin. A lesson in electric motors follows.
Those fan motor can also be a generator. Spin it fast enough and you can damage what it's connected to.
-> No big loss. I wired the fan to another supply and it's working. But imagine if they had done that to a laptop. Maybe a Darwin computer award winner here.
Bob
(NT) But when spun fast enough, did it try to fly? ;-)
by Paul C - 7/11/05 2:56 AM In reply to: "It's not a toy." by R. Proffitt
And if you're a....
by jackintucson - 7/6/05 7:54 AM
In reply to: compressed air by LAG
real stickler for detail, go to an arts & crafts shop and buy two long handled medium sized (artist size) paint brushes..one flat, one round. Use them to loosen stubborn dust but don't fling it. Get your household or handheld vacuum cleaner and quickly suck up what you can without touching any components. Hold the fan blades still when you brush them. The brush should allow you to get between the heat sink fins.
Here is something to look for when you use air. Using something NOT computer, spray the item from several distances watching when the air freezes on the item. That is toooooo close. Back off 2 - 3 inches and you should be OK. Between the three of us you now have a good procedure for cleaning your second love.
and life goes on...
Jack
Why
by msgale - 7/8/05 4:49 AM In reply to: And if you're a.... by jackintucson
I have three PCs, vintage 1997, 2001, and 2003. All three are sitting on a carpeted floor and they generally run 24/7. I never clean them, and I never intended too. They are like the “Energizer Bunny,” they just keeping working and working. In olden days of mainframe computers, when technicians did do PM and did physically clean machines, they used vacuum cleaners to suck out the dusk, not compressed air to blow the dust around.
Batteries still die
by Willy - 7/8/05 5:08 AM In reply to: Why by msgaleI worked on computers of olden days and lets say, I'm happy not to be cleaning them. Yes, you can replace filters, suck dust and such, but remember those fans were much larger and usually in a "clean room/computer room" where the exchanged air was already being filtered and cooled.
The typical home computer is becoming an "appliance" now and needs some attention. Unlike a computer room, dust will settle on areas that such be cleaned. Modern systems get into hi-temps and are confined to small areas of even smaller devices which in turn aren't as robust or tolerant as of older systems. Heck, a SCR was the size of a pack of cigerettes, now the size of a pea. A resistor the size of pencil eraser, now the size of a BB. The memory area the size of a 19in.(several) TV, now the size of several sticks of gum. Yeah, newer computers best used as clean as possible. However, the old adage, "if it works, don't fix it" still applys. You're happy, until it breaks, so be happy until then.
tada -----Willy 
technicians did do PM and did physically clean machines
by jcrobso - 7/8/05 8:23 AM In reply to: Why by msgale"technicians did do PM and did physically clean machines, they used vacuum cleaners to suck out the dusk, not compressed air to blow the dust around."
I guess you never saw me clean a printer or a punched card reader!! I won an award at IBM for comming up with procedure to clean card readers.
Vaccume every thing carefully and then hook the hose up to the exhuast of the vaccume cleaner and blow out the dust you couldn't get with vaccume then close the covers on the machine before the dust could settle back in.
I assume you vaccume your carpet regulary, this well help keep dust bunneys for forming in your PCs. John
Frozen Air, Vacuums
by kbennett50 - 7/9/05 10:48 AM In reply to: And if you're a.... by jackintucson
To parrot what the guy said above, DO NOT VACUUM THE INSIDE OF YOUR COMPUTER. Plastic can help to electrocute electronic components.
Second thing air does not freeze. If you have freezing, you're spraying way to fast and the fast moving air lowers the air temperature enough that the moisture in the air is freezing. Use compressed air, it will work, fine at low velocity.
You won't turn a fan into a DC generator, no brushes or other such things to make a generator, but you can exceed the fan RPM limitations and ruin it that way. Stay away from nylon brushes cleaning components. Nylon, unless specially treated will also give you ESD problems you don't want.
Compressed air
by andrewdallison - 7/8/05 6:24 AM In reply to: compressed air by LAGAs a Computer Tec, I clean all Pc's before I start any internal service in them, the answer in my personal view is simple, dont go near the internal fan (over the Processor) it should be removed and cleaned by hand, (brush) as it could well cause damage when next time the pc starts ( ie: whirring noises from the Fans etc. Dont try Wd or other liquids either it wont help but aggravate things)
assuming the wires are all nicely tightened with plastic strips, !!! if so then there shouls not be any other danger unless one accidentally should losen any wire form its plug and you dont know where to put it back. !!!
I repeat again especially on older p3 models with Slot Processador, dont even think to pass air inside the Fan, you have a 99/1 chance you will damage the fan same thing with any model of PC Font, much better take it out and clean it manually.
I hasten to add this is a personal opion only, as one who has damaged many fans and fonts when I first started this game over 15 years ago.
andrewdallison@yahoo.co.uk
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