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Thread ID: 69041	2006-05-19 23:45:00	Clean inside of computer with vacuum	technicianxp (6463)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
456238	2006-05-20 00:44:00	Be very very very careful in what your about to do. Using a vacuum cleaner will cause a build up static in the hose. If you get a short to the board well you know the rest. Also using a compressor can be fatal as well. Air out of a normal compressor contains around 10-20% moisture. Something that doesn’t go well with a motherboard or any computer part. The idea of the compressed air can is the best idea. These cans are filled from a compressor that has an air-dried attachment and contains only around 1-3% moisture. The best way of cleaning these items in my point of view is by either using a can of compressed air or using a compressor with a water trap and air-dries. Most engineering workshops will have these attachments, if there any good and care about there work. :thumbs:	CaptinMoor (8392)
456239	2006-05-20 00:57:00	For things like heatsinks, fans, and other non-electrical parts, I use a combination of a vacuum to suck the dust away, and a soft, CLEAN paintbrush to loosen the dust as quite often it is stuck quite tightly due to moisture etc. I wouldn't advise using this method for the circuit boards though.	somebody (208)
456240	2006-05-20 02:15:00	Be very very very careful in what your about to do. Using a vacuum cleaner will cause a build up static in the hose. A handheld vac wouldn't have a hose though. Do you reckon it would be okay? I'll be using it to suck up the dust not blow it out. I'll get compressed air for that.	technicianxp (6463)
456241	2006-05-20 02:52:00	If you wish to be both amused and educated look at www.pcworld.com Once had a mouse lodging in the insulation in the back of a refrigerator, found a piece of small plastic tube taped to the vacuum nosey parker was the most effective way to remove his calling cards. Presume similar could be used taking due antistatic precautions.	FrankS (257)
456242	2006-05-20 04:26:00	Use an ordinary vacuum cleaner. You will damage components in a computer if you go poking around with a bare wire connected to the mains phase. A vacuum cleaner nozzle isn't going to do any damage (except mechanically by a clumsy operator ;) ). The components are all at the same level when they are plugged into the computer. They are pretty well protected from external voltages. You're not going to get lighnting strike levels of static charge on the hose. It's low velocity air. People who repeat this mantra that "vacuum cleaners cause damaging static" happily recommend expensive "canned air" or an air compressor which both give quite a high velocity gas stream. (Compressed air in an installed system is very often "compressed water", because of condensation in the pipes.)	Graham L (2)
456243	2006-05-20 04:59:00	I don't use either. I take it apart or as much as I can if out at someones home, and use myself as the blowing part and a small clean paintbrush. Never had anything beat that combination.....not even my sons which is usually as fluffy as a persian cat.	pctek (84)
456244	2006-05-20 05:40:00	There's no real problem here if you have the same sort of equipment I have. First a vacume is ideal BUT NOT SUCKING. Unfortunately not all vacumes have a means to use the device as a blower unlike 50 years ago when EVERY vacume had the facility. For some weird reason my own has been designed so that only part of the exhaust wind can be used - strange escape routes have been provided for the rest. But it's enough to do a good clean job of blowing off the dust (which then needs to be vacumed up again!!). Clean the inlet with a stiff brush and use the vacume in its normal mode. Needless to say the computer should be unplugged. I still wonder why today's vacume makers refuse to accept the fact that books for instance can only be kept clean by blowing NOT sucking. I chuckled when I read the suggestion about locking the fan vanes. As a kid I loved using the vacume - blowing of course - to see how fast I could spin the blades of any device handy. I must have failed to grow up because I still do it with my computer. And I have never yet had anything go wrong _ I don't believe its possible to spin the blades fast enough to harm them. But don't quote me on that! I also wonder why computer manufacturers insist on blowing air out through the back of computer and thus dragging loads of filth and dust over the internals. Here in Christchurch some chappies have reversed the fan rotation so they suck air into the computer at the back and have then attached a car air filter over the inlet to keep the air clean. Obvious really. Tom	Thomas01 (317)
456245	2006-05-20 06:31:00	I also wonder why computer manufacturers insist on blowing air out through the back of computer and thus dragging loads of filth and dust over the internals. Here in Christchurch some chappies have reversed the fan rotation so they suck air into the computer at the back and have then attached a car air filter over the inlet to keep the air clean. Obvious really. Tom Sounds cool, but (and I'm a newbie, so don't laugh at me too hard) aren't computer cases designed to optimise the flow of air in one direction? Or is it just a case of there is a designated passage in the case for air to travel through in either direction? Or am I just randomly making stuff up?! :) I also wonder about the filters- counds good, but car filters usually have air travelling at the speed of the car it's in- would having a filter slow the passage of air and therefore not be as efficient as a computer without one? Then you trade it off against the accumulation of dust etc and it eventually crapping out... excuse me, my head hurts- been thinking too much again!	Sick Puppy (6959)
456246	2006-05-20 06:49:00	I chuckled when I read the suggestion about locking the fan vanes. As a kid I loved using the vacume - blowing of course - to see how fast I could spin the blades of any device handy. I must have failed to grow up because I still do it with my computer. And I have never yet had anything go wrong _ I don't believe its possible to spin the blades fast enough to harm them. But don't quote me on that! The real concern is with fan blades spinning fast, the fan essentially operates like a dynamo and produces electricity. While it probably is low voltage enough to not do any harm, it's better safe than sorry. I also wonder why computer manufacturers insist on blowing air out through the back of computer and thus dragging loads of filth and dust over the internals. Here in Christchurch some chappies have reversed the fan rotation so they suck air into the computer at the back and have then attached a car air filter over the inlet to keep the air clean. Obvious really. Tom Heat rises, as I'm sure you are aware. Hence why the best way is for the heat to rise to the top of the case, and be sucked out by the PSU fan, so colder air can come in the bottom of the front of the case. That way you get maximal (cooler) airflow. In any case, given how dusty and ignored the areas at the back of a PC are, it would make more sense to draw cleaner air from the front, where you would generally be able to vacuum around (ie the floor).	somebody (208)
456247	2006-05-20 22:12:00	DSE supply a set of tools for a standard vacuum cleaner hose with dinky little brushes and small attachments for getting into hard to reach areas. Works a treat, but if you're not brave enough to remove your CPU fan you still need the air to clean your heat sink.	Vallis (8886)
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