Post by thread:[OT:] Vacuum cleaner static?

Hi, all. In replacing my mom's CD-ROM (see other thread), I naturally had to take the computer all to pieces. Since this computer hasn't been opened in about 10 years, it's naturally full of dust bunnies. How safe is it to take a normal vacuum cleaner to the innards? I'm concerned that static electricity from the vacuum hose might cause something inside to die. How much of a concern is this in general? i.e., should I be cautious of vacuuming the sawdust and metal shavings off of my PIC boards? If all else fails, I can bring out the compressor and blow all the stuff off, but I don't want to have to clean up the subsequent mess. Thanks for your help! - Robert -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> If all else fails, I can bring out the compressor and blow all the stuff > off, but I don't want to have to clean up the subsequent mess I take that sort of thing outside and use the blower end of the vacuum to set those dust bunnies free. They aren't the breeding kind of bunnies so there's no problem with pest management later. Even a small stiff brush will do if there's no blower end available. I find that the PSU and fan are usually the most dirty. Don't know how keen you are to get into the PSU with a 1" paintbrush to loosen it (and then watch it puff out the back when you power-up). Fluff and dust on other parts like the m/b isn't so bad -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Use a compressor I've seen an entire 50 client network go down because someone vacumed out a laser printer which was connected to the network. The resulting charge from the dust/toner/vacuum took out 2 switches and four machine network cards. The laser printer was fine though - just brought the business to a halt for 2 days. You can buy proper earthed vacuum cleaners for this kind of application but you could always do what I used to do - take a deep breath, blow into the case and run until the dust settles - repeat a few times and off you go ;) {Original Message removed}

My experience says do not ever blow the crud with forced air from any source. It will move the crud to places where it would not otherwise be deposited. A soft brush will remove everything that is loose enough to cause problems, this is not like washing dishes. Excessive cleaning can result in problems! Vacuum cleaners should be used to clen the bench & floor, not the equipment. John Ferrell http://DixieNC.US {Original Message removed}

Some vacuum cleaners produce very little static, but it's not easy to tell if yours would or not. I would suggest you purchase a can of air from a computer shop. Blowing tends to get more of the dust than vacuuming anyway. -Adam Robert Ussery wrote: {Quote hidden}>Hi, all. > >In replacing my mom's CD-ROM (see other thread), I naturally had to take the >computer all to pieces. Since this computer hasn't been opened in about 10 >years, it's naturally full of dust bunnies. > >How safe is it to take a normal vacuum cleaner to the innards? I'm concerned >that static electricity from the vacuum hose might cause something inside to >die. How much of a concern is this in general? i.e., should I be cautious of >vacuuming the sawdust and metal shavings off of my PIC boards? > >If all else fails, I can bring out the compressor and blow all the stuff >off, but I don't want to have to clean up the subsequent mess. > >Thanks for your help! > > > >- Robert > > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different >ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > > > > -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Is it true under high humidity environment, vacuuming PCB is not a problem ? Unconsciously I am doing it all the time as it is an instrinctly way, and has no problem so far. Guess it should be safe under high humidity as the industry is using water-blasting as a way remove conformal coating. Ling SM > > Some vacuum cleaners produce very little static > > If the PC is turned on during the blowing, isn't this level of > static insignificant or irrelevant ? > > -- > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > email listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email .....listservKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

From: "Robert Ussery" > If all else fails, I can bring out the compressor and blow all the stuff > off, but I don't want to have to clean up the subsequent mess. One word of advice; "outside". ;-) I've blown out at least 75 computers using 90PSI compressed air with no problems, just using some common sense. The primary rule is to not let the fans spin uncontrolled (burns up bearings) and to stand so that the wind carries the filthy disease laden cloud of dust away from you. Pun intended, but you could catch a nasty virus from the dust. michael brown -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList EraseMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestspam_OUTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

I got a monster static shock from my vacuum cleaner just the other day. You can duplicate this easily: Spill a large quantity of salt on the floor (my wife did this as she was cooking breakfast) Vacuum it up with a plastic hose You have just created a wonderful van de Graaf generator. The dry salt is just conductive enough to pull charge out of the nonconductive plastic hose, sorta like the rubber belt in a van de graaf. Next, touch the faucet. You won't forget the experience soon. I would keep the metal case intact if you use a vacuum around your computer. Try one of those cans of compressed air. -- Lawrence Lile Senior Project Engineer Toastmaster, Inc. Division of Salton, Inc. 573-446-5661 voice 573-446-5676 fax Robert Ussery <uavsciencespam_OUTFRII.COM> Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list <@spam@PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> 03/04/2004 04:04 PM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list To: KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: [OT:] Vacuum cleaner static? Hi, all. In replacing my mom's CD-ROM (see other thread), I naturally had to take the computer all to pieces. Since this computer hasn't been opened in about 10 years, it's naturally full of dust bunnies. How safe is it to take a normal vacuum cleaner to the innards? I'm concerned that static electricity from the vacuum hose might cause something inside to die. How much of a concern is this in general? i.e., should I be cautious of vacuuming the sawdust and metal shavings off of my PIC boards? If all else fails, I can bring out the compressor and blow all the stuff off, but I don't want to have to clean up the subsequent mess. Thanks for your help! - Robert -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

The level of static is even less if you turn the PC on while hosing it down. This proceedure guarantees that your PC will not die of a static shock. -- Lawrence Lile P.S. Don't try this at home. Jinx <RemoveMEjoecolquittTakeThisOuTCLEAR.NET.NZ> Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list <spamBeGonePICLISTspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU> 03/05/2004 02:24 PM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list To: TakeThisOuTPICLISTEraseMEspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: Re: [OT:] Vacuum cleaner static? > Some vacuum cleaners produce very little static If the PC is turned on during the blowing, isn't this level of static insignificant or irrelevant ? -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email RemoveMElistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics