Vacuum Cleaning Near A Desktop (on a carpet)

[bennyboy32]

Hi,

This may not be the right section of the forums - please move if necessary.

So, I've wondered about this for a long time - does hoovering the carpet around my desktop have any risks (static build up/discharge related)? (I would certainly not hoover the outside of the machine itself, or inside).

I haven't found a clear answer on this so if anyone has any knowledge please share, it would put my mind at ease!

Thanks

[peterb]

No.

Longer answer - the case and the electronics will be earthed through the mains conector, but even if not, the case will act as a Faraday shield and protect the contents.

You can hoover inside the case - but....

Some say that the fast moving dust may cause static build up on plastic nozzles, so it is probably advisable not to let the nozzle touch anything,

Some say that that spinning the fans with the airflow could cause them to act as generators and damage the mobo.

Some say it can cause your computer to explode with horrific results....

All I can say is


that it has never happened to me.



(With apologies to Top Gear - at least for the last bit)

(Other suction cleaning devices are available)

[Zak33]

I use a vacuum nozzle in my PC monthly

right in it... all around the capacitor and motherboard, between the memory.. and if I cant get the dust out I use a compressed air can WHILE vacuuming

If you leave a PC plugged into the mains, but switched OFF at the wall socekt, as far as I am concerned, it's earthed as well as anything else in your house that's full of components and that's the TV and Blueray machine and set top box etc

The ONLY time I would worry is IF you're a baloon animal maker, with a nylon shirt, and nylon carpet tiles, wearing plastic slippers and there is a storm brewing.....

[Jonj1611]

I have been doing just that for years and years and can't say I have ever had a trouble hoovering around or inside a case.

Indeed with having a hoover inside the case and blowing out the dust, otherwise it just ends back over everything else.

[Dareos]

There was a section in PCformat years back called Ask Luis, and some of the problems/solutions were classic

One such entry went along these lines :

Dear Luis, I was installing RAM in my computer when my younger brother touched my arm sending a static shock down into the case, the screen went blank and now it wont boot, please explain to my brother that he now owes me a new computer.
An Umpty

Dear Mr An Umpty, lets picture the scenario. You are all kitted out with anti static bands and all earthed up to the max. Your younger brother comes skidding across the floor, rubbing a balloon to his head and skiting his woolen socks over the heavy nylon carpet, hair sticking out because he had just finished playing with his van der graf generator, he touches your arm while you are installing RAM and your screen goes blank, and you want him to buy you a new pc. In what universe is RAM hot swappable, your pc should never have been switched on while you were fitting RAM, all your brother owes you is a slapping for being so dumb.

Yours, Luis.


It was to that effect anyways, certainly too long ago to remember verbatim, this thread reminded me of it.

loved that letters page

[Dareos]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ask-Luis-Vol...p/B005VRECSS#_

tempted...

[Bonebreaker777]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ask-Luis-Vol...p/B005VRECSS#_

tempted...

Interesting

[Wordsmither]

Never had a problem.

Hoover right next to it often enough to say it wasn't an anomaly

[scicrazy]

A better question would be, why is the PC on the carpet? Do you realise how much dust and other guff extra it'll be drawing into the case down there?

[Jonj1611]

Depends on how thick the carpet is and cases have had feet or wheels for some time now.

[herulach]

A better question would be, why is the PC on the carpet? Do you realise how much dust and other guff extra it'll be drawing into the case down there?

mines on the carpet because its only about 2 inches short of being taller than my desk.

[stevie lee]

A better question would be, why is the PC on the carpet? Do you realise how much dust and other guff extra it'll be drawing into the case down there?

I thought that only applied if the fans were bottom mounted or right at the bottom of the case on the side.?

although saying that, mines on a plank of wood on top of the carpet and has a bottom mounted PSU fan ~1 inch away from carpet, is the least dustiest fan in my case.
the side fan pointing vaguely at the GPU and RAM is the dustiest.

my advice: stop worrying about it.
current PC has even been 'blown out' with a 9.5cfm 110psi air compressor with a metal nozzle, about 5 times over the past 5 years. does a good job too, fan cleaning is achieved by wedging cable tie or a pencil into the blades to stop them spinning.

everyone worries too much about potential things that might happen imho, they don't have fun and enjoy themselves.

[MrComputerSaint]

I always stick my hoover in my PC.
Someone mentioned a brush to me and then sort of flick the dust out of the case to a hoover.

But yeah, the 1st reply was spot on.

[Ttaskmaster]

current PC has even been 'blown out' with a 9.5cfm 110psi air compressor with a metal nozzle, about 5 times over the past 5 years. does a good job too, fan cleaning is achieved by wedging cable tie or a pencil into the blades to stop them spinning.

A friend of mine does this at least once a month with his pro-level 160-litre (or however big it is. All I know is it takes several of us to lift the thing) compressor. He usually uses it to take BIG bolts out of cars with a pneumatic wrench!!
Seriously, that and a narrow paintbrush keep both our rigs fully dust-free!!

Best part is that I'm getting my own compressor soon!!

[Marcvs]

I built a little tray on wheels - makes it really easy to hoover under and around .