Timely reminder - Fan Heaters, check for hot running and clean.

[Tim W]

Worth a little mention I think.

Noticed two of my fan heaters were running cherry red on parts of the element, whihc is not normal for my ones. Obviously a bit scunged up, so after adapting some screwdrivers and torx bits to get round the damnable security screws I took each one apart for a good clean up.

Scunged up was an understatement. One had a nearly continuous but thin mat of fluff across the back of the element block. 2 others were going that way of which one had stopped working. The last, an ancient second hand one was merely a little dusty.

Simple enough job, bar the security screws. Managed to fix the broken one - it was the only one without a melting type thermal fuse - it had a set of bimetallic contacts instead, which I think may have operated and then got some s**te lodged in between the contacts.

Worth a check if you have a fan heater or two running somewhere and haven't already thought to do so.

The 3 that were clagging up had air intakes on the base as well as the top which seems to be a fundamentally bad idea. The dusty one was top intake only, and made by Honeywell.

Honeywell seem to have the best internal engineering, though they were all pretty solidly built bar the stupid design decision.

[Bob Minchin]

Good point Tim!

I fired one up the other day and it was a bit noisy. Usually I just blow it through wit the airline but I had some spare time (A bonus of being retired now - time to do jobs properly!). I gave it a clean up inside and a few drops of oil on the fan bushes. I'd forgotten how quiet it used to be. I immediately overhauled the second one too with similar results.

Bob

[geoff]

Now go and check you computer processor and PSU fans ...

[Tim W]

geoff wibbled on Monday 28 December 2009 17:13

Way ahead of you there geoff. Did that 2 weeks ago. But a very valid point. It's amazing how much s**te lodges in the heatsink fins and PSU - and whilst most modern computers will safeguard the CPU, I really don't like the potential fire risk of the PSU cooking itself...

The amount of air-in-a-can I get through keeping 4 comps clear 3-4 times a year almost makes it worth getting a compressor.

[Gordon Henderson]

Presented for your amusement:

:)

Gordon

[Harry Bloomfield]

Tim W brought next idea :

I keep mine up from the floor, where it sucks less dust in. I take it out to the garage maybe once a year and give the inside a good clean out using the compressor, but you need to be careful with both cooling fans and fan heater fans (particularly) not to let the compressed air spin them too fast.

[js.b1]

The same applies for older convector heaters with open wire elements. Essentially they operate at "black heat", but with age get cherry red hot spots until finally shedding sparks which can ignite a carpet. Modern convectors tend to use an aluminium encased element with the rest basically a heatsink (probably PTC but I'm not sure) so much less risky.

[Dave Osborne]

No disrespect to Harry, but generally speaking, you should not clean a computer with a domestic airline, as the airline will most likely contain water vapour and may contain oil and grit - none of which are good for the innards of a computer.

If you have a clean, dry, oil-free, pressure-restricted air line, fairy nuff.

[Cicero]

================================================

Try using a bicycle pump - shifts dust from all the nooks and crannies, and no danger of spinning the fans too fast if that is a real danger.

Cic.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Tim W saying something like:

Worth its weight in gold, mate.

[Roger Dewhurst]

The high pressure air hose at the local garage will get rid of most of the fluff!

R

[Tim W]

Roger Dewhurst wibbled on Monday 28 December 2009 21:53

Now that's thinking :)

Reminds me of the days we used to dowse our engines in Jizer, then nip down local garage to pressure wash them and the bay shiny clean.

[Steve Firth]

By inserting it deep into your dermis.

[Roger Dewhurst]

Rubbish. Just keep the air flow directed away from you. I cleaned up a heater this way only a few months ago.

R

[Dave Liquorice]

Still put up into the air which you are breathing... I use a vacuum and 1/2" paintbrush to brush the dust to the nozzle.

[Steve Firth]

Up yours f****it.

[PeterC]

ISTR that there's a 'container' (can't remember what) that has a valve to take a bike pump, so a 'rechargeable' air-can. One of my pumps could get 8 bar plus into a can, so it has to be the right sort.

Another possibility is the pump-up garden spray: won't take a lot of pressure but has a capacity of 1 li, so probably ideal for PCs.

[Cicero]

================================================

'Jennican', I believe:

bit over-rated for painting but would be OK for air in the context of computers.

A bicycle pump is quick and easy because it requires no preparation.

Cic.

[The Medway Handyman]

Its well worth getting a compressor Tim. I got one 6 or 7 years ago, a 'kit' jobby from SF for about £70. Used loads, nailer is invaluable, blow gun great for all sorts of jobs; sawdust, moisture, blows up inflatable's, adaptor for car tyres, bike tyres etc.

You would be amazed at how often you use one - once you have one.

[Jules]

Potentially. Ditto with vacuums which (depending on setup) might have static issues; if using a vacuum then someone else's comment about using a brush to brush dirt toward the nozzle is a good one.

I normally wash PCBs. Warm soapy water followed by 'flushing' with distilled water. Leave to dry somewhere warm for several days afterwards. Remove any fans first, because motor housings make for great water traps... the long drying time makes this unsuitable for some situations, but it works a treat...