Off Topic: Compressors and Computers

Lee Michaels · 2012-04-03T18:19:28+00:00

I had a computer go down last week. Turns out that the power supply was clogged with dust and needed to be replaced. It was probably under powered too, which added to its demise. Talking to some friends, this has happened to two more people in the last 3 months. All of them multi monitor machines running some big apps. Regular computers did not seem to suffer from the same type of problem.The tech suggested regular cleaning of the interior of the case every two months. Again, this is probably overkill for most machines, but we have three examples here of where we probably could have prevented the problems we had. He suggested a small compressor for this purpose. He had one in his shop. I have no problem with getting a small compressor to make my computers happy. It is just that my beloved and other folks working in the offices would have extreme objections to a noisy, pancake compressor starting up.I could probably get by with a can of compressed air. I have a small vacuum cleaner which will do an OK job cleaning. But I need some compressed air to get everything really clean. I need something small, quiet and not scary to tool phobic office workers (or wives). Any suggestions?I was thinking of the baby compressors that run artist's air brushes. But did not think they were powerful enough. Maybe even a fireplace bellows may work. I looked at a small compressor from Harbor Freight and was assured that it was very noisy. So that won't work. Maybe I am asking too much, inexpensive, quiet and effective. Any input from you guys would be appreciated.

Apr 03, 2012 43 Replies

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Larry Jaques 14 years ago

If I can find the right size shrink, I'll cover a tiny steel driver I already have, I guess. Thanks for the tip.

-- Life is an escalator: You can move forward or backward; you can not remain still. -- Patricia Russell-McCloud

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Larry Jaques 14 years ago

Which you can't do if the comp is unplugged and in the shop. Compressed air creates all -sorts- of static electricity.

-- Life is an escalator: You can move forward or backward; you can not remain still. -- Patricia Russell-McCloud

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clare 14 years ago

Sure you can. Just take a power cord and snip of the right leg of the plug (held ground up, legs facing you) and plug the computer in. It is all grounded, with no power. You touch the case with one hand, and hold the nozzle in the other and there is no static issue.

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Headless /body 14 years ago

Make sure the computer is off. DAMHIK

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