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O.T. Cleaning computer



 
 
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  #31  
Old December 2nd 18, 03:46 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mr Pounder Esquire
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Posts: 100
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Mr Pounder Esquire
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Mr Pounder Esquire
writes:
[]
Oh, I've always earthed myself to a radiator before I take the
desktop into the garage.

Good idea, but voltage is relative - it's more important that you
touch (an exposed metal part of) the chassis before touching
anything inside - in theory, it probably doesn't matter if you're
at 1 kV, if the chassis is also at 1 kV. (Well, I exaggerate for
effect, but YKWIM.) If the
chassis and you are both grounded, even better. Often achievable by
leaving the mains lead (US: line cord) plugged in, assuming it's a
3-pin plug.


I need to take it into the garage and take the panels off before I
can touch the chassis. Then I have to find an earth.

That might be one case where, indeed, you and the chassis are at the
same potential (thus you're unlikely to cause damage by a discharge),
even if that potential isn't earth potential. (Although I'm surprised
you don't have a handy earth in your garage - don't you have power
there, e. g. for a battery-charger? If so, I'd _hope_ it has earth
terminals!)


Plenty of power sockets in there.
Are you suggesting that I remove the cover off one of them, find the earth
and hold it?


JPG


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so, visit 255soft.uk - and please pass it on, too.



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  #32  
Old December 2nd 18, 04:23 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
R.Wieser
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Default O.T. Cleaning computer

Pounder,

Are you suggesting that I remove the cover off one of them, find the earth
and hold it?


Exactly that.

.... unless you do not trust your own homes wiring in that regard ... :-)

Better yet: connect your 'puter to it and than touch the 'puters chassis
before doing anything else. If you don't *you* might have no static charge,
put if your 'puter does have some it may still discharge toward you -
creating the exact same destruction as when it happens the other way around.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


  #33  
Old December 2nd 18, 04:29 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mr Pounder Esquire
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Posts: 100
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

R.Wieser wrote:
Pounder,

Are you suggesting that I remove the cover off one of them, find the
earth and hold it?


Exactly that.

... unless you do not trust your own homes wiring in that regard ...
:-)
Better yet: connect your 'puter to it and than touch the 'puters
chassis before doing anything else. If you don't *you* might have no
static charge, put if your 'puter does have some it may still
discharge toward you - creating the exact same destruction as when it
happens the other way around.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser


I have a pipe like thing that goes into the ground. The power wires to the
garage go through it.
Would this do as an earth?


  #34  
Old December 2nd 18, 04:41 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
J. P. Gilliver (John)[_4_]
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Posts: 2,679
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

In message , Mr Pounder Esquire
writes:
R.Wieser wrote:
Pounder,

Are you suggesting that I remove the cover off one of them, find the
earth and hold it?


You shouldn't need to remove the cover to get at the earth; the earth
pin socket is earthed. If the sockets are metal, their casing should be
connected to earth anyway.

Exactly that.

... unless you do not trust your own homes wiring in that regard ...
:-)
Better yet: connect your 'puter to it and than touch the 'puters
chassis before doing anything else. If you don't *you* might have no
static charge, put if your 'puter does have some it may still
discharge toward you - creating the exact same destruction as when it
happens the other way around.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser


I have a pipe like thing that goes into the ground. The power wires to the
garage go through it.
Would this do as an earth?

Ideally, any such conduit - if metal - should be connected to earth
anyway. If it isn't, then yes, it should still be a fairly good earth,
except in very dry conditions. But as Rudy says, the important thing is
that you and the computer chassis are at the _same_ potential, so that
neither can discharge into the other; if both are at earth, so much the
better. If one is and the other isn't, it _can_ potentially (!) cause
damage when they touch.




visit 255soft.uk
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Victory does not bring with it a sense of triumph - rather the dull numbness
of relief..." - Cecil Beaton quoted by Anthony Horowitz, RT 2015/1/3-9
  #35  
Old December 2nd 18, 05:57 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
R.Wieser
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Posts: 1,302
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

Pounder,

I have a pipe like thing that goes into the ground. The power wires to the
garage go through it.
Would this do as an earth?


Not likely.

a) Is it a *metal* pipe (yeah, I know. A bit of a "duh". But I have to
ask)

b) Does it go down into groundwater level ? (don't think so, as electricity
and water do not mix very well)

c) Is the pipe electrically "connecting" to that groundwater (is it blank
(non-coated) where it goes that deep) ?

A grounding terminal is mostly just a (mostly) copper pipe/rod driven
vertically into the ground, with a single (often blank) wire coming from it
going to the fusebox.

If your outlets in the garage have earth terminals and the wiring was laid
by a verified electrician that those terminals *have* to be earthed
correctly (by law). If some cheap, off-the-books blunderer put those
sockets there you would be *lucky* if they where not connected at all.

If they would be connected to other power sockets, but not (correctly) to a
ground terminal than a short in one machine could go thru the earth wiring
and "come out of" it into a fully different device - or even cause other
metal things, like central heating radiators, faucets and showers become
electrified. In short, you would than be living in a death-trap.

So don't "wing it", but make sure. Your life depends on it (no joke).

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


  #36  
Old December 2nd 18, 06:14 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
R.Wieser
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Default O.T. Cleaning computer

Pounder,

Are you suggesting that I remove the cover off one of them, find the earth
and hold it?


After re-reading it I'm not at all sure what you mean with "remove the
cover". Do *NOT* open a power socket so that all three terminals (nutral,
phase and earth) are exposed and try to touch just the earth terminal.

Repeat: DO *NOT* DO THAT.

Best way to get at that earth terminal ? Grab yourself a do-it-yourself
power plug (that you can open and wire yourself), and connect a single wire
to the earth pin/terminal. After that simply use the other end of the
wire.

Suggestion: put a alligator clip on the end and put it on the 'puters frame
(easy to put on, eazy to take off). Than touch the frame before working on
its innards.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


  #37  
Old December 2nd 18, 07:04 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
rp[_2_]
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Posts: 36
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

On Sun, 2 Dec 2018 18:14:15 +0100, R.Wieser wrote:

Suggestion: put a alligator clip on the end and put it on the 'puters frame
(easy to put on, eazy to take off). Than touch the frame before working on
its innards.


Put a 10megohm resistor between the cable and the alligator clip. That
will slow down any discharges so that it won't cause a problem. It's
not just the voltage that causes problems it's quick changes in voltage
as well.

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail rpont (at) gmail (dot) com


  #38  
Old December 21st 18, 03:35 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
😉 Good Guy 😉
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Default O.T. Cleaning computer

On 21/12/2018 04:39, DK wrote:
Leaf blower! Needs to be done outside because of all the dust it releases
in the air but leaves the whole case/motherboard/radiator/fans in pristinely
clean condition.

Vacuum is not anywhere as efficient.


Best solution is to use a hose pipe with a pump to wash out everything
in the computer. Alternatively, put the machine in a bath tub to soak
it overnight with a good quality bleach!!!.




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With over 950 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

  #39  
Old December 22nd 18, 04:15 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
default[_2_]
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Posts: 201
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

On Fri, 21 Dec 2018 14:35:13 +0000, ? Good Guy ?
wrote:

On 21/12/2018 04:39, DK wrote:
Leaf blower! Needs to be done outside because of all the dust it releases
in the air but leaves the whole case/motherboard/radiator/fans in pristinely
clean condition.

Vacuum is not anywhere as efficient.


Best solution is to use a hose pipe with a pump to wash out everything
in the computer. Alternatively, put the machine in a bath tub to soak
it overnight with a good quality bleach!!!.

Warm water with a bit of dish detergent and de-ionized water for a
rinse, will fix a lot of problems, particularly those that manifest
themselves in high humidity conditions due to crude on the circuit
boards.

BUT it takes a fair amount of electronics knowledge to know which
parts are not sealed and should stay dry, and a good drying technique
is a practical necessity. A home oven will work to warm and drive off
the moisture but a vacuum oven would be a better choice.

The folks that use isopropyl alcohol are essentially using a solvent
with the same characteristics as water. (most of it is ~30% water) It
just evaporates a lot faster than water so is easier to dry.
  #40  
Old December 24th 18, 04:31 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

I found a new way of cleaning computers
of odd bits and pieces; scotch tape.

I had a hair on the motherboard and used
scotch tape to remove it. Simple and easy.

Robert



  #41  
Old December 24th 18, 04:48 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
rp[_2_]
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Posts: 36
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

On Mon, 24 Dec 2018 07:31:47 -0800 (PST), Mark Twain wrote:

I found a new way of cleaning computers
of odd bits and pieces; scotch tape.

I had a hair on the motherboard and used
scotch tape to remove it. Simple and easy.


Be careful, it can generate a lot of static when you pull it off.

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail rpont (at) gmail (dot) com


  #42  
Old December 25th 18, 01:42 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Paul in Houston TX[_2_]
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Default O.T. Cleaning computer

rp wrote:
On Mon, 24 Dec 2018 07:31:47 -0800 (PST), Mark Twain wrote:

I found a new way of cleaning computers
of odd bits and pieces; scotch tape.

I had a hair on the motherboard and used
scotch tape to remove it. Simple and easy.


Be careful, it can generate a lot of static when you pull it off.


Yup.
X-Rays, too.

  #43  
Old December 25th 18, 01:32 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

Well, I didn't stick it to anything but I
didn't realize tape would create static or
X-rays.


I don't think I'll do that again.

Robert
  #44  
Old December 26th 18, 09:30 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
default[_2_]
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Default O.T. Cleaning computer

On Mon, 24 Dec 2018 07:31:47 -0800 (PST), Mark Twain
wrote:

I found a new way of cleaning computers
of odd bits and pieces; scotch tape.

I had a hair on the motherboard and used
scotch tape to remove it. Simple and easy.

Robert


Yup, works like a champ for some applications.

One thing everyone here is missing is the ambient humidity.

If the humidity is high, it is very hard to screw up a circuit board
from static electricity.

If you are walking across a carpet and getting shocked on doorknobs -
that is not the day you should be messing with electronic circuits.

CMOS electronics... or things like computers, etc.. The old bipolar
transistors had a much higher tolerance for static discharge. Even
when they break-down in reverse bias conditions they survive as long
as the current isn't high. CMOS is another ball game entirely.

I like using tape to pick up dust and stuff too. But then I live in
the southeast and humidity is high 10 months a year.
  #45  
Old December 30th 18, 01:39 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Buffalo[_3_]
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Posts: 686
Default O.T. Cleaning computer

Just use the canned air stuff to clean the dust bunnies etc out of the heat
sink fins. You can use it on the fan blades also, just don't let them spin
up much.
It will be just fine. Don't overthink it, like some do.
Buffalo

"Mark Twain" wrote in message
...

In your image (2) are actually screws and
those were the ones I was attempting to
unscrew because I could see that the spring
loaded ones were not what I needed to remove
the fan.

Hmmmm I never thought of metal filings dropping
to the motherboard. I think I should leave well
enough alone. As I said I don't want to mess
things up.


Robert

 




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