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Subject: "Cleaning Power Supply" Previous topic | Next topic
daniellSat Nov-25-17 03:47 PM
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"Cleaning Power Supply"


          

The fan blades of the power supply are loaded with grease. Compressed air will do nothing to remedy this problem. I don't know what is doing inside. I am thinking of taking off the cover and giving it a good cleaning. Never have done this before, are there any problems that I am likely to come across?

  

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Replies to this topic
Subject Author Message Date ID
RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 25th 2017
1
RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 25th 2017
2
      RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 26th 2017
3
      RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 26th 2017
5
      RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 26th 2017
4
           RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 27th 2017
6
           RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 27th 2017
7
           RE: Cleaning Power Supply
Nov 27th 2017
8

GreyFalconSat Nov-25-17 06:35 PM
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#1. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to daniell (Reply # 0)


          

I would guess if enough grease laden air has passed through the power supply to coat the fan blades I imagine the whole power supply is in the same shape and it would be a bear to clean. Personally I would replace it. Anything you used to dissolve the grease well enough to remove the dust would probably damage the fan and components. There are charged capacitors in there that are also dangerous to work around. Bottom line is cleaning worth it?

  

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daniellSat Nov-25-17 06:52 PM
Member since Mar 02nd 2008
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#2. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to GreyFalcon (Reply # 1)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
I would guess if enough grease laden air has passed through the power supply to coat the fan blades I imagine the whole power supply is in the same shape and it would be a bear to clean. Personally I would replace it. Anything you used to dissolve the grease well enough to remove the dust would probably damage the fan and components. There are charged capacitors in there that are also dangerous to work around. Bottom line is cleaning worth it?

Thanks
I will take your advise and replace it with an inexpensive one. I forgot about the charge held by the capacitors. It has not been plugged in for more than a week, so I guess they have discharged by now. The grease is from the oven. I wish that I could avoid this problem in the future.

  

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lenjackSun Nov-26-17 02:01 AM
Member since Nov 13th 2001
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#3. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to daniell (Reply # 2)


          

I would assume that you would also have grease on any other fans inside, and also coating the entire innards.

  

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daniellSun Nov-26-17 09:29 AM
Member since Mar 02nd 2008
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#5. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to lenjack (Reply # 3)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
I would assume that you would also have grease on any other fans inside, and also coating the entire innards.


I have already cleaned those fan blades with alcohol.

  

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GreyFalconSun Nov-26-17 06:03 AM
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#4. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to daniell (Reply # 2)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
The grease is from the oven. I wish that I could avoid this problem in the future.
I believe a nice tablet would make a great kitchen computer. The tack room computers are worse. Smells like it is fresh from the stall.

  

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daniellMon Nov-27-17 01:32 PM
Member since Mar 02nd 2008
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#6. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to GreyFalcon (Reply # 4)


          

Curiosity is getting the better of me. I now plan to take the grill off of the power supply and clean the fan blades. Correct me if I am wrong, the capacitors has to be discharged since it has been unplugged for more than a week.

  

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lenjackMon Nov-27-17 01:48 PM
Member since Nov 13th 2001
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#7. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to daniell (Reply # 6)


          

To be sure, keep it unplugged, and put the metal shaft of a screwdriver across the capacitor terminals, while holding the insulated handle of the screwdriver.

  

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nightlyreaderMon Nov-27-17 04:22 PM
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#8. "RE: Cleaning Power Supply"
In response to GreyFalcon (Reply # 4)


          

Quote:
QUOTE:
The grease is from the oven. I wish that I could avoid this problem in the future.
Quote:
QUOTE:I believe a nice tablet would make a great kitchen computer. The tack room computers are worse. Smells like it is fresh from the stall.


I had a co-worker that built custom computers as a side job. A customer brought a recent build back to his shop with problems. I don't recall exactly what. Once inside the case, he found a dark film over everything, with evidence of carbon tracing.

He cleaned everything up and the computer was good to go again. He delivered it to the customer to hook things back up and also to try and figure out what caused the problem. Come to find out, the lady loved burning candles, to the extent of burning one next to her computer.

He explained how the smoke from the candle was being pulled inside by her case fan and was leaving carbon residue on everything. She quit that habit, which solved the problem.

Nightly Reader

  

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