Computer Vacuum

[ed]

I know we talk mostly about woodworking, but I had a good idea today and just wanted to run it by the group and get some feedback.

I work with computer controls systems and today I had to clean up a server, it was full of dust.
I used what was an antistatic vacuum cleaner, boy was it loud and did not do a very good job.
I thought I could have done much better with my CT22, it is an antistatic vacuum and would not make near the noise.
Has anyone used one of the Festool Dust Extractors to clean the inside of a computer or do you see this as a problem?

thanks,
ed

 

[Corwin]

I would think the variable speed feature on the CT vacs would be of benefit.  Turned down lower, the vac is great for the keyboard.

 

[Bob Childress]

I know this is really a great idea, but all I can picture is a PC with a 27mm dust port fitted and a CT22 connected, with the computer plugged into the Auto socket. When you boot up, the vac sucks the dust out.  ;D

 

[Dan Lyke]

I've had troubles playing with some low power consumption PCs where the power supplies don't turn on unless you pull some minimum amount of current through them.

Haven't checked with the CT-22 to see if it'll turn on with the big desktop machine but not with the tiny little server...

 

[mikeneron]

I know this is an old topic, but the CT22 is on the way.  I plan to use it on my TS55 mainly, but do work with computers and was thinking since the vacuum is antistatic that it would be a good choice to clean out systems.  I mainly use the canned compressed air and take the systems outside and create a big dust storm  [smile]  Would be nice to be able to clean them indoors and keep the dust to a minimum.  Is the Festool vac going to be truly zero static though and safe to use for this?

 

[jvsteenb]

As long as your CT22 is well earthed, preferrably in the same outlet your computer is plugged in static discharge shouldn't pose a problem. To make absolutely sure, strap an anti-ESD bracelet around the hose, just before the mouthpiece and attach the alligatorclip to the frame of the machine. Should do the trick.

Regards,

Job

 

[AlexThePalex]

Bad idea.

You should never use a big vacuum leaner to vacuum a computer. It doesn't matter if the hose is antistatic or not. If you do it right, you don't touch the computer's components anyway. However, the static electricity you have to worry about is not the static electricity in the hose, but the static electricity in the airstream.

As soon as you suck up dust all the particles in the airstream collide with each other and it's environment and build up a pretty big static charge while they're still in the air. This airstream then hits the computer chips and partially discharges it's static energy on the chips. This still happens whether the hose is anti-static or not. The anti-static property of Festool hoses means the hose itself doesn't get charged, it says nothing about what happens with the dust filled airstream before it enters the hose.

I cleaned out quite a number of electronic devices and never felt the need to vacuum them. A good brush and a good blow is enough. If you do feel the need to use a vac, use only the small battery vacuums that are specially designed for vacuuming a computer. They are designed in such a way that the static electricity is as small as possible.

 

[mikeneron]

I have tried the small battery powered vacuums and they are pretty useless.  I don't really see the difference between one of those and the Festool in regards to them being anti-static.  It's not like I plan to vacuum the motherboard...just the power supply, cpu fan, case fans, and the actual case itself.  If you have cleaned out a computer in the past, you know how dusty they can get.  Blowing the compressed air puts all that dust all over the place.  I was hoping to use the vac in combination with the air to contain the dust as much as possible without frying the electronic components  [scared]

 

[harry_]

I use my CT33 on this laptop on a fairly regular basis. I never open it up. Iust put it to, and let it suck all the dust out. I do make sure that the laptop is plugged in to a grounded outlet. I have wondered though, if in fact the laptop actually is grounded or if it has gotten isolated via the power converter.

I suppose if I was ambitious enough I could check.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have tried the small battery powered vacuums and they are pretty useless. 

I haven't tried them myself but they do look pretty useless.

I don't really see the difference between one of those and the Festool in regards to them being anti-static. 

There's a big difference. The stronger suction of a shop/home vac creates a lot more airflow and thus a much bigger static charge. Also, the shop or home vac sucks air from every direction so you get an airflow over the board. The small battery vacs create just a small, local airflow that sucks the dust straight up.

It's not like I plan to vacuum the motherboard...just the power supply, cpu fan, case fans, and the actual case itself. 

Ah ....., but you didn't mention that before. Power supply, case and fans are ok to vacuum.

Blowing the compressed air puts all that dust all over the place. 

I didn't mean compressed air. That's not getting near my electronic equipment. I mean blowing the old fashioned way, with your mouth. [smile]

 

[jonny round boy]

I use my CT33 on this laptop on a fairly regular basis. I never open it up. Iust put it to, and let it suck all the dust out. I do make sure that the laptop is plugged in to a grounded outlet. I have wondered though, if in fact the laptop actually is grounded or if it has gotten isolated via the power converter.

Harry,

Your suspicions are correct - the laptop is not grounded, it's completely isolated by the transformer. Laptops don't need to be grounded - if they did, then they wouldn't be very portable with a grounding wire attached...

As for not using a CT to clean a computer, I understand what Alex is saying about the static being created by the airflow, however if that's the case then what difference does it make what type of vac you use? The vac can't influence the static build-up from the airflow before it contacts the nozzle anyway. The only difference with the crappy battery-powered PC vacs is the rate of the airflow, and that can be controlled on the CT anyway.

If you're building computers or handling electronic components, then you do need to be very careful about static however once the components are inserted/attached to a PCB, then the risk of static damage from normal usage (including an occasional vacuum) is virtually nil.