Cleaning PC fan...

marka87uk

Errr that's what I said.

Quincy_3

marka87uk wrote:

Errr that's what I said.

I think the point thats is trying to be made is personal safety and not causing or increasing the chance of static build up, just remember we are giving advice to complete strangers so its best to be safe than sorry.

niceguyrichy

marka87uk wrote:

Errr that's what I said.

yeah, i was typing when you posted , sorry.

important distinction between leaving it plugged in with the power off, and just unplugging it though
doesn't hurt to reitterate

moonrakerz

niceguyrichy wrote:

you will not electrocute yourself either so long as it's switched off at the wall.

You MAY well electrocute yourself !

Many sockets only have a single pole switch, if the plug on the PC or the wiring in the socket is incorrect, the switch will open the neutral line, not the live - the PC still has 240V inside - just waiting to kill you !

ALWAYS unplug it !

A good place to earth yourself, before poking around inside, is to touch the shiny metal cap usually found on the top-side of radiators.

marka87uk

niceguyrichy wrote:

yeah, i was typing when you posted , sorry.

important distinction between leaving it plugged in with the power off, and just unplugging it though
doesn't hurt to reitterate

Ah no worries

niceguyrichy

moonrakerz wrote:

if the plug on the PC or the wiring in the socket is incorrect, the switch will open the neutral line, not the live

.... yeah and don't ever leave the house just 'on the off chance' a bus runs you down....

you can't ever allow for every eventuallity, what if the electrician you just had working at your house left a live wire touching that radiator??? kazaam!! you're fried!

best thing to do, turn off the leccy altogether, get your electricity company to disconnect you, unplug everything and leave it for min 48 hours (let any risidual electricity in capacitors and such disperse), then have a go at cleaning your comp :rolleyes:

esuhl

moonrakerz wrote:

the PC still has 240V inside

A PC runs on 5 & 12 volt lines. The only part of a PC with 230V running through it (we changed from 240V to 230V over ten years ago) is the power supply.

For that reason, you should NEVER open the power supply. If it fails, replace it with a new one.

Also, the monitor can have huge voltages (~30,000V) stored even when the power has been off for a long time. Again, unless you have had full training, NEVER open a monitor.

If you don't open the PSU or monitor, working on a PC is very safe. The worst you can do is destroy your harware, and that can be avoided by ensuring that you are properly grounded and handle delicate electronics carefully. I usually leave the PC plugged in but turned off.

moonrakerz

niceguyrichy wrote:

.... yeah and don't ever leave the house just 'on the off chance' a bus runs you down....

you can't ever allow for every eventuallity, what if the electrician you just had working at your house left a live wire touching that radiator??? kazaam!! you're fried!

best thing to do, turn off the leccy altogether, get your electricity company to disconnect you, unplug everything and leave it for min 48 hours (let any risidual electricity in capacitors and such disperse), then have a go at cleaning your comp :rolleyes:

I have to say that that is one of the most stupid responses I have ever had the misfortune to read anywhere on this site ! Ignorant statements such as yours are the cause of most electrical accidents. I wouldn't trust you with anything more powerful than a torch.

I stand by what I said - and any one who knows anything about electrics, (which you obviously don't) would agree with it.

Re: esuhl's comments - totally agree with you , but most people who open up their PC have no idea what voltages are where - play safe ! (good example above, I should imagine !)

The mains supply in the UK did not change from 240V AC to 230V AC and has been 240 for many years, and will stay that way. The tolerances on various national supplies within the EU were changed so that nominally all were operating at 230V AC.
The exact details for the UK were: "Old" voltage 240 +/- 6%, "new" voltage 230 +10%, -6%: all the power stations carried on just as before !

niceguyrichy

moonrakerz wrote:

I have to say that that is one of the most stupid responses I have ever had the misfortune to read anywhere on this site ! Ignorant statements such as yours are the cause of most electrical accidents. I wouldn't trust you with anything more powerful than a torch.

I stand by what I said - and any one who knows anything about electrics, (which you obviously don't) would agree with it.

Re: esuhl's comments - totally agree with you , but most people who open up their PC have no idea what voltages are where - play safe ! (good example above, I should imagine !)

The mains supply in the UK did not change from 240V AC to 230V AC and has been 240 for many years, and will stay that way. The tolerances on various national supplies within the EU were changed so that nominally all were operating at 230V AC.
The exact details for the UK were: "Old" voltage 240 +/- 6%, "new" voltage 230 +10%, -6%: all the power stations carried on just as before !

:rotfl:

well thanks for the chuckle.
the series of misfortunes that would have to transpire for anyone to electrocute themselves simply by cleaning out their case is preposterous.
more likely hood of you getting eating by a great white in blackpool.

why, why try and put the frighteners up somebody who was asking a perfectly simple question with a perfectly simple answer??

Quincy_3

As seen as nobody knows the OPs level of competency its best to play safe and unplug the PC, also I have had a belt from a digital camera capacitor so a PC is a tad more risky IMHO.



Proposterous or not I value life more than a PC