Dalo Harkin Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Thread here http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/tech-tips-and-tricks/4235-cleaning-insides-your-pc.html Do you leave the PSU lead in or remove it - when cleaning the inside of the case (you may post reasons for and against also) Edited January 30, 2009 by Dalo Harkin Quote Intel Q6600 @ 4Ghz (Watercooled)Asus P5K premium black pearl4GB OCZ Reaper 8500260GTX Join Free PC Help - Register here Donations are welcome - here PC Build We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else.After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.
Tootech Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Depends...... If your case is very dirty, it may be best to take it outside, brush it and blast it with an air blaster. Course, the mains lead will not be connnected then! If the PC is left in the house and just the side panel removed for cleaning, leave the mains lead in, but switched off at the wall socket. That way there is a earth leakage path, should static electricity become an issue. Unplugging the mains lead totally is just as valid I think. Just take normal precautions against static electricity damage. I havn't voted - I think everyone is right :) Quote
DirtyPolo Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 My view is the same as Scotts, I would leave the plug in as it earth's it as I am slightly paranoid about static damaging my system as I've spent so much on it :P But I don't see a problem with taking it out either. One question I will ask though, How often should you clean your PC? I know it depends on the environment it's in but should it be when you cant see anything inside it anymore? :P Or reguarly, such as every month etc? Not trying to hijack, just asking for my own personal knowledge :) Quote Cooler Master HAF 932Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.3GHzAsus P5K Premium Black Pearl2GB OCZ reaper 1066MHZATI Radeon HD4850Pictures! Click Here To Register And Get Started In The World Of Free PC Help Forums! If Free PC Help Has Helped You, Please Consider Leaving A Donation By Clicking Here!We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.
Guest Wolfeymole Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 You want an Earth path? Construct a kettle lead with both Live and Neutral disconnected in the plug. Quote
DirtyPolo Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Why do that when you can just leave it plugged in? So much simpler Quote Cooler Master HAF 932Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.3GHzAsus P5K Premium Black Pearl2GB OCZ reaper 1066MHZATI Radeon HD4850Pictures! Click Here To Register And Get Started In The World Of Free PC Help Forums! If Free PC Help Has Helped You, Please Consider Leaving A Donation By Clicking Here!We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.
Plastic Nev Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 OK, a general sort of bit of thinking, a lot of folk will have their computer tower box, either stood on the floor or on a low shelf of their desk. This means to get the lid off and do a cleaning job it may well be laid down on the floor carpet. Most carpets may have some element of artificial yarn spun into the thread or the pile and can therefore be a source of static build up, especially in the person, hence the advice to earth yourself. If the machine itself is disconnected entirely from the mains by pulling the plug out, it actually matters not at all, so long as you touch and maintain a contact to the case, doing so will balance any voltages present through static, so there will be no potential difference between you and the case. So there can be no spark jump from you to a sensitive component and damage it. Maintaining that balance is the important thing. However without a connection to earth, at some later date when the computer is plugged back into the main wall socket, it could be possible to have many thousands of volts of static residing in the case, so a spark could be observed jumping from the earth pin of the plug to the wall socket. Even so that should not do any harm to the internal circuits, so long as the earth wiring is properly connected at both ends. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. --------------------------------------------------------------------I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? :Dhttp://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/Nev2.gif
BeeCeeBee Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Just for the record we have many American members who may not have a clue what you are talking about. In the UK all plugs contain fuses and contain a ground wire that is referred to as the "earth." They differ from the US version of the power cord in 2 significant ways. First, as noted the plug itself has a fuse. It can generally be opened and the fuse replaced. That also give rise to the ability to disconnect all but the ground wire. There is no UK version of the two pronged plug. The US version of the three pronged plug is almost always a sealed unit unless replaced. The only way to accomplish using a power cord as a ground wire is to cut the plug and buy a replacement, Then you can attache only the ground wire to the new plug and tape off the remaining two. Just for clarity sake the UK voltage is in the 220 range as standard or about twice that of the US. Quote "Familiarity breeds contempt - and children." Mark Twain
Plastic Nev Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 I must admit my original post was aimed at the UK rather than the rest of the world and I do take your point, there is a similarity to the round pin round plug in a large part of the rest of Europe too. They do also have an earth or safety return connection, but only on some types of outlet as I recall from my last visit to Switzerland. It seems the UK is unique in this as the now common standard three pin 13 amp fused plug superseded a none fused round pinned 5 amp or 15 amp plug. However the shape and configuration of pins was not dissimilar to the modern 13 amp plug. The end view of a 13 amp plug pin is rectangular in shape. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. --------------------------------------------------------------------I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? :Dhttp://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/Nev2.gif
Match Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 You want an Earth path? Construct a kettle lead with both Live and Neutral disconnected in the plug. Although I voted for plug left in, smack me round the face with a wet trout this Idea is brilliant. and more to the point with a little adaptation I'm sure I can come up with some sort of metallic bracelet that can be connected in the same way, and with the Live and Neutral wires removed must be the safest way. (sorry if your not from the UK and have no idea what I'm talking about) Quote
Plastic Nev Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 If you wear a watch with a metallic expanding wrist strap, or you wear a copper bracelet, all you need is a length of very flexible cable, connected by wrapping round the bracelet, and a crocodile clip on the other end. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. --------------------------------------------------------------------I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? :Dhttp://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/Nev2.gif
DirtyPolo Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 or buy an anti static wrist band for about £1.99. But I still vote for leaving the plug in... Quote Cooler Master HAF 932Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.3GHzAsus P5K Premium Black Pearl2GB OCZ reaper 1066MHZATI Radeon HD4850Pictures! Click Here To Register And Get Started In The World Of Free PC Help Forums! If Free PC Help Has Helped You, Please Consider Leaving A Donation By Clicking Here!We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.
Dalo Harkin Posted February 2, 2009 Author Posted February 2, 2009 Depends...... If your case is very dirty, it may be best to take it outside, brush it and blast it with an air blaster. Course, the mains lead will not be connnected then! If the PC is left in the house and just the side panel removed for cleaning, leave the mains lead in, but switched off at the wall socket. That way there is a earth leakage path, should static electricity become an issue. Unplugging the mains lead totally is just as valid I think. Just take normal precautions against static electricity damage. I havn't voted - I think everyone is right :) If your PC is that dirty inside that you have to take it outside, I would advise that rather than stopping outside, you put the PC in your car - drive to the nearest tip and launch it in there :eek: Anyone that has to take their PC outside as its that dirty inside needs slapping with a big fish :D Quote Intel Q6600 @ 4Ghz (Watercooled)Asus P5K premium black pearl4GB OCZ Reaper 8500260GTX Join Free PC Help - Register here Donations are welcome - here PC Build We are all members helping other members.Please return here where you may be able to help someone else.After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs.
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