Keeping your HTPC clean

[sdsean]

So i'm looking at designing a new tv cabinet / stand. . .but in the mean time
I wanted to ask the forum for suggestions about cleaning, specifically with compressed air.

We have a dog, and between that, living at the beach, and what not there is a lot of dust flying around in my house.

Once or twice a year I unplug everything and try to give it all a good dusting/cleaning. (Hence why I want to build a new enclosure, to minimize my need for cleaning).

I find myself spending a lot of money over and over again on compressed air canisters, and it kinda drives me batty. I don't have that big a place, so I don't really have room for a giant commercial air-compressor.

So I'm wondering what other options I might have? I've been searching the net for days trying to find a fairly high pressure but portable air-compressor, and haven't had much luck. I was also just going to try
using a high pressure tire-inflator, with a little blower attachment, but my guess is the pressure won't be high enough.

I suppose a vaccum that will blow in reverse might work. . . or a hair dryer maybe? Any thoughts?

[blade]

Originally Posted by sdsean

I find myself spending a lot of money over and over again on compressed air canisters, and it kinda drives me batty. I don't have that big a place, so I don't really have room for a giant commercial air-compressor.

You don't need a large compressor. I actually broke the fins off a power supply fan once by having the pressure turned up too high.

So I'm wondering what other options I might have? I've been searching the net for days trying to find a fairly high pressure but portable air-compressor, and haven't had much luck. I was also just going to try
using a high pressure tire-inflator, with a little blower attachment, but my guess is the pressure won't be high enough.

I don't know what the minimum pressure and tank size you would need, but you may be surprised at how little pressure it will take.

If you can't find a small compressor with enough pressure you might look into a portable air tank and use the compressor at a local service station to fill it up. I know I've seen them as small as 5 gallons, which should be more than enough. Not sure if you can find them smaller or not.

[GKusnick]

The best solution is to keep dust out of your PC case in the first place. To do this effectively you need positive pressure inside the case (more fans blowing in than blowing out), with dust filters on the fans blowing in. If your case is negatively pressurized (as most cases are), then you'll get dust sucked into every crack and crevice, including drive bays, USB ports, etc. So you really want to correct that and make sure the only air getting into your case goes through a filter first.

[matt91]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

The best solution is to keep dust out of your PC case in the first place. To do this effectively you need positive pressure inside the case

interesting. i've never thought of this, but it makes perfect sense. i'll have to take a look at this too the next time i have my cases opened.

[tonaeli]

I also was tired of buying compressed air so I purchased one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-E...7756528&sr=8-4

It is quite powerful and does a real good job. My Sage server didn't look that dirty but I noticed it was much quieter immediately after the cleaning. The only downside that I noticed is the unit gets hot and blows hot air if left running too long. Some people complained about noise but it doesn't bother me.

[wrems]

Depending on your plans of re-configuring your TV stand cabinet area you could think about sealing it from line of site and using a nice furnace filter wrapped with fabric or such to still allow adequate airflow.

I’d buy one of the nicer 3M filters that keep out most all dust/pollen. Cut it to fit snug in your opening and wrap it with cloth so it basically looks like a speaker.

Then you could clean your PC once really good and not worry about it again. As long as you have enough air movement in and out of the cabinet through the furnace filter it shouldn’t get too hot.

[sdsean]

Nice tonaeli, I'm buying one of those!!

And yeah GKusnick, I'm get the negative vs. postive airflow thing, and that's part of the reason I'm looking at also building a new cabinet, although I may attack the case as well.

I had this idea of building a new tv/stereo cabinet with large, quiet, filtered fans bulit into the wood from the underside and possibily the back (as well as having a whole big area in the back for the mess of cables and the ability to hide the UPC and power outlets). I've never seen one other than stuff that's built into walls or closets, which won't work for me, and I thought it'd make for nice time consuming project.

Obviously I can't seal the whole thing (I wish), but the idea is to make a nice piece of furniture that keeps the electronics relatively clean, and is quiet.

[sdsean]

yeah that's pretty much the idea. . .

thing is I don't want a built in, I want a piece of furntiture, and I don't think I'm going to enclose the actual TV, just the HTPC / Server, game console (or 2) stereo, STBs, etc.

there is plenty of heat coming out of the stand I have right now, but I know its just cause the airflow is no good (its just good enough).

[UgaData]

http://www.amazon.com/REARR6000-Refi.../dp/B000RNE50Q

Reusable can-o-air Unfortunately, this product is currently unavailable

[paulbeers]

I just use a cheapo "pancake" air compressor. One of those $50-60 ones. It only las like a 3 gallon tank and sits neatly in one of my basement closets when not used. it also works great for filling tires, finishing work, and a few other items. I just put a nice air regulartor on it so that I don't push the air out at too high of a velocity....

[Skirge01]

We have 2 large dogs in the house and carpet in the TV room, so dust/hair is everywhere. I have one of these pancake air compressors. The footprint is about the same as those metal garbage cans and it stands about 2 feet tall, so they take up very little space. I would recommend at least a 6 gallon because you go through the air pretty quickly when blowing out your computer. I generally blow out the HTPC about every other month and the server every 2 or 3 months.

[TallMomof2]

I go the opposite direction since I have an electronic sewing machine that specifically says to not use compressed air. Years ago I purchased a set of mini vacuum cleaner attachments that work great to remove dust and particles from small cramped areas. I use it on my PCs and keyboards and it's great at removing dust. With compressed air you're just blowing the dust somewhere else. DH uses the vacuum cleaner tools on his miniature toy soldiers because compressed air can sometimes flake off the paint.

[sdsean]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks!!

Until I get myself a new cabinet built. . . I'm gonna split the difference and go with the
small air blower at amazon and also I recently bought a Dyson vaccum and best buy had a special where they give you a handheld vaccum for free!! So I'm gonna use both. . .

Great links. . . thanks again!!

[snipeman]

Originally Posted by sdsean

Thanks for all the suggestions folks!!

Until I get myself a new cabinet built. . . I'm gonna split the difference and go with the
small air blower at amazon and also I recently bought a Dyson vaccum and best buy had a special where they give you a handheld vaccum for free!! So I'm gonna use both. . .

Great links. . . thanks again!!

Let us know if the vacuum has the proper amount of suction!

[sdsean]

Yeah the dyson handelds do indeed seem to have enough suction.
They are of course pricey, and a bit bulky. . .but it comes with some nice attachments and you can order other ones that make for cleaning a pc (or other electronics) a snap.
I should say that I just always keep the thing on high. . .but yeah so far so good. . .