is it safe to ope a power supply to clean it?

[Cosmic_Horror]

hi all,

my power supply fan seems to be making a funny noise (kinda of a dull rattle) and i am considering opening it up and giving it a clean out of dust and seeing if anything is loose. IS this safe to do? are there any special precausions i should take?

any advice is greatly appricated..

thanks in advance

 

[Davegod]

no and yes

no if you dont know what you are doing, which obviously you dont (nor me).


there's capacitors in there which store a lethal charge for a long time after it was last used.

 

[PCHPlayer]

Make sure it is unplugged. Then wait a few minutes (30) for the capacitors to discharge.

 

[paperfist]

Originally posted by: PCHPlayer
Make sure it is unplugged. Then wait a few minutes (30) for the capacitors to discharge.

I've heard that the capacitors store power for longer periods then that. It is almost a guessing game as to when the power will be discharged.

You are pretty safe just taking the cover off (after you've unplugged it) and using compressed air to clean it, just don't get close with the can or touch ANYTHING inside or there; enough juice flows in there to kill you or send you to the hospital.

 

[ethebubbeth]

STAY THE FSCK AWAY FROM THE CAPS. otherwise, the ambulance might not make it in time...

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

That and you void the warranty

 

[meeshu]

The cooling fan screws may be loose, and causing the rattling sound?

Be VERY careful when opening the psu, as paperfist is right; capacitors can hold charge for a long time, depending on the design of the circuitry, and there could be enough charge to kill or injure you!

You may consider wearing thick rubber soled shoes and rubber gloves when working around inside the PSU in case you accidentally touch capacitor circuitry.

 

[Amorphus]

Originally posted by: meeshu
You may consider wearing thick rubber soled shoes and rubber gloves when working around inside the PSU in case you accidentally touch capacitor circuitry.

nah, won't help you. just take it off, avoid touching anything, and blast it with an airgun. air is not conductive.

plus, tighten all screws that aren't involved in keeping the PSU cover on, while you're at it (the point being that you're going to take the PSU cover OFF, right? )

 

[meeshu]

Originally posted by: Amorphus

Originally posted by: meeshu
You may consider wearing thick rubber soled shoes and rubber gloves when working around inside the PSU in case you accidentally touch capacitor circuitry.

nah, won't help you. just take it off, avoid touching anything, and blast it with an airgun. air is not conductive.

Of course it will help! It saved me from electrocution when I accidentally touched a live mains voltage component inside a unit I was working on; fortunately I was wearing rubber soled shoes (no rubber gloves) and although I felt the shock it did not cause any damage!

Wearing rubber shoes and gloves is just a safety precaution in case accidental contact is made with live or charged components.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: Cosmic_Horror
hi all,

my power supply fan seems to be making a funny noise (kinda of a dull rattle) and i am considering opening it up and giving it a clean out of dust and seeing if anything is loose. IS this safe to do? are there any special precausions i should take?

any advice is greatly appricated..

thanks in advance

just get a new PSU...

 

[corkyg]

You probably need to replace the fan. That happens more frequently than most folks realize. In 22 years I have had to do that about 4 times. Just use common sense and don't touch capacitor discharge points. Make sure all in unplugged. What you describe that you are hearing is classic for a sleeve bearing that has worn out.

Actually - the safest and easiest thing to do is replace the power supply - then fix the one that came out and put it on the shelf as a replacement. Ain't no biggie.

 

[Ionizer86]

Be very careful not to touch that big metal thingy inside. I was replacing a PSU fan with a Panaflo, and that day, I took not one but two shocks! Stupid me... It leaves you stunned for like an hour.