[SOLVED] Electrical Static Issue?

[Wolfinch]

1. Im a very "careless" person, can drop anything like usb, hard drive, phone, etc. So I make a custom box with elastic foam inside to protect my external hard drive if it drop from my hand/desk.

https://imgur.com/YRUsizH

View: https://imgur.com/YRUsizH


BUT the main problem is, it increase heat at least 5 Celcius. So I want to put custom usb fan below this cardbox.

https://imgur.com/IZ1eEMG

View: https://imgur.com/IZ1eEMG


Question: Is it safe to put a fan below "foam wrapped" external drive? How about electrical static issue?

2. I have cheap laptop, with bad cooling system. 60-70 Celcius when browsing. So I bought a laptop vacuum Taffware. It helps, it can reduce my processor temp 10 Celcius. But, is it safe?

https://imgur.com/oqBsXQ2

View: https://imgur.com/oqBsXQ2


3. Blow dusty PC with blower can harm your device because of electrical static. Myth or Fact?

Laptop model: ASUS VivoBook X441UBR

Desktop spec:
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M
Core i5 10400
RAM 2x8GB 2666Mhz
GTX 1050 Ti
SSD Samsung 256GB
WD Blue 1TB 3.5"

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Unlikely, without more information, to be electrostatic.

1) The only solution to that problem is to not be careless. If "carelessness" involves some sort of physical/mental or uncontrollable issues then that may require medical advice.....

2) Cheap laptop: make, model, specs? Overall, heat is an enemy of electronics (i.e., a laptop).

3) Myth. Define "blower". Overall using canned air in accordance with the applicable instructions is safe. What instructions, procedures are you using/following?

 

[Wolfinch]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Unlikely, without more information, to be electrostatic.

1) The only solution to that problem is to not be careless. If "carelessness" involves some sort of physical/mental or uncontrollable issues then that may require medical advice.....

2) Cheap laptop: make, model, specs? Overall, heat is an enemy of electronics (i.e., a laptop).

3) Myth. Define "blower". Overall using canned air in accordance with the applicable instructions is safe. What instructions, procedures are you using/following?

1. Well, there's no medical issue here. And I ask this because I curious about electric static thing is true or not. And how about 'cooling method' I've said above. Even if I'm bot careless at all, I still want yo know about this.

2. Asus Vivobook X441UBR. I've clean inside but still like that. Already use laptop cooler and no effect. Only that Taffware vacuum can reduce my temperature. But again, I concerned about electrical static issue. Because I read vacuum cleaner can harm desktop. So, this Taffware vacuum is have same harm effect like vacuum cleaner or not.

3. It's leaf blower. I use it at least 1ft from my desktop.

 

[Ralston18]

This vacuum?

https://shopee.co.id/Taffware-ICE-FAN-3-Universal-Laptop-Vacuum-Cooler-Black-i.14888229.1321373571

And the objective is cooling the Asus Vivobook X441UBR and not cleaning it - correct? Versus cooling/cleaning the desktop - correct?

Laptop:

1) I would not expect that small "vacuum" to move all that much air so static build up is likely moot.

2) The Taffware vacuum may actually create other problems. The resulting air flows may reduce temperatures while facilitating more dust and debris getting inside the laptop. And/or disrupting the laptop's designed in air flows. Some other, un-monitored component may be getting hotter due to dust build up and/or reduced air flow. And you may not know until there is some sudden "poof".

3) Leaf blower - that could indeed cause damage. Household vacuum cleaner -likewise. Air flow "direction" does not matter. Either one is going to cause damage sooner or later simply by end user loss of control/direction. And they could create a static build up depending on conditions.

Consider something like:

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/best-laptop-cooling-pads

Or prop up the laptop and use a small fan.

The real issue is why is the laptop overheating?

You mentioned a difference of 5 C. What is the actual low temperature and high temperature? If within the laptop specs then 5 C more should not be a problem.

Skip the padding. May be trapping heat and blocking air flows.

Take some of the load off of the laptop. Use an independently powered USB hub, for example, to power USB peripherals: keyboard, mouse, external drives, etc..

 

[Wolfinch]

Well, Im confused now. Maybe my question are not clear, so I try to update my post with picture. Maybe you can re-read this to clarify.

And the objective is cooling the Asus Vivobook X441UBR and not cleaning it - correct? Versus cooling/cleaning the desktop - correct?

I've clean my laptop and the temp still high. And that taffware solved this problem.

No, my objective here is to know if that taffware vacuum and 12x12 usb fan produce electrical static or not

1) I would not expect that small "vacuum" to move all that much air so static build up is likely moot.

Sorry, I dont under stand what do you mean here.

2) The Taffware vacuum may actually create other problems. The resulting air flows may reduce temperatures while facilitating more dust and debris getting inside the laptop. And/or disrupting the laptop's designed in air flows. Some other, un-monitored component may be getting hotter due to dust build up and/or reduced air flow. And you may not know until there is some sudden "poof".

How can taffware increase dust inside laptop? This device suck air inside laptop to outside..

https://imgur.com/VPr4Gnu

View: https://imgur.com/VPr4Gnu

You mentioned a difference of 5 C. What is the actual low temperature and high temperature? If within the laptop specs then 5 C more should not be a problem.

It's about external hard drive in my question number 1. With OR without box have 5C difference

 

[Ralston18]

It is all related.

Dust

Yes - the Taffware draws air from the inside of the laptop but replacement air with dust, pollen, humidity comes in through other laptop openings: ports & vents.

So with both the laptop's own fan and the Taffware vacuum you may be increasing the airflow and cooling things down but at the same time also increasing the dust etc. coming in with that replacement air.

Static

Static electricity can build up as a result of air flows. It takes a significant amount of rubbing to create a build up of electrons. I doubt that the Taffware and/or the USB cooling fan will provide sufficient air flows to create direct sparking damage as can occur with a vacuum or leaf blower. However, any static build up may increase dust collection inside the laptop.

Here are two links with more explanation:

https://www.grafelectric.com/static-electricity-keep-electronics-safe/

https://www.omazaki.co.id/en/static-electricity-and-electrostatic-discharge-esd-basic/

You can easily find other similar links.

Temperature:

It is the laptop (not the external drive) that is getting 5 C warmer - correct?

If not correct clarify the device and how the temperature is being determined.

If the external drive (with or without the box /foam) and the USB cooling fan are drawing power from the laptop then the laptop is going to get warmer.

Adding the Taffware vacuum as another"fan" and power draw is likely just going to make it all worse.

= = = =

My recommendation is to get an independently powered USB hub and use that hub to provide power to the external drive and the USB cooling fan.

 

[Wolfinch]

Thanks for explanation about dust and static, I'll read that links later

It is the laptop (not the external drive) that is getting 5 C warmer - correct?

It's external drive that getting 5C warmer... Let me give you long explanation

So, I have a new WD Passport 1TB external hard drive, and it's plastic design is too slippery for my hand and desk. So I make that custom box to prevent it slips and fall down. But when I use that box, I notice my hard drive got 5C warmer when copying files (30 minutes)

Without box -- 42C
With box -- 47C

So, I have idea to buy that 12x12usb fan and put the fan below my boxed external drive, to lower the temprature. But I'm afraid if that 12x12 fan harm my external drive because of ESD.

Dont worry about fan and taffware power source, I'm not connecting it to usb port. I plug them directly to socket with android charger adapter. Only external drive connect directly to laptop, and I cant see any significant increase of laptop's heat becaue of it

 

[Ralston18]

The external drive will not be harmed by the ESD from the 12 x 12 fan's airflow.

Overall, you really should not need the box, fan, leaf blowers, etc..

And the temperatures are a concern.

= = = =

This external drive?

https://www.westerndigital.com/en-c...wd-my-passport-usb-3-0-hdd#WDBYVG0010BBK-WESN

The external drive is getting warmer because the box is acting both as an insulator and restricting natural cooling air flows around the external drive. Much as if you wrapped the external drive up in a blanket.

Operating temperature range is listed as 5 C to 35 C. Meaning the temperature range of the room/environment where the drive is being used. And I would expect the drive itself get warmer with use and especially after 30 minutes of copying files.

[Side note: How many and what size files are being copied. Do you expect that copying process to take 30 minutes.? Transfer speeds?]

I do not know if 42 C or 47 C is too high of a temperature for the drive. How are you obtaining the temperature measurements? Does the drive, alone, feel really warm or hot to the touch?

Being really warm or hot to the touch is a bad sign and any files being copied to the external drive should also be backed up from the original source location to another drive or drives. Just in case....

That all said:

To reduce slipping and moving put a couple of wide (5 - 6 mm) rubber bands around the external drive. About 1/4 of the way in from each end of the drive.

Use rubber bands large enough to go around and strong enough to stay in place without squeezing or bending the external drive.

You may need to experiment a bit - maybe 4 narrower rubber bands evenly spaced will work as well. And raise the external drive up off of the desk a mm or two.

More air flow....