Power Supply question

[HOTRODr418]

Just curious, I was looking at the fan on the back of my power supply the other day and i noticed that it looks really dusty. Should i take it apart and clean it out?

 

[Z-Tech]

You don't need to take it apart but you should thoroughly blow it out with compressed air or a blower:
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390834884&sr=8-1&keywords=datavac
You should also do the same with the rest of your computer periodically.

 

[InvalidError]

If you are asking then I'm guessing you aren't 100% comfortable about opening it. If you are not comfortable with opening a device that may contain high voltages, you should leave it to people who are.

You can get most of the dust out using compressed air without opening it.

Opening the PSU to clean the fan should not put your hands anywhere near the high voltage stuff (you may need to cut a zip-tie or two to get yourself some slack) and the PSU should have time to bleed off between when you initially disconnect it from line power before you start removing it and the time you are done opening it so it should be relatively safe with minimal precautions.

 

[HOTRODr418]

I am comfortable. Just have never cleaned it out before, not sure if it ever needed to be or not. I dont think that just blowing air into it will clean it since im not blowing the dust out, it would be blowing the dust into it.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Only open to clean the fan on the PSU as a last resort.

 

[HOTRODr418]

The fan appears to be dirty. Therefore im sure the internals are very dusty. Especially since it havent done anything with it in 5 years of use. It also whines at times like it is struggling.

 

[HOTRODr418]

There is a difference between a dusty surface or a thick layer of dust. This appears a little thicker.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Be careful if you do it.

 

[HOTRODr418]

Unplug is obviously. I was just going to take it apart, spray air on it and put it back together. Should there be any other precautions I should take while doing that?

 

[InvalidError]

Should there be any other precautions I should take while doing that?

Common sense should be all you really need... don't put your fingers anywhere in the HV side just in case there still is some charge left in input caps, don't drop screws or other metallic stuff, don't drop liquids in the PSU, etc.

If the fan is "whining", you might want to pull back the sticker to see if the fan has a bearing lubrication plug. I put 2-3 drops of engine oil in my fan bearings when they start to become noisy, that usually gets them running normally for another 2-3 years.

 

[HOTRODr418]

I figured as much.

I will have to take a look at that. I did notice the other day that when i turned my computer on the other day, the fan wasnt going a constant speed. It looked to be up and down while making that noise.