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Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 15 Jan 2022, 01:04
by Paul K
Thanks for the info, Nigel. I shall put one on the shopping list. :thumbsup:

Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 15 Jan 2022, 13:07
by Nigel H-J
:thumbsup:

Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 16 Jan 2022, 02:10
by Airspeed
There will be others here, who know more than I do.
Opening the emptying valve on my workshop compressor always lets a spray of water out.
I'm assuming that the air chills as it decompresses, and any humidity condenses.
My WWII instruments operate on vacuum rather than compressed air to spin the gyros, and I think the reason is to avoid condensation. They also have filters on the inlet port. These can be seen in some of the photos on my museum site.
In short, I wonder whether using compressed air to clean dust out of computers is such a great idea? Who wants water in their computer?

Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 16 Jan 2022, 15:06
by Nigel H-J
Hi Mike, hope I can explain this correctly but the air-cleaner I purchased just blow air as a hair dryer will the only thing one has to be careful of is not allowing it to run continuously as it won't take long for the air to heat up (friction) so I only used it with quick spurts of air but enough to dislodge the dust.

The other method for cleaning a computer is by use of air cannisters which can be bought from stores etc, I used to clean out my computer by using them but one problem is that when in use the cans can get very very cold and towards the end they can let of what appears to be water but is in fact
HFC-134a, a mostly harmless liquid with a very low boiling point. It will simply evaporate off the components in a matter of seconds and cause no damage. I was worried when that happened some time ago so I just googled it hence the answer! :lol:

When I used to drive articulated trucks they had compressors to feed the air tanks and all the air was stored under pressure, every week I used to open the valves of the tanks to drain them of any water.

Think I may have confused you by asking about using an air compressor and have settled with using a dust cleaner instead. BTW, just remembered I used to use a computer shop in Lincoln until the owner shut down due to his wife being disabled but he used to use a very small compressor to clean the inside of a computer without problems.

Regards
Nigel.

Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 16 Jan 2022, 17:37
by Vc Ten
Yes, any raw air fed from a compressor will contain water, oil or other contaminants. what should be fitted Is a filter/air trap, to remove them. Most DIY compressors would have at least a filter/regulator on the outlet to allow one to adjust the discharge pressure, and remove any water. As in the receiver tank it would have a drain tap to periodically require draining.
I use my compressor for paint spraying, and it has a coalescing carbon filter to remove any oils, in addition to the water trap.
Dale

Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 17 Jan 2022, 12:48
by Nigel H-J
Thanks for the information Dale, never too old to learn new tricks. :thumbsup:

Regards
Nigel.

Re: Advice Please.

Posted: 17 Jan 2022, 13:47
by Vc Ten
Happy to help :thumbsup:
Dale