Is can of compressed air safe to use in dvd/computer/hi-fi?

[CaptainChaos]

Hi

Just having loads of building work done & everything is covered in dust .... so far nothing has stopped working but once they've finished the dusty stage, is it safe to open up the computer & give it a few blasts of compressed air .... with regards to the dvd player & hi-fi, can I just open the cd tray & spray in there or do I have to dismantle them to get right inside?

Ty for any advice

Ian

[holistic]

Compressed air is OK -- ensure it is moisture free .

Eject CD/DVD tray THEN turn the power off.

Now that power is off - open case place carefully it on its side at about 45 degrees and carefully spray - directing dust so that it falls from components in case.

Use caution . Common problems after cleaning are dislodged cables.

Wait a short period of time (30+ minutes) before powering up .This is in case there was any moisture in the compressed air. There may be some due to the fact that the air is compressed and when expanded it condenses.


Power now on - is CPU fan running - GOOD ! Close it up.

That is how i do it (your milage may vary) .

Why don't you cover it with a garbage bag when not in use to keep the construction dust off ??

][

[CaptainChaos]

Ty - I would love to cover it with a garbage bag but knowing what my builders are like, they'd chuck it out in the skip! hahahaha ... plus the fact that I need the computer 14 hrs a day for work ... but ty for suggestion.

What about hi-fi / standalone dvd player? Same principle? Or can I just open the cd tray/cassette deck etc etc & spray (carefully) inside?

[Roundabout]

That would depend on the design of the player. If it has a dust seal, or good dust resistant design, you may not need to do anything. If it plays O.K., it might be better to leave it alone. You may do more damage than good. If you do open it up, you'd be wise not to blow the air directly on the laser pickup lens. It is quite fragile, though not extremely so, and you could damage it with a blast of high-velocity air. Blow all around it, but to clean the lens itself, just use a dry q-tip and wipe it gently to remove any dust. I've fixed many CD players this way, just by cleaning the lens. Obviously, anything that obstucts the light or diminishes it will cause playback problems.
Any other components, such as a cassette deck, no problem, blast away.
BTW: the compressed air is actually a type of freon, which is why you get condensation - it's cold coming out of the can, so of course moisture condenses as it warms back up. Don't concentrate it too much in one area or on one component and you won't have a problem. Keep it at least a few inches away from where you're blasting it.

[pyrate83]

Just don't tip the can or shake it! That WILL cause the liquid to come out, not just the air. Use the compressed air in short bursts as well. And definitely use the straw tip that is provided since you will want to get into those really hard to reach places. And be sure to blow your CPU fan out completely.

And last...have fun while doing it!

It isn't going to harm anything.