MiSTer FPGA Forum

just dont wanna blow away any fragile circuitry, etc.

I assume so but want to be sure before proceeding

I have a fan plate PCB above it, and birch wood on top and bottom of the stack, but its an open air case and I can see the black PCB fan plate getting a little dusty so I presume the motherboard itself could be as well

had it for almost a month now and love this thing!

I don't like canned air, I rather use a compressor. More expensive, but then unlimited use.

Two things to be aware of:

1. Don't blow full force.

2. Keep the fan blocked when blowing it.

Otherwise, it's ok.

Second not using canned air. Bad for the environment. Buy a data vac.

Agree with other person, I do IT for a living, don't let the fan spin from the force of the air as it can potentially send voltage back into the board, potentially damaging components.

can send voltage back, even with the MiSTer off?

MiSTerEggman wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:51 pm can send voltage back, even with the MiSTer off?

Yes. Certain types of electric motor and electric generator are essentially the same structure, just optimized for different purposes. Apply voltage to the terminals and it produces rotation on the rotor; apply rotation to the rotor and it produces voltage on the terminals.

ExCyber wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:28 pm

MiSTerEggman wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:51 pm can send voltage back, even with the MiSTer off?

Yes. Certain types of electric motor and electric generator are essentially the same structure, just optimized for different purposes. Apply voltage to the terminals and it produces rotation on the rotor; apply rotation to the rotor and it produces voltage on the terminals.

thanks good to know about this

It's a dynamo. I've used fans as dynamos before.

ZigZag wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:02 am It's a dynamo. I've used fans as dynamos before.

what's that mean? sorry haha

MiSTerEggman wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:10 am

ZigZag wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:02 am It's a dynamo. I've used fans as dynamos before.

what's that mean? sorry haha

Hah, no problem. A dynamo is just an electric generator. The kind your car has to charge up the battery, as the wheels turn they turn dynamo & it charges the battery. It's literally just like an electric motor reversed as stated above.

You can use a small motor like a PC fan to power a little bulb or something.

fan's motor is brush-less with circuit inside making a running "wave" through several coils which makes rotation.
It cannot work as a generator and doesn't accept reverse polarity - you may damage the fan by this.

As for canned air - it won't damage anything (may be except the fan), so you can use it if you wish to blow away the dust.

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 5:08 pm As for canned air - it won't damage anything

only the environment :p HFC-134a and HFC-152a are greenhouse gases used in canned air

aberu wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:08 pm

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 5:08 pm As for canned air - it won't damage anything

only the environment :p HFC-134a and HFC-152a are greenhouse gases used in canned air

While canned air probably isn't great for the environment, there's probably so much environmental carnage from the materials, production & shipping of his MiSTer, a few puffs of canned air will have a pretty negligible effect. It's a bit like chiding Osama bin Laden for farting in the elevator.

But Donald Trump says there's nothing to worry about.

with a top plate on top of my fan plate PCB + fan, what's the easiest way to ensure the fan doesn't move when I blow onto the board below it?

try to wedge my finger in there and hold it in place? a little tape?

Dont want to routinely disconnect the power from the board, to add more wear + tear.

MiSTerEggman wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:48 pm with a top plate on top of my fan plate PCB + fan, what's the easiest way to ensure the fan doesn't move when I blow onto the board below it?

try to wedge my finger in there and hold it in place? a little tape?

Dont want to routinely disconnect the power from the board, to add more wear + tear.

Just finger it. That's my mantra. Besides, how often are you expecting to be doing this? Surely not enough that "wear & tear" becomes an issue.

ZigZag wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 11:03 pm

MiSTerEggman wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:48 pm with a top plate on top of my fan plate PCB + fan, what's the easiest way to ensure the fan doesn't move when I blow onto the board below it?

try to wedge my finger in there and hold it in place? a little tape?

Dont want to routinely disconnect the power from the board, to add more wear + tear.

Just finger it. That's my mantra. Besides, how often are you expecting to be doing this? Surely not enough that "wear & tear" becomes an issue.

Probably not often, good point