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Looking for decent USB powered vacuum for PC.

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  • 03-02-2014 10:37am
    #1
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,681 ✭✭✭


    Hi.

    Has anyone come across a decent USB powered vacuum for cleaning inside and outside computers?

    Thanks.

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."

    Tagged:


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    #2
    Irish Steve
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 6,521 Mod ✭✭✭✭Irish Steve


    Simple answer is no, there is a power limit on what can be taken from a USB port, and that limit means that any vacuum type device running from the port is going to be severely limited in the power of the motor.

    I've got one here, but it's no good for working inside computers, there just is not enough suction to move dust that's got damp, and slightly sticky as a result. You will be better to look for an adapter kit that fits on the end of a normal vacuum, the brush and nozzles are smaller, which makes then easier to get in and around the components of the machine to get the dust out.

    Shore, if it was easy, everybody would be doin it.😁



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    #3
    White Heart Loon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,788 ✭✭✭White Heart Loon


    You shouldn't vacuum a pc, too much static. Get a can of compressed air


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    #4
    CreepingDeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,015 ✭✭✭CreepingDeath


    Worztron wrote: »
    Hi.

    Has anyone come across a decent USB powered vacuum for cleaning inside and outside computers?

    Thanks.

    How are you going to power it over usb ?
    And you going to have the power on in the computer, to power the vacuum to clean the inside ? That sounds dodgy.

    I've vacuumed the odd computer in my time, but I imagine in this situation you probably want a small handheld vacuum that's typically aimed at car cleaning.


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    #5
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,681 ✭✭✭Worztron


    CreepingDeath wrote: »
    How are you going to power it over usb ?
    And you going to have the power on in the computer, to power the vacuum to clean the inside ? That sounds dodgy.

    I've vacuumed the odd computer in my time, but I imagine in this situation you probably want a small handheld vacuum that's typically aimed at car cleaning.

    I could use a laptop to power the vac and clean my Desktop PC.

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



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    #6
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 65,318 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    As Irish Steve said, it won't work

    USB sockets on a PC provide 5V at a max 100mA, giving you the grand total of 0.5W for your vacuum cleaner. A normal household vacuum cleaner is about 2kW, so 4,000 times as powerful :D


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    #7
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,681 ✭✭✭Worztron


    Irish Steve wrote: »
    ...You will be better to look for an adapter kit that fits on the end of a normal vacuum, the brush and nozzles are smaller, which makes then easier to get in and around the components of the machine to get the dust out.

    These look handy: http://amazon.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-VACUUM-CLEANER-MICRO-TOOL/dp/B006MVR2X4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391418741&sr=8-1&keywords=Vacuum+Attachment+Kit

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



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    #8
    connorfleming
    Registered Users Posts: 105 ✭✭connorfleming


    Like White Heart Loon, it's not a good idea to vacuum the inside of a PC, you can get a good can of compressed air reasonably cheap and it won't do any damage.

    I got one cheaper than this in a shop but this is just an example. Damaging your PC will be a lot more costly.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Duster-Compressed-Flammable-400ml/dp/B000MQ7DZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391503911&sr=8-1&keywords=compressed+air


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    #9
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users Posts: 2,570 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    If your pc is manky on the inside, its fine to hoover the inside as long as you're carefull. Done it loads of times


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    #10
    ButtUcks
    Registered Users Posts: 34 ✭ButtUcks


    Skill Magill wrote: »
    If your pc is manky on the inside, its fine to hoover the inside as long as you're carefull. Done it loads of times

    I Work in a busy I.T. department and would love to know the make/model of vaccum you used in the past??


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    #11
    Khannie
    Registered Users Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    ButtUcks wrote: »
    I Work in a busy I.T. department and would love to know the make/model of vaccum you used in the past??

    I've used our Miele one. It's fairly bog standard. I know people say not to vacuum the inside of a PC, but I've also never had any issues. Like the other person I am careful when doing it, so fans + hard drives + heatsinks = OK, RAM not so much.


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    #12
    Baked.noodle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,014 ✭✭✭Baked.noodle


    I find compressed air doesn't really do the job properly on its own. A liquid can be sprayed out of the can if held wrong (or with the beginning of each release of air) and the pressure isn't powerful enough to remove heavy dust on fan blades ect. If the computer is filthy I would loosen the dust with cotton buds. Do the fan blades, the blade casings and the CPU cooler, and then use the compressed air holding the can as level as possible to avoid liquid spray. Once you have loosened the clumps of dust it is easy to hoover them up without to much effort. I find this approach works best overall.


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