Routine Cleaning for Dust

Mike NN9DD

How often and how should one go about cleaning out the fans and other components fro dust that build ups in components like this.

The fans seem easy to get to but not sure about what is underneath top deck

Mike

Tim - W4TME

https://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001282823-How-to-properly-clean-the-FLEX-6000-Co...

mlstutler

Thanks Tim,  I used to used compressed air to rev up the fans to see how fast it would spin (not on my Flex).   After reading the article I think that was not one of my better ideas.

Alex_KM5YT

These are good, detailed instructions (in Tim's reply), but if Flex went to a vertical card cage architecture (like VME), it would be trivial to remove and replace/wash air filters and pressurized air-dust, vacuum or lightly brush cards to remove accreted crud.  Hope I see that in the 7000 series!

Norm - W7CK

There was a discussion on the board a while back regarding filtration but not much came of it.

Here's what I did:  I went to the store and bought a roll of 1/4 inch wide sticky back Velcro.   I took the Velcro half that has the little prickles on it, cut it in strips and placed it around the outside edge of the fan intake on the outside of the Flex cabinet.  The sticky back side of the Velcro is attached to the cabinet.   I then cut a rectangular piece of course foam filter material from Walmart that is about 3/16" thick and stuck it over the fan opening.  The Velcro holds it in place quite nicely.  Every 2 weeks or so, I take the filters off, wash them out, dry them and put them back in place.   The foam filter material is quite course and does not seem to restrict airflow.  I've monitored the operating temps of my Flex using DDUTIL, with and without the filters and can't detect any difference.  I've been using this arrangement for over 3 years.  I also use this same arrangement for my computer and amplifiers.

 My 6700 is well over 3 years old and out of warranty.  If your rig is still under warranty you might not want to go this route.

jwinner

I have a 6700 and was wondering if cleaning the fans as per Tim's instructions would void the 2 year warranty? I don't plan on doing that for at least another year. I have Moluccan Cockatoo Parrots that are known to have very dusty feathers. I am sure (even though they are not in the same room as the 6700) after a year there will be some dust in the fans. Again, will that maintenance void my warranty?

Thanks & 73's

John K4NHK

Lee, N2LC

If you follow Tim's instructions, you should be okay warranty-wise:

  "Once the chassis fans have been cleaned, locate the two (2) CPU fans in perforated metal RF enclosure on the transceiver board. DO NOT REMOVE THE PERFORATED METAL RF ENCLOSURE - this will void your warranty. You may have to use the flashlight to illuminate the components inside the RF "can" to locate the two CPU cooling fans."

73

jwinner

Thanks Lee I will be sure not to remove that RF enclosure! I overlooked that part of the instructions.

John K4NHK

KI4P

didnt see the 6400 mentioned, same as the 6500?