Solid Stae Power Amp & Dust

I would like to cover my amp
with something that keeps out
the dust but lets out the heat

Eeyore...

Why ?

and that the remote can pass
through. It doesn't have to be
visually pleasing but it has
to protect the amp. Bandana,
Pantie Hose cut and then sewn,
thin table cloth, some thing
specially made is sold

AZ Nomad...

Clean it once a year and check the fans and you'll be fine. Unless you have
an inch of wet sawdust collecting inside, dust isn't doesn't do much other
than just sit there.

johnnyman...

Thank you gentlemen I didn't
know heat was more of a factor
than dust. I believed the dust
was harmful. I will, however,
proceed with the 'roof' as
suggested by one poster.

Stuart Krivis...

Or you could get a rack or cabinet to put all of your equipment in.
Something with doors you can close when you're not using it would keep
out the dust nicely.

Richard Crowley...

Dust is really only a factor as it impacts getting rid of the heat.

jakdedert...

The only other problem I've had with dust, is when a piece of dusty gear
gets placed in a very humid environment. The dust can become more or
less conductive, for at least as long as it takes to dry out again.
Since it doesn't dry out as quickly, the resulting 'crud' can also cause
corrosion.

As long as your amp doesn't get 'watered' you should be okay. Take the
top cover off occasionally and vac' it out....

Eeyore...

Dust that collects on heatsinks and fan blades will adversely affect cooling
efficiency.

As you say, an occasional clean is the way to deal with it.

Bertie the Bunyip...

Ahh, another legg hump.

Aren;'t you speshul?

szekeres...

There is an unusual condition found in computer rooms, where some kind
of fallout causes problems in UPS's and powersupplies. I would have to look that problem
up again, but usually its not a problem.

Stuart Krivis...

Zinc whiskers.

Eeyore...

Zinc ? Not Tin ? Nothing to do with dust anyway.

Stuart Krivis...

It's a pretty well known problem in my line of work. (I run a
datacenter.) :-)

szekeres...

I briefly looked at the write up from GSFC. I never heard or ran into the situation
when I worked at a NASA site, but that was 26 years ago.

Stuart Krivis...

It has become more of a problem as computers generate more heat per
sq. ft. of floor space. The denser construction requires more cooling
fans that tend to draw in more junk.

AC systems are also being required to circulate more air as compute
density increases and you need to remove the heat from the datacenter.
(We're getting to 20KW of electrical power per rack and that will
require about 2500 CFM of cool air going through the rack according to
figures I just saw from Liebert (one of the major players in AC and
power for datacenters).

Just for a chuckle, they are now calling them Computer Room Air
Conditioning units, or CRAC units. :-)

We are running out of CRAC and would like to order more. hehe

Bob Quintal...

hl=en&q=zinc+whiskers&btnG=web-search

Eeyore...

Where does the zinc come from ?

Bob Quintal...

Zinc plating on metal racks, electronics enclosures and air
conditioning ducts, floor supports, etc.

Eeyore...

And create whiskers that then get carried by airflow into electronics
where they cause havoc ?

Bob Quintal...

Exactly. With the trend for chips to use lower voltages, there
is less current available to vaporize the whiskers away like a
blown fuse.

Arny Krueger...

Let me recommend a solid piece of wood, at least an inch larger than the top
of the amp, and positioned about 4 inches above the amp. The dust falls on
the wood, and the hot air rises around the piece of wood.