Help with dust - receiver

[timetohunt]

Well, I think its time I start worrying about dust, esp in regards to my receiver. I have a Pioneer VSX94-TXH.

It sits on top of an audio cabinet which has other stuff like my rotel CD player and Panny DVD player, tape players etc. It would fit in the cabinet, but all the cables seem to be much better in 'free space' and access to it would just seem stifled . It also 'covers' the current spot well in an aesthetic sense if you know what I mean, I'd hate to move it.

But alas, should I move it. See, I have a wood burning stove in the same room, and large amounts of dust/ash/smoke particulates are there during the winter months. I am as careful as possible with keeping this to a minimum, but with wood burners its just a part of life. You can just see how the stuff builds on furniture from late october to early april. The VSX94 open grates on its top are vulnerable to this.

1. Can and how do you clean this receiver? How often? (I normally suction through the top with a shop vac from time to time).

2. Are there some plastic 'domes' that are available or something like that for a situation like this?

3. Other thoughts welcome.

4. Also do I need to worry about my speakers and subs? A good amount invested there as well. I always keep the front dust covers on them.

thanks,
t

 

[sparky77]

not sure about covers or anything, but there are some neat little dust blowers availble from walmart that use CO2 cartridges like what you use for paintball guns or pellet/bb guns. I buy the cartridges by the bucket full so it's not an issue for me.

 

[Sheep]

Compressed air is the best way to clean them. No matter what you cover them with, they'll get dusty. Speakers are fine, just dust the exterior and wipe them down with the appropriate cloth/wipe designed for the finish. I use a swiffer unless there is a spill or something (hasn't been one though). Most speaker manuals say how to clean the speaker.

SheepStar

 

[Midcow2]

This just an idea ...

Since you have the receiver out in the open from an ashtetics standpoint, you probably do not want to put any kind of filter type material of fliter on top. If you could put a heat resistance, possibly metal type filter inside the cover it could possible solve the problem. It would need to be thin and have low airflow restiction.

There are also compressed air cans that are dsigned to clean out PCs and PC keyboards. You could use on of these to blow out the dust. The problem with trying to vacuum is that you typically cannot get enough suction to do any good. However, the blowing of a vacuum cleaner would also work in lieu of compressed air can.

 

[moggi1964]

Unplug the receiver before you use the compressed 'air' cans as they have a propellant inside that could cause shorting issues.

I use them on my computer all the time to blow off the dust that has attached to the fans.

 

[sparky77]

When I clean my computer gear and pro audio gear I use my "Curtis Blaster" that uses typical CO2 cartridges in combination with a vacuum cleaner with a corner cleaning attatchment, works pretty slick, but yes, you do have to be carefull not to open the valve too far for too long, it will start spewing out liquid co2 and water that the super cold co2 condensed, if you do try one of these "blasters" make sure you have a few cartridges on hand, they can go rather quick, but pretty much put any can of compressed duster to shame.

The better alternative would be to use a combination of a static free brush and a vacuum cleaner, which would of course require the removal of the covers of the equipment, for me that's a once a year thing.

This is a good time to point out to all, that if you look through the vents on your equipment and you can visibly see a build up of dust on any components, you are already building up 20% more heat than you should, time to clean.

 

[Seth=L]

DO NOT PUT ANYTHING ON TOP OR ON THE SIDES OF THE RECEIVER TO "FILTER DUST"!!!

Doing this may result in overheating and may also shorten the life of your receiver. I would remove the top cover and clean the dust out with compressed air (if you have a compressor make sure you use an inline moisture remover, DO NOT USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR WITHOUT MOISTURE REMOVING HARDWARE! The cans of CO2 you can buy at most any supermarket, computer store, office supply, or electronic's store. When using these "cans of air" make sure the can is always upright as you don't want the fluid inside the can to spray out on your receiver. Tipping the can will risk this occuring, as long as the can is upright no fluid should come out.

As others have mentioned make sure your receiver is turned off and disconnected from a live AC outlet before attempting to clean it. Refrain from touching inside parts with your hands, if you must I recommend grounding yourself to the chassis in some way (be it by wire or placing one hand on the chassis.

Dusting out your receiver is a good way to prolong it's life and your enjoyment from it. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do to prevent dust from getting inside of it, just make sure you keep the room clean in which the receiver is located to reduce the amount of dust that is in the room. Periodically dust the receiver with a dry cloth at the least (some types of dusters are static charged to attract dust, the prevents as much dust from falling into the receiver when dusting which might occur with just a normal dust cloth).

 

[Hi Ho]

I have a wood burning stove as well and it is used all winter (still being used because of unusually cold April weather). I clean all of my components and many other things in my house with the Swiffer duster. It works great and it really does hold onto the dust rather than spread it around. I use compressed air for cleaning the inside of my PCs. It's probably about time for me to blast out my receiver with compressed air.

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver cleaning

The shop vac could generate static electricity which could damage your receiver so I would stick with the air can method. Not very much of the dust from stove will actually land in the receiver grates so if you wipe if off regularly and use the air can once a year, you should be fine.

 

[Midcow2]

ground the receiver to bleed off any static charge !

The shop vac could generate static electricity which could damage your receiver so I would stick with the air can method. Not very much of the dust from stove will actually land in the receiver grates so if you wipe if off regularly and use the air can once a year, you should be fine.

Actually static electricity is only a problem if you don't properly ground and typically occurs in ungrounded low humidity situations. Run a simple ground cable from the chasis and you would have no problem.

Another idea - ashtetics put a small muffin fan with foam or paper airfilter at the back of chassis out site to continually pull and filter air.

 

[chadnliz]

You can get soft Vinyl covers custom fit to order for less then $20 online for keeping it clean when not in use after you detail it. One place to get them cheap is buypcsupplies.com as its about the same as a PC tower cover.

 

[sotagoon]

Cheese Cloth

Worked Great for me...receiver was going into protect mode constantly...worked wonders

 

[MR.MAGOO]

I use Swiffer dusters and the Hurricane canless air system. The Hurricane is an electric motor air compressor that can be re-charged and used over and over (until it breaks!) No user serviceable parts unless you're an electronics wiz kid. and the Hurricane has no filter so whatever crud is in the air it sucks it up and blows it out! I also use a DataVac electric duster / blower, not portable like the Hurricane. DataVac must be plugged in to use, but it does have a filter!