Slashdot Mirror
An Affordable Air Purifier For Dusty Computer Labs?
Alcimedes writes "Our lab has a serious issue with dust. I've had a number of power supplies stop working because of dust clogging up the fans, and it's getting annoying. So I'm looking into some kind of small (under $500) air filtration system, and was wondering if anyone else out there has already gone down this road. If so, what did you buy and would you buy it again? I'd prefer something where I don't have to keep buying filters, but that may just be a pipe dream." Anyone with cats knows the feeling. Can you suggest a reasonably priced answer to dust-borne failure?
http://www.radioshack.com/Content/Environizer.asp
Suprisingly, for a radioshack product, they really work, and are a lot cheaper and easier to clean than "The sharper image's" ionic breeze thing...
The $199 one should do a medium sized computer room.
My opinion may be nullified by the fact that I work for RS, but I speak now of my own free will.
Sponge!
Your HVAC system will continue to supply plenty of fresh dust, so without a large filtering system, it's hard to have much of an effect on it.
I had a similar problem with a dusty store basement, and the solution was (please don't laugh) a chrome air cleaner (sized for a Holley 750 double pumper) attached to the blower fan. The automotive air filter was really cheap, replaceable, and quite effective. They have a big enough surface area that you have very little flow restriction. We did end up using a larger-diameter fan, which had a side benefit of making the server quieter.
But back to the topic, how about building a plywood or MDF box for your computer, with weatherstriping on the door. Size it to take a standard furnace air filter (intake), and put a bathroom ceiling fan in it to blow the hot air out. Shouldn't be too hard to make, shouldn't cost too much, and you'll know when the filter needs changing just by looking at it.
Tip (and this applies to your furnace, too): Spray the filter with Endust. It'll pick up way more dust that way.
If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
We *do* work in a coal mine and we *are* aware of "miners lung", thanks very much :-)
:-)
Yes, we wear dust masks when outside collecting / grinding samples, and also have a 6 monthly respirable dust check, where we get to wear a minature version of what I've described above (battery air pump , cyclone, filter) around for a day to check on the amount of respirable dust we breathe in. Every 5 years you're required by law to have a chest x-ray to check for silicosis if you still work in the industry.
It's generally only particles below 10 microns that you have to worry about breathing in, as they're the ones that *never* come out again. Particles bigger than 10 micron get removed via mucus and cilia in your nose/airway/lungs without much hassle. Luckily, 10 micron particles and below generally don't stay suspended in the air too long, they drop out pretty quick.
And anyway, we try not to go outside the lab too much. (Ahhhh! the light! It burns, it burns!!)
You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
There is a lot of hype here.
The original poster claimed to have one installed, and claimed that it was pulling dust out of the air. You state that he's wrong because some magazine said so? I'm not quite sure what you're thinking. Perhaps you'd like to provide some evidence that the original poster's computer room is not actually cleaner?
I've got one of these things. My wife can't breathe through her nose for 24 hours if I leave it turned off or if it's dirty. I have to clean it every week or two because it collects so much stuff it starts to make noise otherwise. Your post, and that of another here, actually dropped my opinion of Consumer Reports. Perhaps it's not that good for cleaning whatever lab setup they had, but perhaps it is good at my real world (read as "5 cats", in a room adjacent to the litter box, vacuum monthly, ceiling fan on during summer) scenario.
Calling someone's personal observations "wrong" because they have a claim that disagrees with what you've read about is an interesting tactic.
I've seen, first hand, how dirty a HEPA filter can get, how quickly. I've seen, first hand, how dirty an Ionic Breeze can get, how quickly. I'm not equipped to measure anything, but those Ionic Breeze blades sure do pick up lots within 24 hours (especially if you burn a scented candle). I'm not going to claim that the Ionic Breeze got all the particle sizes a HEPA does, but I will claim that, for my bedroom of moderate size where the door is never closed, the Ionic Breeze cleans the room well enough for my wife who's allergic to dust mites to breathe, and quiet enough for my picky ears to let me sleep.
You can't tell us we're wrong, because Consumer Reports said so, and expect to be believed by any reasonable human being.
Actually, most of the dust on workplaces and in the home comes from textile fabrics. The first thing to do if you want to get rid of dust is to get rid of fabric; curtains, carpets, clothes.
And everyone knows that a room full of naked computer geeks is just plain yummy. *cough*
SIG: TAKE OFF EVERY 'CAPTAIN'!!
Consumer Reports tested only what the Ask Slashdot question wanted to know (ie: Dust removal).
A large byproduct of these ionizers is ozone. Which brings me to my next point: Does your wife find it easier to breathe outside just after a lightning storm?
If so, it isn't the dust removal that's helping, it's probably the ozone. You might want to ask your doctor, though, if there's a danger of overexposure to ozone from these things. I doubt there is, but it is something to consider. You also may want to consider just using an ozone generator instead, which could be more effective.
But let me repeat: You really need to talk to your doctor about this. Some scientists say ozone is dangerous, and some say ozone is not a problem. It's up to you and your doctor to decide if ozone is the best way to go.
If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC