cleaning dirty HP 6624A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: drakke
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 11:23:11 pm
content: I bought this on ebay and although it works well the interior is covered in sticky dust.If I use some canned air then swab it with q-tips and isoproply alcohol would this work. I don't want to 'restore' it, just clean it for use in a home lab.Thanks.

author: Guni
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 11:51:33 pm
content: Compressed air, soft antistatic brush, vacuum cleaner, isopropanol and/or pcb cleaner, cotton swabs. That's all.

author: drakke
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 02:58:50 am
content: This power supply is quite nice inside and I think I want to do a better job on it. Four channels up to 50v is perfect for me if I can put up with the incredibly noisy fan.Is it possible or even advisable to disassemble one of these to clean the PCB's?If I can get the four aluminum heatsinks out then I can remove the pcb's and clean them thoroughly.Also is there some instructions on putting binding posts on the front? I think this was an HP option but I cannot find any reference to it anywhere. 'Free electron' mentioned that there are cutouts for this but I cannot see where they are.I suppose it would be inadvisable to replace the fan with a quieter one of similar specs.

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 05:26:18 am
content: Many moons ago, when CRT TVs were full of nicotine and dust on the HV traces, I have many times washed the whole board in hot soapy water (including the LOPT...) using a paint brush, rinsed in distilled water from a dehumidifier, then dried in front of said dehumidifier for a few days. I never had a problem with this method.Just a note: a vacuum cleaner can develop a HUGE charge on its nozzle. My workshop cleaner has a conductive tape to, and around, the snout.Regards, BT

author: gfiber
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 04:04:53 pm
content: When I worked in a marine electronics store doing service we sold a popular brand of depth sounder / fish finder made by Sitex. This was a recording type of depth sounder using a heated pen and some paper that seemed like it was coated with graphite. When I received one of these Depth sounders for service the first thing I would do after tear down was wash it up as the inside looked like someone tossed powered graphite all over.In those days I used warm tap water, MR Clean and a very soft small paint brush doing a final rinse with some distilled water and alcohol and letting it air dry in a nice warm spot for a couple of days as we did not have an air compressor and that was before I remember canned air being available. I never had a problem with one not working after cleaning and it was much cleaner to work on.

author: drakke
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 07:05:53 pm
content: How do I remove the aluminum heatsinks?Are the pins (D) permanently attached to the pcb or will they slide out if I remove screws (A) and lift the entire assembly out?Thanks.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 09:32:33 pm
content: I'd go for using compressed air to remove the majority of the dust. Equipment never gets better from disassembling.I only clean dirty boards if I need to work on them. If the boards are working OK I rather leave them slightly dirty.

author: drakke
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 09:38:34 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 14, 2015, 09:32:33 pmok