How to clean Raspberry Pi board properly?

[ngdangtu]

Currently, I'm using Rasp Pi 4 as my PC. Heat from the board is always high when I access the Internet with Cr. With the top case removed, the minimum value is 50°C, and maximum value is almost 75°C. If I close the case, the board heat could easily rose up to 80°C. Therefore, I have to remove the case when it run. However, the air is quite dirty, as the result, after a mere week, my board is full of dirt.

Now we get into the main point. How should I clean Raspberry Pi?
- Can I just use tissue?
- Is liquid (like alcohol) ok to clean?
- Should I heavily wipe the board or extremely careful and lightly do it?
- etc.

[epoch1970]

Better to only blow air over it.
A blower brush, as used to clean optical equipment would do fine.

[Burngate]

Much will depend on the nature of the "dirt" - dust particles may blow off, but sticky smoke will require more invasive treatment.

- Should I heavily wipe the board or extremely careful and lightly do it?

Be extremely careful! The components are only held in place by solder (and a little glue)

- Can I just use tissue?

The problem with tissue is that bits can get caught on components, and either stay attached, or (worse) drag at the components.
A small, clean, paintbrush is probably better (we used to reccommend squirrel-hair, but that's not now PC)

- Is liquid (like alcohol) ok to clean?

Yes, provided you don't use too much, and make sure it's fully dry before powering yor Pi.
And be aware that liquid can find its way underneath larger components, taking polutants with it and also taking time to evaporate.

[ngdangtu]

@epoch1970 @Burngate
Thank you very much for sharing, I think I should go with blowing air option.

[hippy]

A small, clean, paintbrush is probably better

That's what I have always used, though mostly on PC motherboards. And often not so small; standard painter's 1/2" I find about right.

I would say "otherwise unused" rather than just "clean", but I guess it depends on how good at cleaning brushes one is and what paint has been previously used. Soft and supple is the key.

[PeterO]

Another option is one of the many "USB keyboard vacuum" you can find via google.

I use one to remove excess dust from the logic boards on the vintage computer that I look after.

PeterO

[ejolson]

A small, clean, paintbrush is probably better

That's what I have always used, though mostly on PC motherboards. And often not so small; standard painter's 1/2" I find about right.

I would say "otherwise unused" rather than just "clean", but I guess it depends on how good at cleaning brushes one is and what paint has been previously used. Soft and supple is the key.

Unused is better. Definitely avoid brushes that have a residue of mineral spirits. If dust is settling on the Pi 4B, mounting it vertically might help.

[LTolledo]

I clean my boards with a small paint brush with soft bristles
then use handy blower....

some board cleaning tools.jpg (149.91 KiB) Viewed 581 times

but that is very tedious and time consuming, I dont want to do that everytime, so
these are solutions that I've found for that problem:

RPi4B-4G_Armorcase.jpg (195.05 KiB) Viewed 581 times

ArmorTopCover.jpg (39.93 KiB) Viewed 581 times

protects the board from dust accumulation, and cools as well....

[Imperf3kt]

Another option is one of the many "USB keyboard vacuum" you can find via google.

I use one to remove excess dust from the logic boards on the vintage computer that I look after.

PeterO

I've heard rumors that those cause static.

[PeterO]

Another option is one of the many "USB keyboard vacuum" you can find via google.

I use one to remove excess dust from the logic boards on the vintage computer that I look after.

PeterO

I've heard rumors that those cause static.

Do you know what we call people who spread rumours ?

PeterO

[sora03]

Just like cleaning pc motherboards, use a compressed can or air.

[rpdom]

Do you know what we call people who spread rumours ?

Fleetwood Mac?

[PeterO]

Do you know what we call people who spread rumours ?

Fleetwood Mac?

One for our older viewers
PeterO

[Imperf3kt]

Another option is one of the many "USB keyboard vacuum" you can find via google.

I use one to remove excess dust from the logic boards on the vintage computer that I look after.

PeterO

I've heard rumors that those cause static.

Do you know what we call people who spread rumours ?

PeterO

I did not say it was fact.
I'll go see if there's any scientific evidence then, my apologies for not doing that first.


Edit:
According to this post (and some other conjecture I read elsewhere) as long as the vacuum is grounded with the device, it should be fine. A USB vacuum is grounded, so I guess I'd trust using it.

https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/ques ... lectronics

[bassamanator]

Another vote for compressed air.

[PeterO]

I've heard rumors that those cause static.

Do you know what we call people who spread rumours ?

PeterO

I did not say it was fact.
I'll go see if there's any scientific evidence then, my apologies for not doing that first.


Edit:
According to this post (and some other conjecture I read elsewhere) as long as the vacuum is grounded with the device, it should be fine. A USB vacuum is grounded, so I guess I'd trust using it.
https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/ques ... lectronics

The USB is only used for charging the internal battery.

"skeptics.stackexchange.com" is hardly a respected source of "scientific evidence" ! And the post author says "This, to me, sounds like a marketing gimmick." so probably not the best choice of supporting material.

And all the articles I found seem to be referring to domestic sized cleaners. I doubt that the same effects in a small hand held unit are capable of causing any trouble.

I would be more concerned about any kind of spray device creating charges as the high speed air escapes through the nozzle and then blowing them onto the target.

I provide this equally reliable source of scientific evidence
https://electronics.stackexchange.com/q ... ressed-air

PeterO

[Brandon92]

..
"skeptics.stackexchange.com" is hardly a respected source of "scientific evidence" ! And the post author says "This, to me, sounds like a marketing gimmick." so probably not the best choice of supporting material.

And all the articles I found seem to be referring to domestic sized cleaners. I doubt that the same effects in a small hand held unit are capable of causing any trouble.

I would be more concerned about any kind of spray device creating charges as the high speed air escapes through the nozzle and then blowing them onto the target.

I provide this equally reliable source of scientific evidence
https://electronics.stackexchange.com/q ... ressed-air

PeterO

+1

It is indeed possible to damage ESD sensitive devises with an air compressor or a vacuum cleaner. As stated in the IPC norm. This is why you can buy for example a ESD save vacuum cleaners.
Another example: if you have a teflon air hose and moving are it will produce static electricity.
see the triboelectric series

[ngdangtu]

So, in short, air blower is also no good? I didn't know that cleaning could be a science subject.

And buying a special device just for Rasp Pi will be a good reason to get earful for a month. Is a brush ok?

[LTolledo]

brush is OK for me.... I dont know about the others but for me it works

horse hair brush, pig hair brush.....

but never nylon brush,
and most specially not carbon brush

[ngdangtu]

and most specially not carbon brush

Thanks, I didn't even know its existence