Beer spill

[Andylaw2000]

I spilled a very small amount of lager onto the back of my pc and it seems a even smaller amount (size of a pinky nail or smaller) has gone inside the vertically mounted psu will this cause and issue if left uncleaned as I’m very inexperienced with detailed maintenance of power supplies 

[SuperMoonie]

Don't ever fiddle with a psu it could kill you!

Unplug and let it dry. I don't think the minimal amout of sugary residue will cause any harm.

 

[DreamCat04]

4 minutes ago, Andylaw2000 said:

I spilled a very small amount of lager onto the back of my pc and it seems a even smaller amount (size of a pinky nail or smaller) has gone inside the vertically mounted psu will this cause and issue if left uncleaned as I’m very inexperienced with detailed maintenance of power supplies 

water + electricity = corrosion over time. corrosion = bad. I would unplug your PSU from the wall for some time until it's dried out completely. I don't think dry beer can do anything, but liquid beer can do damage

[thekingofmonks]

Do discharge it before unscrewing and touching anything inside. You never know.

[manikyath]

if it was a very small amount, and you have no experience with electronics.. i'd rather take the bet that it didnt damage anything, rather than take the bet you can take it apart, clean it, and get it back together without posing a danger to yourself or the electronics.

 

just let it sit unplugged to dry for a week.

[Ayanami]

I'd honestly just unplug it and leave it in a very well ventilated place for several hours at least. If you can get by without it for maybe a day to just be safe. I know a internal computer component is different to a keyboard but I think the process would be the same. I live in AZ and I spilled about 6oz of beer on my keyboard. It was summertime (115f+) and I left it outside for 6 hours in the sun. Still using the keyboard over a year later.

 

Oh I should clarify I live in Phoenix AZ it is VERY dry here so depending where you live you might want to let it sit for more than a day.

 

I'd be very cautious with poking around your PSU if you have no idea what you're doing. I know its different but people who like to mess with electronics will try to salvage a magnetron from a microwave. This is the #1 killer of enthusiasts it will kill you instantly if you don't know what you're doing. I really don't think the residue will do much harm, but I'd try to set away a few bucks every month and replace it eventually. If it were to ever fail or cause issue.

 

Oh and sorry another edit. By vertical do you mean it went into the actual unit (fan is parallel to the top of case mesh) or is it some weird mount I don't know about that the PSU is perpendicular to the top mesh of the case (Fan is facing 90deg from top mesh)?

[Mark Kaine]

5 hours ago, Ayanami said:

I'd honestly just unplug it and leave it in a very well ventilated place for several hours at least

just from experience a (pretty  much fully) submerged pc takes about a week to dry ... since op only spilled a small amount apparently,  i would still say 2-3 days minimum,  also depends on ambient temp, moisture and as you said ventilation... just saying,  a few hours is really risking it and most likely not enough. 

 

oh and always put parts upside down if possible so the water/fluid just doesn't sit there waiting to evaporate (it could technically take a very long time depending on the topology of the part) hence upside down,  let gravity do its job lol.

 

 

5 hours ago, Ayanami said:

I live in AZ and I spilled about 6oz of beer on my keyboard. It was summertime (115f+) and I left it outside for 6 hours in the sun

i mean, yes, that would probably work but lets say its cold / winter and its inside a house it would usually take much longer to dry... (really with good ventilation / air flow about a week is generally a good recommendation to be on the safe side)

 

that said it obviously depends on many factors 

[Robchil]

love the smell of stale beer in the morning when you power on the pc?

 

[Andylaw2000]

21 hours ago, DreamCat04 said:

water + electricity = corrosion over time. corrosion = bad. I would unplug your PSU from the wall for some time until it's dried out completely. I don't think dry beer can do anything, but liquid beer can do damage

It wasn’t on or plugged in at the time so hopefully it’ll be ok 

[Andylaw2000]

21 hours ago, DreamCat04 said:

water + electricity = corrosion over time. corrosion = bad. I would unplug your PSU from the wall for some time until it's dried out completely. I don't think dry beer can do anything, but liquid beer can do damage

It wasn’t on or plugged in at the time so hopefully it’ll be ok 

[Mark Kaine]

you know,  it probably also depends how much a "small amount" actually is... but i think as said it should be fine if you let everything dry for about a week...