Is it safe to clean your PC outside when it is -5-10 celcius (23-14 degrees)

[Qrko]

So I started to planning to clean my pc and I wanted to clean my pc somewhere else than where I usually use it. So I thought outside but the weather is snowy and cold around 5-10 celsius (23-14 degrees) and that got me wondering is that good for my pc if I'm gonna be outside around 15-45 minutes cleaning it.

  Does anyone have experience or knowledge in this matter ?

[Christopher_]

I should be ok as long as it dosent get any moisture.

[W-L]

2 minutes ago, Qrko said:

So I started to planning to clean my pc and I wanted to clean my pc somewhere else than where I usually use it. So I thought outside but the weather is snowy and cold around 5-10 celsius (23-14 degrees) and that got me wondering is that good for my pc if I'm gonna be outside around 15-45 minutes cleaning it.

  Does anyone have experience or knowledge in this matter ?

For an extended period of time you will want to let it sit and warm back up to room temperature before turning it on. 

[Qrko]

Just now, Christopher_ said:

I should be ok as long as it dosent get any moisture.

Well the air is quite dry in the winter so I think it doesn't get dangerous amounts of moisture. But if it does get a bit moist can't I just let it dry out a bit and then it would be okay ?

[Mira Yurizaki]

The only worry would be thermal stressing. i.e., you don't want to have everything at near freezing then power it up and fire up a game or something. Otherwise there's no issue with doing this.

 

Moisture would only be a problem if the components are at the dew point of the inside temperature. Otherwise, I would imagine since inside warmer air tends to have lower relative humidity, this shouldn't be much of a problem either.

[Qrko]

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

The only worry would be thermal stressing. i.e., you don't want to have everything at near freezing then power it up and fire up a game or something. Otherwise there's no issue with doing this.

 

Moisture would only be a problem if the components are at the dew point of the inside temperature. Otherwise, I would imagine since inside warmer air tends to have lower relative humidity, this shouldn't be much of a problem either.

Okay I'm just a bit worried about when you come from outside to inside it tends to create kind of mist / water condensing in surfaces so will that create issues.

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 minute ago, Qrko said:

Okay I'm just a bit worried about when you come from outside to inside it tends to create kind of mist / water condensing in surfaces so will that create issues.

Oh, speaking of humidity...

 

Since I mentioned inside air tends to be warmer with less relative humidity, that means it's easier to generate static. So be careful.

[Qrko]

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Oh, speaking of humidity...

 

Since I mentioned inside air tends to be warmer with less relative humidity, that means it's easier to generate static. So be careful.

But this will be safe, but I just have to be careful with static electricity and let the computer warm up to the room temperature before using it. Anything else come to mind ?

[Mira Yurizaki]

Nah, nothing else comes to mind. Happy cleaning!

[Lyte Starr]

Used to abuse a laptop in -20°C (was in car overnight) -> Turn on in warm room. Never had a problem with it. But I still wouldn't recommend doing that. You should definitely let it warm up to room temp and check for condensation before turning it on.

[Thunderpup]

1 hour ago, Qrko said:

Okay I'm just a bit worried about when you come from outside to inside it tends to create kind of mist / water condensing in surfaces so will that create issues.

do you run a humidifier in the house to include putting on a pot of water to let steam to raise the indoor humidity?

 

 

[Qrko]

22 hours ago, Thunderpup said:

do you run a humidifier in the house to include putting on a pot of water to let steam to raise the indoor humidity?

 

 

No, I just notice the water condencing to my glasses when I come inside after being outside +30 mins.

[Wrb]

Asking as you eliminate moisture and dust you should be fine, but if your thinking about cleaning it outside, dust probably isn't a problem.

[NunoLava1998]

i wish i had that weather

[Miguel Batista]

3 hours ago, Qrko said:

No, I just notice the water condencing to my glasses when I come inside after being outside +30 mins.

That is because the air inside the house is more humid and because your glasses are colder, the water from the air accumulates there.

Cold air stores less humidity.