Nord User Forum

Elias wrote:I should probably clarify my previous suggestion:
Compressed air should only be used with the instrument opened up and all the sensitive parts removed. It is more effective at removing all the dust, but of course more risky.

Vacuuming is a safe bet, and honestly probably a better solution.

Yes if the instrument is opened up then yes, blowing air won't do damage, but I wasn't thinking of major cleaning sessions where you literally take apart the instrument, but rather regular maintenance. I can't disassemble the keyboard every time I have to clean it...

Spider wrote:
If the keyboard (and your power grid) is properly grounded, I see no problem with static charges. Just vacuum with the instrument turned off

This might be me not fully understanding current (sure I don't), but if the instrument is turned off, then does the grounding of my power grid / house mains even matter? Or am I confusing the many meanings of "ground"?

The power inlet of the NS2 (and some others) is a "figure of 8" connector, which has 2 connecting wires with NO ground...

Mr_-G- wrote:
The power inlet of the NS2 (and some others) is a "figure of 8" connector, which has 2 connecting wires with NO ground...

This thread is getting increasingly puzzling. I wonder how, since it started with the very simple word "triboelectric".

Jokes aside, that's interesting, the Stage 3 has the IEC C14 socket which definitely has the ground pin.

By the way it's computer forums where people seem to be the most concerned with vacuuming their PC. Difficult to tell if there's something real to it or if it's just an echo chamber effect where people keep repeating it granting it to be true.

Yeah, just clean the damn thing

Just use your common sense when doing so (don't put a bucket of water into the device)

You'll be fine vacuuming the OUTSIDE of the machine (except for maybe knobs coming off and disappearing into the vacuum cleaner). If static discharge were an issue on the front panel, the design team would desperately need to be fired.

Regarding the INSIDE of digital electronics, I would never vacuum any circuit board with chips on it, as static discharge can definitely damage things at that scale. Compressed air only, here.

analogika wrote:You'll be fine vacuuming the OUTSIDE of the machine (except for maybe knobs coming off and disappearing into the vacuum cleaner). If static discharge were an issue on the front panel, the design team would desperately need to be fired.

I can't tell from pictures of the OLEDs and LCDs (on older units) if Nord puts a glass window in the chassis to protect the OLED/LED glass. I suspect not. So I suggest caution around the displays. Always touch the metal chassis (to discharge static electricity) before touching the glass (if you wish to clean it).

The dielectric breakdown strength of glass is only about 10kV/mm. If you can feel a static discharge on your finger, it exceeds 3.5kV, so discharges exceeding 10kV are easily possible. Be extra careful with metal items (e.g., vacuum nozzles or screwdrivers) - their sharp edges and low electrical resistance concentrate charges and produce higher voltages. -- Make sure your vacuum nozzle/brush is non-conductive (e.g., plastic, horsehair).

pterm wrote:

analogika wrote: The dielectric breakdown strength of glass is only about 10kV/mm. If you can feel a static discharge on your finger, it exceeds 3.5kV, so discharges exceeding 10kV are easily possible. Be extra careful with metal items (e.g., vacuum nozzles or screwdrivers) - their sharp edges and low electrical resistance concentrate charges and produce higher voltages. -- Make sure your vacuum nozzle/brush is non-conductive (e.g., plastic, horsehair).

Thanks for the info. Well I can't say I am less paranoid now than when I asked!

By the way the only times I ever feel static electricity on my body are the very common experiences of putting on and off wool clothes and touching the car's door after a ride, especially in dry and windy seasons. I have never ever felt, nor heard that anybody has, a static discharge using vacuum cleaners...

All my vacuum cleaners have plastic nozzles. It's funny because on computer forums people explicitly warn against using plastic nozzles, but only rubber ones... Oh well.