Pro tip: stop using compressed air upside down on your PS4

I was cleaning my launch PS4 with a can of air and tilted it too far for like 2 seconds to get a dust clump near the fan. A split second later I heard this gross wet hiss and the console just shut off. Took me 3 hours of watching a tutorial and cleaning the board with 91% isopropyl to get it working again. Had no idea the liquid propellant could spray out that fast. Anyone else have a console die on them from this?

4 comments

4 Comments

ross.angela1h ago

Use a hairdryer on low heat for extra drying time, Robin Foster's right about that 20 minute wait.

robin_foster11mo ago

You mention using 91% isopropyl to clean the board, and that's a solid choice. But one thing people overlook is the need to let it dry completely. I once cleaned the motherboard on an old Xbox 360 and powered it back up after just 20 minutes thinking it was dry, and it shorted out again. Had to go back and wait a full hour. The alcohol might be doing its job, but the residual moisture from the compressed air can linger in tiny crevices on the board too. So even after you wipe it down, give it plenty of time to air dry before plugging anything back in. That extra step saved me from buying a new console.

terrymitchell1mo ago

Oh man, that sounds exactly like something I would do lol. I learned my lesson the hard way too with an old laptop a few years back. I used 91% isopropyl and thought I was good after 15 minutes, but it wouldn't even turn on. Had to wait like a full day before it finally worked again, and I actually put it under a lamp for a little warmth to speed things up. It's wild how much that extra drying time matters even if the alcohol evaporates fast, right?

wright.drew1h ago

Nah, I gotta disagree a bit. That extra drying time is real important but people also need to check what exactly got wet - sometimes it's just the fan or a little dust, not the whole motherboard. @terrymitchell waiting a full day seems overkill but better safe than sorry I guess, though 91% isopropyl really does evaporate clean in like 10 minutes if you don't drown the board. Just hit those spots with a dry cloth after the alcohol and you're good unless you literally see puddles of propellant.