ionic air purifiers and pcs

boji · 08-09-2005, 11:38 PM

ok, here is another off-the-wall question. does my ionic breeze air cleaner pose any threat to my pc stuff? it gets quit smokey in this lab and i use one to for my allergies as well. i would like to put it closer to my work area. i have inquired somewhere many moons ago but forget the answer. i think the plates inside charge and pull dirt from the air onto the plates. i do not think there are any "energized particles" floating around. my next concern would be any "field" of energy emitting from the unit. how large would a field like that be if it existed?

InspectorGadget · 08-14-2005, 07:19 AM

These air purifiers generate a lot of ozone, a highly chemically reactive (as well as electrically charged) molecule. That's why they make the air smell "fresh." The "fresh" smell is similar to outside after a thunderstorm, when the air is full of ozone from lightning strikes.

The electrical field of the fan (and of ozone itself) is very weak. Orders of magnitude too weak to affect an electronic device, Ozone's main effect is chemical, and there's nothing chemical going on inside the PC (to speak of). I wouldn't think it would have any effect on the PCs. Maybe enhance corrosion on connectors if you also live in a humid environment (it's an oxidizer).

On you, however, the effects are deleterious. You'll never see "ozone" mentioned on the boxes or in the instructions for these fans. That's because ozone is poisonous and has been linked to lung cancer in people who spend protracted periods around it. Think about it: it's a highly reactive oxidizer. People spend their entire lives searching for anti-oxidants in their diets and cutting out oxidizers. So you're going to put yourself in an ozone-rich environment? No thanks, for me.

If you want to remedy a smoky environment, get a HEPA filter mechanical fan.

WHY IS THE LAB SMOKY? Cigarettes belong outside (preferably in the garbage). If something electronic is smoking, repair it. That smoke is poisonous. Come to think of it, so is the cigarette smoke.

- The Inspector

ebackhus · 08-14-2005, 11:18 AM

A HEPA filtration system is much better. Ionizer systems have come under a lot of fire recently in regards to their effect on humans.

08-09-2005, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
boji Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: pa Posts: 56 OS: xp	ionic air purifiers and pcs ok, here is another off-the-wall question. does my ionic breeze air cleaner pose any threat to my pc stuff? it gets quit smokey in this lab and i use one to for my allergies as well. i would like to put it closer to my work area. i have inquired somewhere many moons ago but forget the answer. i think the plates inside charge and pull dirt from the air onto the plates. i do not think there are any "energized particles" floating around. my next concern would be any "field" of energy emitting from the unit. how large would a field like that be if it existed?

08-14-2005, 11:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,255 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	A HEPA filtration system is much better. Ionizer systems have come under a lot of fire recently in regards to their effect on humans. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

08-14-2005, 07:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
InspectorGadget Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 80 OS: FreeBSD x 2, XP Pro	These air purifiers generate a lot of ozone, a highly chemically reactive (as well as electrically charged) molecule. That's why they make the air smell "fresh." The "fresh" smell is similar to outside after a thunderstorm, when the air is full of ozone from lightning strikes. The electrical field of the fan (and of ozone itself) is very weak. Orders of magnitude too weak to affect an electronic device, Ozone's main effect is chemical, and there's nothing chemical going on inside the PC (to speak of). I wouldn't think it would have any effect on the PCs. Maybe enhance corrosion on connectors if you also live in a humid environment (it's an oxidizer). On you, however, the effects are deleterious. You'll never see "ozone" mentioned on the boxes or in the instructions for these fans. That's because ozone is poisonous and has been linked to lung cancer in people who spend protracted periods around it. Think about it: it's a highly reactive oxidizer. People spend their entire lives searching for anti-oxidants in their diets and cutting out oxidizers. So you're going to put yourself in an ozone-rich environment? No thanks, for me. If you want to remedy a smoky environment, get a HEPA filter mechanical fan. WHY IS THE LAB SMOKY? Cigarettes belong outside (preferably in the garbage). If something electronic is smoking, repair it. That smoke is poisonous. Come to think of it, so is the cigarette smoke. - The Inspector