Applies to versions: 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2

TimeIPS Routine Maintenance

Periodic maintenance is crucial to prolonging the operation of your TimeIPS system. Simply removing the dust from your system can make a significant impact on its longevity. Dust and dirt will clog fans and heatsinks causing the components in your TimeIPS system to operate at a higher temperature than normal. This additional heat will eventually cause your system to fail. We recommend performing this maintenance procedure once every six months. If your TimeIPS system is in a highly dusty or dirty environment we recommend cleaning your system every couple of months.

Cleaning your TimeIPS system with compressed air:

Shutdown your TimeIPS system to perform this maintenance procedure. Always shutdown the system properly by going to Administration -> System Administration -> System Settings -> Shutdown Server. If your system is several years old or in a very dirty environment you may want to take it outside before cleaning it. When disconnecting cables be sure to take a moment and note how all of the peripherals are connected so that they can be re-connected properly. The following are a few examples of systems which have not had sufficient maintenance.

To clean your TImeIPS system direct the compressed air through any and all of the vents in your TimeIPS system which are NOT directly over a fan. For examples of these vents refer to the following images. It is very important NOT to direct the compressed air into any of the fans in your TimeIPS system.

NOTE: Some models of TImeIPS systems have a fan directly below the vent on the top of the system in the above image. If your TimeIPS system has a fan in this location DO NOT direct compressed air into this vent at this time.

If you direct the compressed air into any of the fans in your system the air will cause the fan blades to spin at a very high rate of speed. This high rate of speed is beyond what the fans are designed for and will cause damage to their bearing(s). In order to clean the components behind these fans it is necessary to prevent the fan blades from spinning. A very simple method to keep the fan blades in place is to use a coffee stir-straw such as this.

Insert one end of the stir-straw into the fan housing far enough that the fan blades can not spin past it. For some examples of this refer to the following images.

Wherever there are multiple fans (as in the above image) each fan will have to be held in place independently for cleaning.

With the fan held in place, use the compressed air to clean the dust off of the fan itself and the components behind it. Repeat this procedure for each accessible fan in your TimeIPS system.

This maintenance procedure is a very simple and effective means of keeping your TimeIPS system running clean and cool. Performing regular maintenance can help reduce the chances of incurring additional expenses relating to warranty service in the future.