9mo ago

Does leaving a single board computer caseless can be a problem or not?

...other than the logical factors of dust and the damage it can cause to components.

t. Got a orange pi zero 3 running caseless for almost an year.

14 comments

No, it will be fine. It doesn't need a case.
It does can but maybe no?
- In all seriousness, its gonna depend. If it can survive minimal ventilation, throw a shoebox with some holes at it. You probably dont want it getting touched, but so long as its not, you're prolly fine.
It's probably fine, but you can accidentally short it when moving it around by touching it or resting it up on something conductive, even if you're careful dust might short it as well, but this is much rarer.
As a general rule I would try to avoid it, but would not be my first concern.
I killed 3 Raspberry Pis by putting them onto a metal surface while turned on (first two times I didn’t know what was happening and the third time was accidental). Do not recommend.
In college (2003ish), I ran a desktop PC without a case. Hell I ran the processor (450MHz P3) without a fan, just a passive heatsink. It ran fine.
- Hell I ran the processor (450MHz P3) without a fan, just a passive heatsink.
  They still make passive heatsinks that work for modern CPUs, but they're fuckin massive and not incredibly effective compared to just.. putting a quiet fan on it.
For a Pi? Probably not.
For a desktop PC? In most cases the board needs the case to manage proper airflow for cooling. Running bare could make it overheat.
- Most cases have ridiculous nonsense for cooling though. Laptops usually have considerable thermal engineering, but kinda set the threshold of real hardware requirements.
  I was just given an old "gaming rig" someone didn't want that had water cooling, 9 fans, a cobweb of LED wiring, and the most obese ABS panels attached to the sheet metal case.... The thing works fine even when overclocked with no fans except the one built into the power supply and GPU. Only the one in the GPU cycles on enough to be audible... This guy had a freaking harrier jet taking off in the room beside him for a decade.
I wouldn't worry about it unless you have animals around. Mostly to protect from fur
If you are statically charged and you touch the bare PCB, you will do damage. Having a case prevents you from touching the PCB directly and a metal grounded case will also allow you to discharge without damage.
- You might do damage. Though that is very hard to actually do and quite rare in practice.
I've never had an issue, but I've been careful with placement and handling.
How about a cardboard case?

14 comments