Dell PowerEdge 6400 User Manual
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10° Celsius (C) (50° Fahrenheit [F]) or hotter than 35°C (95°F).
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Ensure that the system has adequate ventilation. Do not place it within a closed-in wall unit or on top of cloth material, which can act as
insulation. Do not place it where it will receive direct sunlight, particularly in the afternoon. Do not place it next to a heat source of any kind,
including heating vents during winter.
Adequate ventilation is particularly important at high altitudes. System performance may not be optimum when the system is operating at high
temperatures as well as high altitudes.
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Make sure that all slots and openings on the system remain unobstructed, especially the fan vent on the back of the system.
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Clean the system at regular intervals to avoid any buildup of dust and debris, which can cause a system to overheat.
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If the system has been exposed to abnormally cold temperatures, allow a 2-hour warm-up period to bring it up to normal operating
temperature before turning it on. Failure to do so may cause damage to internal components, particularly the hard-disk drive.
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If intermittent system failures are noticed, try reseating any socketed chips, which might have become loose due to temperature fluctuations.
Humidity
High-humidity conditions can cause moisture migration and penetration into the system. This moisture can cause corrosion of internal components
and degradation of properties such as electrical resistance, thermal conductivity, physical strength, and size. Extreme moisture buildup inside the
system can result in electrical shorts, which can cause serious damage to the system.
Each Dell system is rated to operate at 8 to 80 percent relative humidity, with a humidity gradation of 10 percent per hour. In storage, a Dell system
can withstand from 5 to 95 percent relative humidity.
Buildings in which climate is controlled by air-conditioning in the warmer months and by heat during the colder months usually maintain an
acceptable level of humidity for system equipment. However, if a system is located in an unusually humid location, a dehumidifier can be used to
maintain the humidity within an acceptable range.
Altitude
Operating a system at high altitude (low pressure) reduces the efficiency of forced and convection cooling and can result in electrical problems
related to arcing and corona effects. This condition can also cause sealed components with internal pressure, such as electrolytic capacitors, to
fail or perform at reduced efficiency.
Each Dell system is rated to operate at altitudes from
–16 to 3048 meters (m) (–50 to 10,000 feet [ft]) and can be stored at altitudes of –16 to
10,600 m (
–50 to 35,000 ft).
Dust and Particles
A clean operating environment can greatly reduce the negative effects of dust and other particles, which act as insulators and interfere with the
operation of a system's mechanical components. Also, in addition to regular cleaning, you should follow these guidelines to deter contamination of
the system equipment:
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Do not permit smoking anywhere near the system.
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Do not permit food or drink near the system.
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Use dust covers when the system is not in use.
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Keep all diskettes in a closed diskette box when not in use.
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Close windows and outside doors to keep out airborne particles.
Corrosion
The oil from a person's fingers or prolonged exposure to high temperature or humidity can corrode the gold-plated edge connectors and pin
connectors on various devices in the system. This corrosion on system connectors is a gradual process that can eventually lead to intermittent
failures of electrical circuits.
To prevent corrosion, you should avoid touching contacts on boards and cards. Protecting the system from corrosive elements is especially
important in moist and salty environments, which tend to promote corrosion. Also, as a further deterrent to corrosion, the system should not be
used in extreme temperatures, as explained in "
."
ESD
ESD results from the buildup of static electricity on the human body and certain other objects. This static electricity is often produced by simple
movements such as walking across a carpet. ESD is a discharge of a static electrical charge that occurs when a person whose body contains
such a charge touches a component in the system. This static discharge can cause components, especially chips, to fail. ESD is a problem
particularly in dry environments where the relative humidity is below 50 percent. To reduce the effects of ESD, you should observe the following
guidelines:
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When working inside the system, wear a wrist grounding strap. If a wrist grounding strap is unavailable, touch an unpainted metal surface on
the chassis periodically to neutralize any static charge.