Power supply switch set to On when RN526X off for extended period?

Question

Is it safe to leave the power supply switch set to the On position on the ReadyNAS 526X when the system is powered off? After not using my 526X for over a month (it was powered off, but the power supply switch was on), I noticed that the case exterior was warm to the touch. According to the Product Data Sheet, the 200W power supply when the system is powered off consumes only 417mW of power. Should I be concerned about internal heat generated from the power supply possibly shortening the life of the hard drives or other internal components under these circumstances?

StephenB · Answer

How did you power it off?
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ReadyNASser · Answer

I clicked the Power icon, then Shut Down in the upper right of the local admin web interface.

StephenB · Answer

Then it's very odd that it was warm to the touch. &nbsp;My 526x is on 24x7, but my 524x is on a power schedule, and both the brick and the unit itself are cool when it is off.
&nbsp;
Maybe try that test again, and
(a) check status with RAIDar to confirm it's status
(b) do the touch test again.

ReadyNASser · Answer

I think I know what happened. I stupidly put a lose-fitting dust cover over the unit after it was shut down (with the rear power switch on). Excess heat from the rear must have travelled along the cover and gradually warmed the exterior case over the 5-6 weeks it was unused. I'm going to assume that was the culprit rather than any power supply or other hardware-related issue. I will be sure to keep the power switch off next time I'm not going to be using the unit for an extended time period, and may reconsider using a dust cover for the unit.&nbsp;I feel very stupid about this. Do you think I hurt my unit or drives? I took the bottom hard drive out of the unit after noticing the case&nbsp;was warm, and the front top of the drive only felt slightly warmer than room temperature.&nbsp;If the heat was transferred from the outside of the unit, along the cover, and then to the case, the internals should be cooler than if the heat was generated internally without any way for it to dissipate, and that's what I observed.&nbsp;Tangentially, is it necessary to periodically (every 6-12 mo.) open the RN526X case and clean any dust with a compressed air can? I've read that it's a good idea to do this with desktop systems generally, but I've never done this as I've always used dust covers.

StephenB · Answer

ReadyNASser wrote:
Do you think I hurt my unit or drives?

No. &nbsp;The usual spec for non-operating drive temps is -40 to 70C. &nbsp;Storage temperature range for the NAS itself is spec'd at -20 to 70C. &nbsp;
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I sure you weren't anywhere close to 70C - you've have been burned if it were that hot.
ReadyNASser wrote:
I will be sure to keep the power switch off next time I'm not going to be using the unit for an extended time period, and may reconsider using a dust cover for the unit.

You could also unplug the unit if you won't be using it for a while.
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I'd continue using your dust cover when the unit isn't running, the heat build up shouldn't be enough to worry about. &nbsp;
ReadyNASser wrote:
&nbsp;
Tangentially, is it necessary to periodically (every 6-12 mo.) open the RN526X case and clean any dust with a compressed air can?&nbsp;

I haven't done this with my NAS, though it's not unreasonable.

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Power supply switch set to On when RN526X off for extended period?

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