Cooling fan with a difference

[laserblazer]

How about one of these water cooled jobs?

 

http://www.freefoto.com/images/12/16/12_16_5---Hose-Pipe-Watering-the-Garden_web.jpg

[mjs_mjs]

I like the look of those, I have to say; regretfully, they are going to need manual on off switching unless we fit a timer. As the unit is about 15 foot away from the office, none of us wants to walk that far and flick a switch...

 

 

Better than a timer would be a thermostat attached to it to keep it cool.

[Midget]

What about getting a cheap mini fridge and ripping it apart and building it into the cab

[truslack]

What about getting a cheap mini fridge and ripping it apart and building it into the cab

 

Wouldn't the condensation/damp be awful?

[Guest theeldergeek]

Missed the 200mm fan - Scan.co.uk: Big Boy 200 - Antec BIG BOY 200 -200mm manual 3 speed fan -THIS IS NONE STANDARD CASE FAN SIZE

 

Who, in their right mind, calls a product "Big Boy" !!

 

[Guest theeldergeek]

Wouldn't the condensation/damp be awful?

 

nah, we could fit some ventilation fans..... anyone got any ideas how we could do this?

 

Edited March 3, 2010 by theeldergeek

[laserblazer]

Who, in their right mind, calls a product "Big Boy" !!

 

An on-line viagra shop?

[Guest theeldergeek]

An on-line viagra shop?

 

You'll see what I was getting at then. Something with that sort of name conjures up images other than what the product probably is.

 

Well, it did in our office

[Ric_]

Of course you could cool it with horse laxative like I mentioned in another thread... Custom PCs by Puget Systems; Mineral Oil Submerged Computer

[john]

Of course you could cool it with horse laxative like I mentioned in another thread... Custom PCs by Puget Systems; Mineral Oil Submerged Computer

Or you could just use some Red and Blue Fans then the kids will be oooooh all day long

[BTCC_Fan]

Thinking outside the box here, quite literally.

 

Have you considered taking some covers off the pc , if you can?

 

This may be a bit extreme but what about just simply having the motherboard on its own in the locker, effectively using the locker as its case?

[glennda]

something like this?

http://www.techlivez.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/pcfancase.jpg

[tumbleweed]

I've got a SATA/IDE to usb kit, which includes a power adapter that takes standard kettle lead, and has both sata and molex power outputs - attach a splitter onto the molex, and hey presto you can power a couple of case fans. The PSU is a 'flypower SPP34', no doubt there are other similar ones out there.

[tin]

3rd vote for a mains powered fan, and an intelliplug on the PC. You can get a little one that work like 3 way mains adapter.

[plexer]

Ok may be this is an obvious question but why do you have a pc in a locker?

 

Ben

[Guest theeldergeek]

Thinking outside the box here, quite literally.

 

Have you considered taking some covers off the pc , if you can?

 

 

Yes. The machine is already minus any case panels we have been able to remove.

 

 

This may be a bit extreme but what about just simply having the motherboard on its own in the locker, effectively using the locker as its case?

 

 

We've toyed with that idea too, but it's the lack of drawing air in and extracting it out that seems to be the problem given that the machine is already uncovered.

[Guest theeldergeek]

Ok may be this is an obvious question but why do you have a pc in a locker?

 

Ben

 

It has a basic XP install on which we are running xibo client software so we can run presentations on an adjacent LCD TV on the wall. Siting it in the locker is the most practical and secure way of housing it, as it would otherwise be on open view in a corridor. We have no loft space above it, otherwise we'd stuff it up in the roof.

[Sirbendy]

What about getting the locker down to your DT Dept and getting some proper vents cut into it, then meshing it out?

 

All of our PCs are desk-integrated, inside boxes a little bigger than the unit with holes on all sides and the door. Works well.

 

These are Dell Precision T3400 dualcores. We have pods of 6, all like that with the PSUs venting into the hollow centre section of the desk. It gets a tad toasty, but no issues with the rigs yet.

[RinSewand]

There are in actual fact 2 fans in the case, both powered by 4 pin connectors off the board. One is blowing air across the CPU, the other is extracting air out of the case and it is almost a 'tunnel' of air in the way it is arranged. Being Dell however, I doubt the connectors are 'standard' (they don't look it).

 

Ok, if you've got 4 pin connectors they'll probably be the 4pin PWM style ones. You can stick a 3 pin connector on there, set the fan speed to full in the bios, and they'll run fine. Just won't vary according to temperature. Bolt some normal 3pin case fans (120mm would be ideal, with some wire grills) to the locker, and plug one of the adapters I've linked to into the motherboard, connect locker fan to one output, and case fan to the other. Stick one on each motherboard header and that gives you your two useable outputs.

 

Akasa AK-FY320 3 Pin Fan cable splitter [] Cables Power

 

and then add one some of these if you need more length (and lets face it, who doesn't! )

 

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-013-AK

[contink]

Dumb ass suggest I know but what's stopping you shutting down the PC and modifying the spare SATA power cable to turn it into a standard molex... It's not H&S or electrical safety compliant but so long as you get the wiring right it's not exactly rocket science.

 

After all the ruddy wires are all the same so all this thinking inside and around the box seems to be quite a bit limiting...

 

Just a thought...

[RinSewand]

After a bit of googling it seems the 5-pin connector is Dell only... solution - multimeter one of the fans (should be able to get a contact just inside the connector. Find 12v, spilce wires onto one of those 3 pin splitters - done!

 

That way the Dell will still think it's got a proper fan plugged in (as aparently you have to hit F1 on boot if they don't) and you can splice on whatever fan catches your eye...

[steveg]

Why not replace the pc with an atom based pc - much less power and therefore going to run a lot cooler?

 

If not how about one of the antec thermally controlled fans running off a 12v power supply? - It will only come on when its needed then?

 

Steve

[Guest theeldergeek]

What about getting the locker down to your DT Dept and getting some proper vents cut into it, then meshing it out?

 

Another idea to consider, thanks.

[Guest theeldergeek]

Dumb ass suggest I know but what's stopping you shutting down the PC and modifying the spare SATA power cable to turn it into a standard molex...

 

There is no spare SATA, and what cable there is that we might splice off of, is about 1" in length, so there is no room for manoeuvre really. In addition, the machine is under warranty with Dell, so slicing connectors and cables up isn't really an option as it would undoubtedly invalidate our warranty.

[RinSewand]

Ahh, good point.

 

SATA Power Extension Cable : Internal SATA Cables : Maplin

 

Sata power cable extension? Splice into that?