Air conditioning

[_Bat_]

Okay so following on from a thread on here about server rooms and air conditioning (or lack thereof), I just questioned my line manager again about getting an aircon unit for this server room. As I mentioned in one of the threads, there are four servers, between two and four workstations on at any time and four switches in this broom cupboard sized server room (also my base). The heat in here is unbearable at times, so I was asked to look at potential ain conditioning units.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations as to exactly what I need? I think management are looking along the lines of a portable aircon unit, but I'm not sure that is really suitable. I'm not buying it just to stop me melting, after reading some of the threads on here, I have become genuinely worried about the servers.

[plexer]

Portable air con units are only any good as a short term measure.

 

Any good air con company can quote you on the heat ouput in the room, watch out for any heating or hot water pipes that may add to the heat loading.

 

Even if you have a radiator that's off the supply pipes may get hot in the winter still.

 

Ben

[Halfmad]

Use a portable air con unit here, works fine but it is at max all the time. It's not really a long term solution though, they're bulky and a bit noisier than built in or wall mounted units and of course if yours is as basic as mine you can't set a temperature - it's simply got "cool" settings

[webman]

You'll also run into difficulties if you can't get access to an external wall.

[Geoff]

You'll also run into difficulties if you can't get access to an external wall.

 

Insulated ducting

[localzuk]

You'll also run into difficulties if you can't get access to an external wall.

 

Our room doesn't have external wall access so we have a 10m run of tubing between the 2 parts of the unit. Works great.

[plexer]

Our old aircon used to run max 24/7 which ended up with it icing up.

 

Ambient outside temperature also makes a difference with a split unit installation.

 

Measure the size of your room and add up all the heat generating appliances, add some for yourself and extra machines that may temporarily live there and then probably multipl by 2.

 

I bought an unltrasonic tape measure from tesco last week for £10.

 

Ben

[Andrew_C]

Don't forget to allow for insolation (SP?) which is solar heat gain, and can be significant if you have south facing windows.

[t_guest]

"hi i came across this website this company specialize in server room air conditioning"

 

 

hope you find this useful

server room air conditioning

[localzuk]

Hmm, interesting - using their calculations our A/C is too small, by a third. And it is brand new... Not good, especially as we will be adding more servers.

[ChrisH]

Make sure you do get the right size. I had one fitted the other week and it just isnt working properly so they have come back to us and said the unit isnt big enough!!!!!

[eduabncs]

An important point from Callum's linked website...

 

Always remember to get your air conditioner serviced every six months in order to maintain efficiency and prolong product life.

 

 

I think every 12months is more realistic in a school situation due to your budgets.

[john]

I have mine inspected and checked over every 6 months, meets with the Legionella rules or summat, not my budget that pays for it so doesn't worry me. They come in April and October to mine.

[plexer]

Servicing ain't mega expensive.

 

Ben

[dave.81]

Servicing, whats that lol....

[Geoff]

Its what stops you from getting Legionnaires disease.

[dave.81]

Our unit has been in for over a year, little portable one, running nearly 24/7 guess i better inform our bursar it needs servicing.

 

How are you meant to work out the wattage over everything in my room lol... 4 dell poweredges, 2 acers, 1 laptop, 1 pc, 4 monitors, 1 strip light, 1 printer, 2 pipes connected to the heating system and 5 large netgear swtiches lol... i couldn't tell you the wattage of any of it.

[Geoff]

You can get a little adapater that sits inline between the device and the plug socket. This will tell you the Wattage directly.

 

Alternatively just use a multimeter.

[localzuk]

Or you could go off the quoted wattages from manufacturers websites?

[dave.81]

Good thinking batman

[Andrew_C]

Well that won't work will it? The wattage on my PC here is listed as "400W", but that is the MAXIMUM it will DELIVER. So, if running minimal processor it will be less, and flat out (due to losses) more.

 

The heating pipes won't have a rating plate on them. How about sunlight and your body heat? 150w sedentary seems a common figure, but I thought it was higher.

 

In short, you need someone who knows what they are doing to advise you!

[ChrisH]

Our unit has been in for over a year, little portable one, running nearly 24/7 guess i better inform our bursar it needs servicing.

 

How are you meant to work out the wattage over everything in my room lol... 4 dell poweredges, 2 acers, 1 laptop, 1 pc, 4 monitors, 1 strip light, 1 printer, 2 pipes connected to the heating system and 5 large netgear swtiches lol... i couldn't tell you the wattage of any of it.

 

Use the tool on the APC site. It will tell you what you should be using according tho their data a recommend a solution.

[localzuk]

Use the tool on the APC site. It will tell you what you should be using according tho their data a recommend a solution.

 

Where is the tool? I've not been able to find it...

[john]

This is the inline device you need - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270125982645

[Geoff]

yeah that's the kind of do dad you need.