submersion vs. condensation

[Lekko]

I've always been interested in the challenge of doing phase change, it sounds like a lot of fun to fiddle with and work with, however the issue of condensation always is tricky, especially in a 24/7 setup.

I was just recently thinking about another crazy build where the motherboard tray and all the parts were put in an aquarium in a mineral oil bath that was totally non conductive, and ran flawlessly. Now what would happen if you put a phase cooler on the CPU without any other modifications? Since it would be cooling to sub zero in oil, with no ambient air, there should be no condensation. You technically wouldn't need to insulate either, since the chill would cool the oil and help cool the entire PC.

It was just a thought, feel free to shoot it out of the air. I know it sounds crazy (it is, let's face it, but then again this is XS) but would it work?

I'm not going to be going to phase for quite a while, but am reading up on it now so I know what I'm doing once I decide to make that leap.

[[XC] gomeler]

Just a few issues with oil submersion. It'll eventually destroy your capacitors, it'll become capacitive between contacts(esp on CPU), it'll slowly crawl out of any connectors you have attached to the mobo. If the oil is also sub-zero, it'll actually condense water on it's surface and then this water will sink to the bottom, so I suggest still sealing the aquarium. Those were the only issues I ran into with my mineral oil bath, I'm sure there are a ton of other ones. Proper insulation is much simpler and mobile. Hate to shoot you down, go for it as it is a fun experience, just don't use an expensive board :up:

[Lekko]

Yeah... I was figuring it would not work very well, nor long term. I keep wanting to do phase, but it just seems a bit above my skill level right now. However, I most certainly can dunk a board in oil, so I thought hey... might work.

Thanks for the reply though. One of those things that just seemed like a good idea at the time.

[[XC] gomeler]

Proper insulation will take care of anything though. I live in Georgia, home to murderous humidity and I rarely have condensation issues except when the suction-lines themselves start sweating. Switching up to 3/4" armaflex solved that though, nothing additional insulation can't solve.

[Pete]

Your fear is over. Ignor all these guides about how to do it and do it the way that work in the mass market back in the day which has now come back into play via 2 builders

http://www.under-the-ice.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=125

Jins version much like Asteke which works for me on SS, Auto C, Cascade, DICE and lastly LN2

Cover a few of them both sides with DC4 so it sticks down and makes an air tight seal and away ya go. Bob is a uncle and fanny ya aurnt (english joke)

Pete