Noisy Prommie...

[Walrusbonzo]

I have modded my Prommie by taking out the Sunon fans and putting in 2 YSTECH 120x38mm 125CFM fans.

It also has R413a gas in the unit.

While the PC is held in a reset state and the prommie is cooling down it's quite quiet, but as soon as the PC posts "Beach like" noises start. They appear to come from the evap head or from within the evap hose near the head. This noise REALLY sounds like the waves crashing on a beach. Anyone got any ideas why this may be? It is loud too, far louder than my Ys-Tech fans that are quoted as 40dB at 12v!!!

I feel as though the prommie is not cooling well enough, after about 10/15 minutes of being at full load with Prime95 or Toast my Evap Head temps will level out between 25-28C, this is with the YSTECH 120mm fans at 12v. Also my NF7-S gives readings in the region of 15C for full load, yet when idle it's nearer 5C and evap head temps hover around -37/38C.

Got any ideas on these problems?

[Gary Lloyd]

Disconnect one of the fans and see if that helps.

[Walrusbonzo]

It's not the fans!

[JCviggen]

there is often a beach-like sound,,,but it shouldnt be THAT loud...are you sure youre not paying too much attantion to it? you never know lol

[Gary Lloyd]

Try it.

[Walrusbonzo]

I've phoned the guy who "fixed" it, he recons he maybe put too much gas in which is resulting in liquid going back down the vacuum tube.

I've also heard that letting off gas can reduce temperatures.

So it seems letting off gas would solve both my problems.

There is a valve on the low side where he used to connect up his pressure gauges and container of R413a, is this where he lets gas out or puts gas in?

Maybe I could fix this problem without him having to come around? If not he'll come again on Wednesday.

[JCviggen]

is your return line frosted all the way to the compressor...?

[Gary Lloyd]

Is the bottom of the compressor cold?

[bowman1964]

well as many as i have seen thats a first on me....

now this is the one that was repaired right?

was it leaking at the hose when he repaired it?close to the nosie you hear?

if so i have a idea,but it isnt good.

[Walrusbonzo]

I phoned the guy and he thinks maybe he put a bit too much gas in and now there is fluid come back along the suction hose.

The noise does sound like fluid being sucked fast along the hose, so maybe.

But yes, it was leaking from the hose before, and that's what he has fixed.

What is your idea? :)

[Walrusbonzo]

Originally posted by JCviggen
is your return line frosted all the way to the compressor...?

No, fluid is not getting back into the compressor :)

And just so you lot know, my PC has been stable for the last 7 hours, at full load running United Devices agent, prommie temps have hovered between -26C and -27C during this time. But I've had to keep my fans on at full speed :(

Thanks for the help guys.

[JCviggen]

those temps are pretty bad...but i guess it does work wich is something at least! I know exactly the sound you are talking about and i have had some units make this sound and they are still running fine...but it isnt THAT load...but its hard to describe noise level i guess

[Marci]

I think bowman's idea is that it's leaking again fella... did he braize it or solder it?

[]JR[]

Try what gary says, hes probably got some cogs still clicking up there ;)

]JR[

[Walrusbonzo]

He braized it Marci.....

What do you mean ]JR[ ?

[stergiopilus]

Try what Gary Lloyd suggested.

His 2 suggestions were:
1) "Disconnect one of the fans and see if that helps."
2) "Is the bottom of the compressor cold?"

He knows what he's talking about when it comes to phase-change. :)

[]JR[]

Originally posted by Walrusbonzo
He braized it Marci.....

What do you mean ]JR[ ?

Well he means disconnect the fan for a reason other than just making it quieter, it will increase the temp at the outlet of the condensor, similarly at the evaporator and up the suction line thus reducing the liquid. If the noise reduces as well you might have deduced something.

I think thats the right explanaiton ;)

]JR[

[Walrusbonzo]

Ok, well without disconnecting the fan I can tell that when my CPU is at full load rather than idle there is less noise.

When the prommie is turned on having been off for a few hours it is quiet until it gets down past -25C or so.

I guess I just have too much gas in here. It was the first thing the refrigeration man said to me when I told him.

And the bottom of the compressor isn't cold, I already said no fluid was getting back in it. I think I would have known by now if it was as I'd have a totally dead Prommie.

Thanks though guys. The man is coming today to check it out and get some gas out of it I guess.

[Walrusbonzo]

:) What a nice guy, he's come round, showed me exactly what I need to do to let the gas out myself. I tried to give him more money but he wouldn't take it :D It's the third time he's be out now.

So basically I need to turn it all off. Leave it for about 10/15 minutes to let it settle. Press the valve for about 2 seconds. Power it up.....

Repeat until noise has gone and temps are optimal :D

[Walrusbonzo]

The plot thickens....... I've tried letting gas out(whilst the prommie is off), and all it's done is made temps increase, the noise has not disappeared......

I set my CPU to 1.4GHz and 1.5v and ran it idle for a few mins, temps dropped to -40c and lower, strangley now the prommie was silent, no sounds of gushing/swooshing gas/liquid whatever it was!

Maybe there wasn't enough gas in it...... So I have one question, when this guy comes out AGAIN to put more gas back in, how far back along the suction line should it be freezing? With the CPU at full load that is.

Many thanks everyone, I'm almost there, then I'll leave you in peace :)

[Nookie420]

man, sounds like u are having a bad week.....:-(

[Walrusbonzo]

Bad week, I've had a few bad weeks, lost my phone which meant spending money to get a new one, spent loads on this prommie, was DOA, got it fixed(cost money) but broke again straight away. Got it fixed a second time... Then it's noisy, guy comes out and thinks too much gas, I let gas out it doesn't fix the noise and now temps are crap :(

ARGHHH

[JCviggen]

it can never be too much gas if your return line isnt frosted all the way to the compressor.

[Walrusbonzo]

LOL!! I wish someone had thought of the suction line frosting earlier.... It was only frosting down as far as where the hose enters the unit. :(

Thanks JCViggen....

[Walrusbonzo]

Hallelujah!! He's coming tomorrow to top it up with gas, we'll get it to frost back about 1 or 2 inches from the compressor... Certainly don't want fluid going in the compressor.

Thanks again :D

[JCviggen]

Well the bottom of the compressor should not be cold..if it is frosted up to the compressor then thats OK although still a tad too much imho...the return line should be cold, but not frosted when you touch it where it enters the compressor.

[Walrusbonzo]

Great, thanks very much..... If we do put too much in I can always let a little back out later now that I know how :P