Maze4 power kit

[tnv]

After playing with several configerations in the air cooling forum, I've ordered a Maze4 power kit w/ the copper (rather then plastic) top. It should be here this tyme next week. Here's my question...? Whilst cleaning the garage this weekend, I found an old office watercooler. The type that has a aluminum tank with foam insulation. When plugged in, it worked great and made NO noise. I fill the tank with water, and after a couple of hours, it was at 38 degrees and holding. I then dropped a 75 watt fish tank water heater in it. Yesterday it was running at 41 degrees with the heater. Since I don't have a space problem, is there any reason I couldn't just drop the radiator from the Maze4 into the tank. I measured it, and there is plenty of room for it. Then add a styrofoam cover to minimize the evaporation. All I would need to change is just add more hose to the Maze4. It seems like a very simple way to cool the water to the low 40's, and the only fan I would have would be a 120mm in the front of my case for aire circulation...and it make almost no noise. A new water cooler only costs about $100.00 or less, so it is very cost effective. Does anyone see a problem with this? I won't be going to an LAN parties with this setup, but I haven't seen anyone try this, and it will keep the temperatures very low. Lastly, maybe alcohol would be a better cooling fluid? Thanks...tnv

[Psyche911]

First: Be VERY sure there is absolutely no copper in your radiator. It better be brass or it will not exist after a short time.

But I'm not sure how well that would work, AFAIK, nobody's ever tried submerging the radiator. The only potential performance problem would be that the water in the tank wouldn't actually be flowing through the radiator like air would, but then again, it might not be necessary.

[Holst]

You will do better to just ditch the rad and submerge your pump inside the chiller.

The only danger will be the cooler being corroded by the copper ions in the water.

This can be reduced pretty successfully using water additives.

It certainly wont hurt you at all to give it a try for a few hours and see how it works.

[MaxxxRacer]

you could give it a try but as mentioned above corrosion is an issue.

as to the cooler itself you should try running it with the cooler overnight with the computer at load to make sure htat the cooler wont get overloaded by such a strong constant heat load.

[Psyche911]

You will do better to just ditch the rad and submerge your pump inside the chiller.

The only danger will be the cooler being corroded by the copper ions in the water.

This can be reduced pretty successfully using water additives.

It certainly wont hurt you at all to give it a try for a few hours and see how it works.

I have to disagree. With the radiator, you have a barrier between the aluminum in the chiller water and the water in the loop. If you start pumping that chiller water through the copper waterblocks, you're gonna get some bad stuff going on in the blocks.

[Magnj]

How about the rad and pump in the chiller, so its in there as long as possible

[MaxxxRacer]

well that means u dump all of ur heat into the pump.. which isnt a good thing. and u have to consider how well the pump will do sumburged in the chilled liquid.

[tnv]

Well, as per my question, I added the watercooler to the mix. It's now running on it's fifth day of operation. I chequed with a prof. at the school where I going, and he said to use alcohol for the best cooling media. The only thing I've had to add to the original mix was a vent tube that goes from the styrofoam lid on the cooler thru the window screen and outside about 4 foot. That was to get rid of the fumes. I've notice a little evaporation, but that doesn't appear to be a problem right now, since it's only been about 1/2 oz. Duct tape around the styrofoam eliminated the smell.
It seems that the alcohol softened the "paint" on the radiator, and it ruined the alcohol (or at least it looked really bad!) Changed it the next day. As it stands, only the radiator is in the alcohol since I feared the pump seals would fail. The alcohol appears to minimize/eliminate the galvanic (?) problems with the aluminum/copper combo. I'll post some temp. numbers and pictures after it been running for a little while longer. At the moment, the temps. are a lot cooler then I ever obtained with water. I only run it when I'm in the house, since I guess there is a potential for fire.