Smartest way to share a pump between 2 systems? (MM duality)

[Vampiyer]

- Primochill Typhoon 3 + D5 pump (for performance reasons)
- Connect all computers to the same power strip
- Connect pump to powerstrip (if AC) or pump's PSU to powerstrip...

If ANY computer is on, then the powerstrip will need to be on, and thus the pump will be on. This is similar to a toggle switch, except it's safer.

- The fans can then remain powered by their computer's PSU.

[DarkCow]

- Primochill Typhoon 3 + D5 pump (for performance reasons)
- Connect all computers to the same power strip
- Connect pump to powerstrip (if AC) or pump's PSU to powerstrip...

If ANY computer is on, then the powerstrip will need to be on, and thus the pump will be on. This is similar to a toggle switch, except it's safer.

- The fans can then remain powered by their computer's PSU.

I like this idea. Or even have the fans connected with the pump.

The push-pull idea with each computer running half the fans is also a great idea.

[sinticfury]

Actually, if he uses the Typhoon 3 he won't. I went from 2 x MCP355's with XSPC tops, one in a GPU only loop and the other in a CPU only loop, both with a Thermochill PA120.3, to the new Typhoon 3 which is just a res and MCP655 pump for dual loops and just in leak testing I can tell that I am actually getting better flow than I did before, even with the pump set to just 2 or 3 on the speed control. Seriously, it is a pretty sweet unit.

But again, the main issue is getting it to switch on with each side. I just had a thought, don't do the relay, just do a toggle switch that will turn on the water cooling separately from the systems. That way you don't need to worry about the relays, resistors and what not. You sit down to the computer, flick the switch and then turn on whichever system. Turn on the thermal shutdown in each of the bios just in case you forget to turn it on and you should be safe.

Word, get a Typhoon III by Primochill. Best investment I have yet to make. My Grandpa recently bought it and he said it does well for his dual systems. As a matter of fact he has an acension dualty as well, before the T3 however; he was using one LAING D5 and he just had the tubing as short as possible to make the loop small but managed to fit everything he needed, 4 rads and 2 gpu blocks, 4 full cover blocks, 2 Full Cover NB Blocks. .It was amazing because he used only 5 feet of tubing. And a lot of fittings to make his crazy 180 degree to 270 degree turns. He has both AMD and Intel and Crossfire and SLI in his rigs and they run at fine temps. Before and after I would say the T3 provided much better performance. The water ran much more efficiently so I suggest you put some $80 some odd dollhairs into it. Sorry if it was hard to read I felt as if i was leading off topic and tried to jump back on the horse i felll off.

[JavaGeek_Boston]

So you want to cool 3 cpu's and 3 GPU's, is that correct?

I wanted to cool 1 GPU, 2 CPUs, and 1 HD block.

System 1 is for gaming on Vista 64, System 2 is just for running eclipse, BASH, JDK, etc on Ubuntu 64. So on system 2, I'm just using a passively cooled Radeon HD 3450 and the AMD 790GX embedded graphics.

I will be running both about 25% of the uptime and only 1 for 75% of the time. For 16h a day on weekdays, both will be shut off.

In case anyone is curious, my setup:
Gaming Hardware:

• Phenom 2 940 3GHz
• GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H (790GX)
• 8GB OCZ DDR2 1066
• nVidia GTX 275 OCd to 725/1200
• Raptor 10k RPM 150 GB HD.
• Zalman ZM-850 PSU.

Work Hardware:

• Phenom 2 955 3.2GHz (AM3, but using in AM2+ mobo w/ DDR2)
• JetWay JMA3-79GDG-LF (790GX)
• 8GB OCZ DDR2 1066
• ASUS EAH3450 SILENT/DI/512MD2 Radeon HD 3450 512MB (may purchase a 2nd one if embedded 790GX isn't snappy enough as they're great fanless $30 graphics cards that don't require external power)
• ZALMAN ZM770-XT 770 Watts PSU (really awesome PSU)
• Velociraptor 10k RPM 300 GB HD.

Case/Cooling:

• Mountain Mods Ascension Duality
• XSPC 500mm reservoir. Probably the best purchase I ever made as it quieted my system down quite a bit from splashing noises.
• Alphacool SILENTstar Dual Hard Drive Cooler
• Swiftech Apogee GT CPU (I'm going to install it for the work system when I solve the pump problem)
• Koolance CPU-340 CPU cooler
• Koolance VID-NX275 full coverage GTX 275 block
• 2x Swiftech MCW30 chipset coolers, which I'll most likely be removing.
• Danger Den DD12V-D5 (just a Liang D5)
• ThermoChill PA 120.3 radiator w/ 6 low RPM fans
• Lots of Bitspower fittings & Tygon 3603 tubing. I especially love the G 1/4" Sparkle Dual Rotary 90 Degree Adapter...can't recommend them enough
• FluidXP non-conductive blood red coolant

My current loop only covers the gaming system:
PUMP->GPU->SB->NB->CPU->HD->RAD->RES
The layout was based on physical location and I never had an issue w/ thermals. The Alpha cool restricts flow to 3/8" so I had to move it to last.

My future layout:
PUMP->GPU(1)->CPU1->CPU2->HD->RAD->RES

I just got the 2nd system in yet, so haven't been able to spend much time playing with it as I've been at the office working late most nights. I'll try to get pics up.

[3Z3VH]

...
However you would need to do a resistor in line on each of the 12v lines coming from the computers to prevent 12v power flowing back to the powered off system.
...

A resistor will not keep power from flowing back through the other PSU. You need Diodes for that.

Resistors just lower the voltage over the wire.
Diodes specifically restrict power to a one-way flow.

[Utnorris]

Ahh, it's been awhile since i had wired up a system for one way voltage direction. Thanks for the info.

OP: No need to cool your HD. I would really look at doing the T3 and just do a small PSU for the water cooling gear and use a toggle switch. Sometimes the simplies setup is the best.

[Holst]

Sorry about the previous post, I was being a bit dim.

This is what you want.

Two 12v relays.

You connect each PC to the pump and fans via each relay.
The relays need to be setup so that the contacts are CLOSED when there is no power to the coil.
Then connect the coil of the first relay to the output of the second.
And connect the coil of the second relay to the output of the first.

Its important that the coils are connected to the outputs, not the imputs.

That way, if you turn on one PC the opposite relay is opened and the other PC is disconected from the circuit.

As the coils are connected to the relay outputs whichever PC you turn on first will run the pump and fans.
If you have both PC's turned on and you turn off the PC powering the fans both relays will switch and the other PC will take over.

For safety you can put a couple of diodes in the 12v lines from each PC.

I will delete my first post.