Koolance TMS-200 testing results / review

[dsumanik]

I know this thread is done but I thought there was a very nice repository of info and the big brains in the know might see my question and respond in kind. So what do you think linux compatability?

The reason I ask is I was thinking of using one of those samsung micro boards with a lcd controller to run (these boards run in a linux and windows ce environment) the tms-200 software and put it on a 7 inch touch screen on the front of my water box (Danger Den). This way I could have a true independent monitoring system.

This is thread is not "done"

I have a new controller arriving this week with updated firmware from dean, if all the fixes I requested have been applied, then yes once configured initially in windows, the controller should work with linux and I will update the review accordingly.

I have to test it though before we will know.

However you will not have access to the GUI in linux, the controller will just control the fans and pumps based on the last settings it recieved .

[damunk]

Surprised I haven't read this here yet: http://forums.koolance.com/viewtopic...6&p=3065#p3058

I'm hopinh the random alarm every now and then isn't part of these problems because I'd really hate having to take everything apart and shipping it back again just to get a firmware upgrade.

[dsumanik]

Even if you dont experience the alarm problems, with the current firmware the controlloer does not protect users from a pump based failure outside the os....

If you are fine with that...great but im not.

If your system bluescreens or locks up, you have not defined a thermal based shutdown or have not defined it correctly/aggressively enough, and your pump fails....your system will sit there and cook.

Which is what this controller was designed to prevent. The alarm bug is minor and its easy to fix..just annoying. the pump based shutdown sequence needs to be addressed asap before this controller can really be recommended.

I see you posted about the auto settings as well...that is gonna be fixed too but its just a bit down the list until these hardware problems get solved...even as it is, the auto settings work nicely so i figured i would request the big problems to be fixed first...

Sit tight, i'll let everyone know as soon as I get some results.

[dreamaxx]

I hope they sort out the Bitspower temp probe issue, I mean, really it should work with all temp probes.

Great review! I want one now instead of these other stupid fan controllers I have right now!

[Vapor]

Would you be willing to test putting a DDC3.2(5) on a fan channel and seeing if it runs and at what voltage?

And also if setting to a low % turns it off.

I'm still looking for a controller to run three pumps, but only modulate 1 of them....the other two I just need on/off switches.

[dsumanik]

I hope they sort out the Bitspower temp probe issue, I mean, really it should work with all temp probes.

i wouldn't call this an issue so much as a design choice...likely koolance did it to try and encourage sales of thier own temp probes...my bitspower probe still works when attatched..it just seems to have a static temperature delta. But it moves up and down a degree or so at a time so it seems to be functioning, i just have no way to verify the demp delta or accuracy. When the new controller arrives maybe i will try and plug them all in together and see if i can figure out the exact delta and/or if the probe is still behaving correctly. At first glance, this seems to be something that should be adjustable on the software side, similar to how you can adjust the flowmeter readings based on tubing diameter. Perhaps adding calibration for different OHM probes will come in a future update?

To me its not that much of a biggy because i have both bitspower and koolance probes...but I am sure others would like to avoid purchasing koolance ones. Really though were talking a savings of 40 bucks on a dual loop system which would likely cost hundreds of dollars to begin with...i can only really see the need for more than two coolant probes for testing/review purposes. In a live loop adding tlines etc for every probe location would get messy, and possibly add restrictions. I mean whats the practical use of knowing your temps after every block unless you doing a review, or perhaps a test to see how flowrate affects temps in a series loop.

For me i just want to know my delta above ambient right after the rad.

Would you be willing to test putting a DDC3.2(5) on a fan channel and seeing if it runs and at what voltage?

And also if setting to a low % turns it off.

I'm still looking for a controller to run three pumps, but only modulate 1 of them....the other two I just need on/off switches.

unfortunately I dont have any 3.2(5) only DDC 2's. i also thought of trying the pump on a fan channel but I am scared to attach the DDC2 to the PWM control because i have read threads in which alot of on off cycles is what can kills the DDC2. My first thought is that it *should* work fine though, the controller doesnt care what it is powering as long as you don't exceed the channel limits.

As far as minimum voltage goes, i made another post here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=225786 and it seems the entire DDC pump family has an operating range of 8-12V, with PWM you should theoretically be able to take the pump to a lower speed than analog because you are giving constant bursts of 12V... The lowest my DDC2 will spin is at 7.92V on analog on an empty loop I believe, but only if it gets an initial ~8.25V initial spin..which the controller does provide on startup. So constant PWM bursts of 12v should be able to take the rpm down quite low...at least if the pump was running dry. PWM on fans is great because the blade momentum keeps the illusion of constant spin, but there isnt really alot of momentum happening on the impeller when submerged in liquid. When you cut the juice, it pretty much stops..so the lower the RPM you try to achieve, the harder it will become to maintain a steady flow. Also, at about 8V in a loop with just a HK 3.0 i was getting around 1.5 GPM, I guess some people might like to take it down to the 1 GPM threshold but much slower than that I don't know if it would be practical. For me, if my flow sinks much lower than 1.5 I would probably add another pump, especially with multiple blocks in series so the heat pickup doesnt get amplified.

Another thing i do notice about my DDC2 is that even when plugged into a straight molex there is about a 1 second lag from the time voltage hits it until the pump actually spins, I don't know if 3.2 series does this.

So on the DDC2 series I don't think running it off the fan channel would work....because the PWM switching would be far faster than this 1 second lag....which may be why they used analog control on the pump channels in the first place. If the 3.2 does this as well then i would guess PWM would not be a viable alternative for controlling this series of pump either.

My suggestion to you or anyone else out there using a 3.2(5) is to plug it into a PWM controller and see what happens. (not in a live loop though) If rpms adjust as expected...great! But be warned, alot of on off switching is a suspected cause of failure in the DDC2 series..and PWM control is on off like crazy, in one day you would easily exceed the average on off cycles compared to a life time of normal usage. The PWM control on the TMS-200 is phenominal it really is very nice..so if your pump works with a different PWM controller im sure it will work with the TMS.

I am curious as to what kind of loop you have setup with 2 pumps full bore, and a 3rd being modulated....is it somehow providing extra pressure to one side of the loop or the other? That would be cool..

[astrodanco]

Do I understand this correctly: the TMS-200 firmware is not field upgradable?

Anyone who designs hardware like the TMS-200 should be experienced enough to understand that the firmware absolutely positively must be designed to be field upgradable.

[kgtiger]

Congratulations on an outstanding review there dsumanik, very detailed.
All thou there is alot of reading, there was no waffling on. VERY WELL DONE Mate!

I have just read the whole thread from start to finish, however your last entery is from the 06-10-2009. Is there any more info on updated firmware and have the challenges with the TMS been fixed?

[rambler358]

Is there any more info on updated firmware and have the challenges with the TMS been fixed?

No more updated firmware as of yet, but the latest (v2.1.18) TMS software has resolved most of the issues. Though there are some enhancements I'd still like to see added.

[damunk]

Apperantly there are 3 more updates planned for the TMS200 after 2.1.18.. Waiting for the update that adds hysteresis myself, right now my fan is just spinning up and down like crazy if I set it to auto :P

[ward0]

it all depends on the fans your going to use
i am going to be putting 16 fans on mine, and all you need to do is really cool the heatsink

+1 mcubed love (l)

[kgtiger]

Thanks rambler358 and damunk for your info there, much appreciated.

[aka_GK]

first of all, thanks a lot dsumanik for such a great review.

Could somebody tell me dimensions of this board? Especially height

[Koolance]

Apperantly there are 3 more updates planned for the TMS200 after 2.1.18.. Waiting for the update that adds hysteresis myself, right now my fan is just spinning up and down like crazy if I set it to auto :P

This has now been added: http://forums.koolance.com/viewtopic...21&t=690#p5018

Tim

[Koolance]

Could somebody tell me dimensions of this board? Especially height

The dimensions of the main board are 100mm W x 160mm L x 21mm H. The expansion board adds another 12mm to the overall height.

Tim

[aka_GK]

The dimensions of the main board are 100mm W x 160mm L x 21mm H. The expansion board adds another 12mm to the overall height.

Tim

Thanks a lot!

[rambler358]

This has now been added: http://forums.koolance.com/viewtopic...21&t=690#p5018

Tim

Looks like a great update - can't wait to try it out! Thanks.

[damunk]

This has now been added: http://forums.koolance.com/viewtopic...21&t=690#p5018

Tim

Works great man, thanks a lot!

[GregSG]

So its "safe" to get this now?

Just wondering

[ohms]

If I was to splice (3) 120mm Enermax Magma fans together into 1 3-pin power cable will 1 fan channel be able to power all 3?

[Kibbler]

According to PPCs Enermax Magma are .34A each. On the board each fan/pump header is good for max 2A. Should be fine.

[ohms]

Sweet thanks Kibbler

[shazza]

Another thanks to dsumanik for the thorough review. And to Tim for keeping us updated. Just ordered the TMS-200 to give it a whirl.

I have an Aquaero for temp and fan monitoring/control, but it's impossible to get a new one in the US right now, so wanted something different. The Alphacool looked interesting, but couldn't find much info on it, and as far as I could see, the manual is only in German (maybe that's only the online version? ). So, due to the info in this thread, went with the TMS-200.

[rambler358]

If I was to splice (3) 120mm Enermax Magma fans together into 1 3-pin power cable will 1 fan channel be able to power all 3?

I did that exact thing with no issues.

[ohms]

I finally got my rig done and I hooked up my MCP-655 "bling bling" pump to it and it won't report the pump RPM, is it me or does it just not work?