Near free silent computer!

[Lilwolf]

I finally built my own oil submerged power supply today!

I've wanted to do it for a while since I heard about it.

[Lilwolf]

Some More

[Lilwolf]

Still More

[Lilwolf]

Still More - Here is without the Fan

[Lilwolf]

I ended up using about 2 bucks of oil so not so bad considering that the cheapest fanless powersupply I've seen is 150+.

Well, my next project might be my old 300->450 celery... and try over clocking it some more maybe.  It runs about as fast as the epia 550s I would guess.  I also have a 1ghz machine I don't think I'm really using.  Might be fun to put it in my cabinet!

Also, I've seen people doing it in a fish tank.  Would be pretty cool for a desktop case. 

Anyway... I'm now in the impression that water cooling is for weak

[GadgetGeek]

Looks cool.  Question...do you keep some potatoes handy in case it doesn't cool as expected so you can make french fries?

[Lilwolf]

We're snooty.... we do deep fried asparagus!

[NIVO]

wolf, you should be more festive, get some of the stinkum scented oil, make it smell goooooooooooooooood.

[AlanS17]

Would a scented oil be conductive?

[toolaa]

Technical Question Wolf.

I assume that the oil eventually does absorb enough heat to warm up.  The questions is how much oil do you need to provide adequate cooling.  Is it a question of simply volume.

[Kremmit]

That is super dope.  I've been wanting to go fanless/silent for a while now, the high cost of the powersupply is what's been killing me.  Now I just have to figure out a way to make an oil tank that I can convince the wife will look OK in the office.

[Lilwolf]

No real clue really.  I filled it over the top of the top component (but some heat syncs are above it slightly) and its working fine.

I've had it on all weekend and it got up to a normal temp and hasn't gone higher.  It also is closed so hopefully it will work about the same inside a cabinet.

But its very easy to touch.  Not hot at all compared to most components.  Seems to move the heat away from the power supply well.

IE, I did the try it and see approach... and it seemed to work well. 

Technical Question Wolf.

I assume that the oil eventually does absorb enough heat to warm up.

[Spaced Invader]

You got me doing research...and planning a build. Thinking about building a desktop in a fish aquarium.

I have a question about the oil though...does is smell? I'm thinking mineral oil might be a solution less prone to going rancid??? Thoughts?

[captainpotato]

I've been considering doing something like this for a bit as well - these three sites are full of useful information (at times in German, I add - but images regardless):

Here, here, and here.

The important thing to note before you do anything is the way the oil can go up the inside of cables - it's called the capillary effect', from memory. This means that if you aren't careful, your container will drain via the inside of a cable... In any case, it's explained on at least one of these sites.

As for smell - one of these guys has had the same oil for over a year, without too much smell. Admittedly, the container has a lid

Mineral oil can apparently damage the motherboard - forget exactly why (something to do with the chemical composition).

Overclocking apparently works really well - especially when used with a couple of fans to keep the oil circulating (silently, of course, as they are in the oil).

The big issue is (obviously) that removing the components from the oil leaves them coated with it

My brother's just got a new machine, so when I get the old Celeron 433, I'll see how far I can push it in oil - might get a machine that isn't dog slow

[Lilwolf]

The trouble with mineral oil is its corrosive (I think I read that anyway). 

but the power supply was a great super cheap starter to test.... Since I don't care if it just dies....  So you might want to start with something like that.

As for it going bad.  I really don't know yet.  I have only had it running for 6 days now and everything is fine.  But as of now, it doesn't smell any different.  I'm giving it another week or so before I move it down to the basement and in the jukebox.  So hopefully it wont be too bad long term

[Pik4chu]

I've been considering doing something like this for a bit as well - these three sites are full of useful information (at times in German, I add - but images regardless):

Here, here, and here.

The important thing to note before you do anything is the way the oil can go up the inside of cables - it's called the capillary effect', from memory. This means that if you aren't careful, your container will drain via the inside of a cable... In any case, it's explained on at least one of these sites.

As for smell - one of these guys has had the same oil for over a year, without too much smell. Admittedly, the container has a lid

Mineral oil can apparently damage the motherboard - forget exactly why (something to do with the chemical composition).

Overclocking apparently works really well - especially when used with a couple of fans to keep the oil circulating (silently, of course, as they are in the oil).

The big issue is (obviously) that removing the components from the oil leaves them coated with it

My brother's just got a new machine, so when I get the old Celeron 433, I'll see how far I can push it in oil - might get a machine that isn't dog slow

The problem it has is it will eventually cause the layers of the PCB to seperate, much like soaking a piece of cardboard in water it begins to come apart.  But it takes a good while.

As far as Overclocking (which is where I came from before these boards ) It really isnt as good as it sounds. its mainly for the "ohhh ahhh" factor when you show it to people.  If you want cooling and submersion then go LN2. but that stuff is ~$500/gal  
A water cooling will be much cheaper. and cooler too.  oh and the Oil coating isnt too bad. you jsut unplug e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from the mobo and such. Then spray it with water, yes I just said to spray a mobo with water But the key is you have to get it completely dry before you turn it on or BZzzzzt!  Other than that, oil is sort a of a permanent thing, you use it until the hardware dies then move on

That is a cool silent PSU you got there tho, quite clever IMO  One other 'clean' way to go fanless is just attach more heatsinks to everything.  As you can get surpuls ones for quite cheap.

As for one that looks good in the office?  Just put the whole thing inside a nice stained wood cabinet?

[fl0yd]

I've also heard that the oil has a tendency to 'wick' up the wires and into/onto whatever device they are connected to.

There were several testimonies of people who had submerged motherboards, and the oil had wicked all the way up the mouse cable, and onto their desks.

[captainpotato]

That's the capilliary effect mentioned earlier in this thread

[Lilwolf]

As for the wick up... Yes it seems to happen.

But I still have it in a bucket in a bucket... So it hasn't come close to the motherboard yet.

Also, I taped around all the cords going out... and this seems to help a lot....  But it could really use some more.  If I do it again, I would use some industrial filler stuff (stuff in the can that you can never get of  your hands) and see if that helps.

As for the board coming apart.  I haven't noticed anything yet.  Sure its only been 2 months.  I'm not going to do it to a motherboard until I get an all in one board that I don't have any other use for... or until I wait a year on the powersupply.

But it still going good and gold.

[ras2a]

This is just superb, a PSU in oil.  Effing marvellous!   

[spystyle]

Cool mod!

We all want to quiet these noisy computers! I use large 5volt fans.

I bet you could stop the capillary effect by using epoxy around every wire where they exit  the container.

Dig it?
Craig

[Lilwolf]

I've considered some of that crap you use in construction (tough stuff or somethign) because I have some.    I just haven't got around to it since I haven't finished wiring my jukebox.  I keep hoping to but I have been painting my daughters rooms for the last few weekends and thats taking all my extra time.... That and dungeon siege 2... and now fable...

[M3talhead]

To solve the "wicking" of oil around wires, why not just use some common silicone sealant? Just run your power wires out of the tub, and caulk the hole up? Seems pretty obvious to me.

[spystyle]

I've been doing some reading about this and it seems the best choice for submerging PC stuff in oil is to use acrylic case and a plastic welder. Glues can eventually leak.

See this:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=plastic+welder

http://www.hwspirit.com/reviews.php?read=16

A fantastic step towards silent computing

The author had a Duron 700mhz running 100% for 8 full hours and the resulting temp was 120F, not bad at all, a CPU could live with that no problem. It's idle temp was only 95F.

There is also another that uses a radiator to cool the oil, it has been running for over a year:

http://www.kimhansen.dk/kyndal/galleria/galleria.exe/ThumbView?dir=Galleria/Oilputer/

Very interesting stuff!

Craig

[Lilwolf]

Nice setup he did.  Too bad he didn't add a contact... (didn't search around but didn't see it on any of the 4 pages).  I would have liked mentioning that he can put that powersuppy in also.

As for the plastic welder.  I'm sure it is.  But it would increase my cost by about 4000%.  I did it all with what I already had... what I already considered only a step above trash.  I have tons of power supplies laying around so it was an easy trial.

As for the the strongest connection.  The container I'm using is a sold piece of plastic so I don't have to worry about leakage anywhere but the creapping...  I've considered silicon, but I have some of the other stuff at home right now left over from some construction work.  Trouble is in this case, free might not be best.  This stuff SUCKS to clean up if you have to... IE if it doesnt work, I have to spend a few hours cleaning it up.

So I might try getting some silicon caulk (actually I might have some) first since it should be easier to clean up if it doesn't work

I'm still hoping to drown an old 80mg drive I have and see if that works.  I think with a bubble over the pressure wholes might do it.  If it does (in the short run) I will have to find a better long term solution since that really wont last more then a day or so.

[spystyle]

On page 4 there is a link to the forum, you can speak to him there.

He claimes you can't sink a hard drive as they aren't hermetically sealed.

Craig

[NiN^_^NiN]

that looks sweet but u do know u can get a fanless powersupply for $80 right?

Look for a morex psu its slim aswell

But i like this oil theory very cool but do u have to change the oil ones a year 

[Lilwolf]

I'm not really sure yet...

[NiN^_^NiN]

Well i got a carpc and i used the morex Car PSU mits still  the DC to DC psu but it works in the car and home the normal dc to dc doesn't work in the car for some reason don't know why.

They are pretty good they are made for the mini itx boards and morex usually makes the best looking cases for the mini itx ones

Im running the morex 80w car psu and its great u can get a 60w one aswell but they don't go any higher power wise u must get adiff type of psu made for the carpc world but they are expensive.

I'm not really sure yet...

[Lilwolf]

I might really go that way in the long run.

I am having fun playing with the powersupply... but until I fix the oil creep its not 'finished'.  I having had time to play with it for a few weeks.

But I really like the idea of getting the DC powersupply with an adapter so I can use it in either place...  Or for other projects that I want to do with them.