Heat Management

Dr. Z · 15-04-2007, 23:19

How do you guys with lots of kit manage your equipment's heat output?

To give you the full picture, I have 3 PCs with a total of 5 TFTs, plus 2 aux PSUs, a powerful power amp, preamp, switches that get warm, UPSes and other electrical stuffs that all add up to generate a ridiculous amount of heat.

I have my window open 24/7 with a fan on the go on full blast and still its unbearable almost all of the time. Im not joking when I say that a realistic estimate of how hot it was in here at 6pm this evening was mid-30s and right now even sat here in "sports clothing" with the fan blasting straight at me the heat is ridiculous - and I have everything bar my server, main PC and hifi off! I dont turn things off EVER!!

Is buying an air con unit the only realistic way forward? I think it is, and I know this is a bit of a lame thread because its got nowhere to go but there we go, I just needed to vent!

To think this is just the beginning of spring too...

Mark · 15-04-2007, 23:28

As I suspect you know, with a fan, you need a way for cool air to get in and hot air to escape. Omit one and all a fan will do is provide temporary relief. If you do have both, then you need to promote air circulation (such as by pointing the fan upwards). Some also suggest pointing the fan outwards but unless you're very lucky I don't see that working very well.

I had my house sealed today due to wanting to get tree pollen allergies under control. PC room hit 31-33C, rest of house hit 27C. Cooling down now I've opened windows.

Dr. Z · 15-04-2007, 23:43

I have a window and a door to a place with other open windows open. To no avail

8 I3ALL · 15-04-2007, 23:49

Air Con

that is all

Mark · 16-04-2007, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ

I have a window and a door to a place with other open windows open. To no avail

What shape is the room? Are there any heat traps (places where hot air can't escape)?

Dr. Z · 16-04-2007, 00:39

Its a uni room, its arranged as best I can, no significant heat traps (airflow from the window blows across the monitors to two of the PCs and then out of the room).

Guess I will have to see about more extreme measures

Mark · 16-04-2007, 00:53

If it's straight through, then a fan at each end (blowing in the same direction) is the way to go if you don't want aircon.

Darrin · 16-04-2007, 01:56

Or bodge together something using clothes dryer vent tubing to direct the heat from the computers outside through it....

Stan_Lite · 16-04-2007, 06:23

Move to the North of Scotland

Seriously though, I've seen the photos of your room and all that kit in a room that size is bound to make things a bit toasty.

I have 6 PCs in my bedroom which is probably about twice the size of your room and in the summer, even with the windows open, it still gets too warm in there and the ambient temperature up here is probably a good few degrees cooler than down there.

I have 4 PCs and 2 laptops in the sitting room/kitchen but it's massive and the big door to the kitchen is always open as is the door to the rest of the house so it doesn't cause a problem at all.

Short of getting a freestanding aircon unit (although Christ knows where you'd put it), I can't think of an easy solution to your problem.

Stan

Mark · 16-04-2007, 08:41

Darrin is on to a good thing there - either ducting the heat outside or using water cooling with the radiator/heat exchanger outside. Neither are particularly easy, or practical, though.

15-04-2007, 23:19	#1
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	Heat Management How do you guys with lots of kit manage your equipment's heat output? To give you the full picture, I have 3 PCs with a total of 5 TFTs, plus 2 aux PSUs, a powerful power amp, preamp, switches that get warm, UPSes and other electrical stuffs that all add up to generate a ridiculous amount of heat. I have my window open 24/7 with a fan on the go on full blast and still its unbearable almost all of the time. Im not joking when I say that a realistic estimate of how hot it was in here at 6pm this evening was mid-30s and right now even sat here in "sports clothing" with the fan blasting straight at me the heat is ridiculous - and I have everything bar my server, main PC and hifi off! I dont turn things off EVER!! Is buying an air con unit the only realistic way forward? I think it is, and I know this is a bit of a lame thread because its got nowhere to go but there we go, I just needed to vent! To think this is just the beginning of spring too... __________________

15-04-2007, 23:43	#3
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	I have a window and a door to a place with other open windows open. To no avail __________________

15-04-2007, 23:49	#4
8 I3ALL Vodka Martini Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In Forum Heaven Posts: 732	Air Con that is all __________________ MySpace

16-04-2007, 00:39	#6
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	Its a uni room, its arranged as best I can, no significant heat traps (airflow from the window blows across the monitors to two of the PCs and then out of the room). Guess I will have to see about more extreme measures __________________

16-04-2007, 01:56	#8
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Or bodge together something using clothes dryer vent tubing to direct the heat from the computers outside through it.... __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

15-04-2007, 23:28	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	As I suspect you know, with a fan, you need a way for cool air to get in and hot air to escape. Omit one and all a fan will do is provide temporary relief. If you do have both, then you need to promote air circulation (such as by pointing the fan upwards). Some also suggest pointing the fan outwards but unless you're very lucky I don't see that working very well. I had my house sealed today due to wanting to get tree pollen allergies under control. PC room hit 31-33C, rest of house hit 27C. Cooling down now I've opened windows.

16-04-2007, 00:53	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	If it's straight through, then a fan at each end (blowing in the same direction) is the way to go if you don't want aircon.

16-04-2007, 06:23	#9
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	Move to the North of Scotland Seriously though, I've seen the photos of your room and all that kit in a room that size is bound to make things a bit toasty. I have 6 PCs in my bedroom which is probably about twice the size of your room and in the summer, even with the windows open, it still gets too warm in there and the ambient temperature up here is probably a good few degrees cooler than down there. I have 4 PCs and 2 laptops in the sitting room/kitchen but it's massive and the big door to the kitchen is always open as is the door to the rest of the house so it doesn't cause a problem at all. Short of getting a freestanding aircon unit (although Christ knows where you'd put it), I can't think of an easy solution to your problem. Stan __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

16-04-2007, 08:41	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Darrin is on to a good thing there - either ducting the heat outside or using water cooling with the radiator/heat exchanger outside. Neither are particularly easy, or practical, though.