Phase change questions: please help!!!

[CrazyDr]

Hi, i am new in phase change systems and i'd like to ask some questions:

1. Can i use all the refridgeration system that i ripped from an old fridge and replace the cold plate section with a waterblock?

2. What waterblock should i use? I have a Koolance but i've been told that its plastic-like cover would'nt last the pressure of the coolant. Then a friend of mine would give me his own waterblock made of copper but its cover is kept on it by 4 screws and a short of "o-ring": is there any danger of leak?

3. And what about the diameter and the nature of the tubing that should keep the waterblock and the old tubes of the fridge together? And what type of soldering should i use? I don't have a torch.. epoxy maybe??

4. last but VERY important issue: how do i get to recharge the whole system without a vaccuum pump?? Can it be done?? i'd like some really dettailed instructions...

5. Then there are all the "insulation issues" but i'll deal with them later.. :-)

Thanks in advance everyone, this site is really awesome!! It made me get into watercooling (my old dual bongs), then into fridge cooling (thanks tiger) and now i'd like to get some really LOW temps!! Thanks!

[strokeside]

If you're using the condensor from the fridge, you may need to cool it via water, or replace it with a better one, as the old fridge ones are only good enough to dissapate heat for a short time, not constantly like you need for your PC.

You can replace the coldplate with a waterblock, but the pressures in the system would be way bigger then in a normal water system. I don't know if even the metal block with the screws would eb enough, you might need to solder the top into the base. Also, your block needs to have as much surface area as possible in order to have all the coolant evapourate off (which will give you your best temps). Most waterblocks don't have enough surface area to give you your best temp (good enough temps maybe.).

Assuming you maximise your condensor and evapouraters abilities, the tubing that comes with the fridge should do.

You should check up on some more of this stuff, as there are tricks for getting better results, like putting the capillary tube inside the return tube of the block(or something like that).