AC or DC water pump?

[Zazuk]

I'm thinking about going to water-cooling and I'm not too sure about which kind of pump to go with. From what I have heard, it sounds like AC pumps are better. The only problem I can see is that when you turn your PC on the pump will not turn on. With a wife and kid this could equal melt down. Is there a mod to have an AC pump turn on with the 12v of the PC power supply?

[AntmanMike]

you could hook them both up to a power strip, so when you press the button on the power strip, the pump turns on, and thats the only way the PC will turn on too.

[Silver]

I ran into this exact same problem. I came up with a cure that was very usable and effective. This is along the same lines as the prior response. I bought two outlet boxes, one outlet, one of those on/off bathroom light switches (you know, the ones that have one switch and a little light were the second switch would normally be), one regular outlet cover, one (purty) brass outlet cover, one heavy duty power cord (walmart) on most everything.

OK, I cut out an opening on the back of my desk and put in the outlet box. I then cut out an opening on the top of the desk and put in the other outlet box (both plastic, like for sheet rock). I wired the power cord (heavy duty w/ground) to the switch first (top of desk) and then to the power outlet on the back of the desk. I put the cheap cover on the outlet behind the desk and the purty one on the outlet on top of the desk (wife likes). I plugged in a five gang surge protector to the outlet on the back of the desk. The heavy duty cord now just has to be plugged in to power the circuit. I plug all of my devices, pump, ac powered fans, computer, printer, monitor into this surge protector.

Now when I want to use the computer, I sit down at the desk and turn the switch on (bathroom switch) and power goes to all ac devices however the computer does not come on until I push its little button. This works GREAT as the computer can not be powered without hitting the switch. The little light lets me know when the kids/wife have left the power on to the circuit (even with the computer off. My switch is on top off the desk oh ....maybe 10 inches from my keyboard towards the rear of the desk. I never worry about wether or not they have turned on the water pump, period. I personally check the five gallon water supply once a week (or more).

Advantages:

1) Easy to use. No bending over or tangled unsightly cords.

2) Pump is on at least 2 seconds before my children hit the power on switch.

3) Convenient as he... when you want to kill the power to the computer when you have pushed too far.

4) By unplugging from the wall you can move the desk (like to another room or state for that matter).

5) About as child proof as water pumps get. My computer (water cooled) sits on the floor in the living room next to the desk and no matter how many time my children (1.5,4,6,14)push the on/off switch, the computer ain't coming on. Should they climb up in the chair and hit the power switch on the desk the best they are going to get is the pump running water through the bong. The comp won't come on even after that until they hit the power button on it.

6) I love this set up. Easy to use. I sleep well with a water cooled 1.4 at 1.74 2.18 volts knowing that it is relatively safe. I love all the time that I have not had to push the power button in for four seconds or had to get behind it to pull the power cord from the psu. I just love this setup and the wife is not afraid to use it.

Hope this helps as I am a nine fingered touch typist. (an experiment gone awry).

[Zazuk]

That sounds great Silver but the only problem is that I have a UPS which I would have to turn off and on each time also. :(

[Silver]

Do a search on this or wait for others to respond as I know that I read somewhere on how to run another ac device through the psu to power ac items.

[Al666]

isn't it easier to solder the pump to the on/off switch on the back of the PSU?

------------------------------------------------
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*SWIFTECH MCW462
*OCersHIDEOUT/CPUFX Aluminum Reservoir w/ United UP/AP-145 145GPH pump (the pump will be replaced with a better one soon)
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*2X IBM Deskstar 60GXP 60GB as RAID-0
*IBM Deskstar 75GXP 45GB in Macpower IceCube Firewire Enclosure
*Enermax 989AL-00 all aluminum case w/431W PSU

[Warlord2]

there was a review on how to do this at overclockers.com so you may look in some of the reviews on the front page maybe in the watercooling section

[plague]

I'm getting into this also, and I might use a relay. There is an article on the front page about it, ill go look then... anyway, a relay is simply 2 circuits, one is basically a switch for the other. So if you get a 12vdc relay that powers a 120vac circuit, you can hook it up to power the 120vac pump when you turn on the computer. I'll give it a whirl, the only thing I'm worried about is how reliable the relay is.

[Diggrr]

The Radio Shack relay is rated for 10,000 make/breaks. Let's see, at 3 a day, times 365 days, that's about 9 years. How long you gonna have this computer?

It will last a long time. I've used the same relay for a year now with no problems. And here's how.

http://www.overclockers.com/tips242/

[Zazuk]

Thanks Diggrr that is just what I was looking for also to Silver for the in depth solution you gave.:burn:

[plague]

cool diggrr, thats the article i was looking for. and thanks for the assurance that it'll last me, I was a little worried that a little thing like that would be the end of my cpu.

[Silver]

Believe me I lost a LOT of sleep prior to coming up with a solution. Once again the most dangerous ting to my computer is me and not the kids. Take care and good luck. Diggrr had a little laugh on that response. Take Care all.:)

[Diggrr]

Since the relay has two contact sets, you can use it for another device on it (watch the wattage total for the relay).
You could also run it parallel so that the contacts are each carrying half the load. This will increase the life of the contacts, and help assure the pump gets power. Nothing like a little redundancy.

[Al666]

Hey Diggrr do you know what Joe means by this in the article "Wiring the plug end to the "Normally Open" pins of the relay ensures that there are no other pins "live" when the system is powered down. " ????

[dizzy_g]

I'm gona use a relay for mine (after christmas)

I got a few old ones off my Dad, they were used in telephone exchanges and are rated at 14/500V so they will work the finest on a 220V Irl supply! (and have been tested on 12V pC supply)
They added feature they have is they have got 6 contacts that all operate at the same time!

Less resisitance and if one fails i have 5 more.

Only problem they are fairly beefy at about 4"x1.5"x1.5"
I'm sure i'll squeeze them in some where!

:D :D :D :D

I doubt if you could get them in Radio Shack as they are OLD!!!!