LOL, check this out

[Extermn8rX]

My friend sent me this link. Check it out, its pretty cool...pun intended. http://www.pcrivals.com/projects/computerator/index.shtml

[RainMaQer]

Now... I'm curious about one thing in particular... the condensation... he says to let it dry.... will it still work after it drys? Not just in this scenario... but in any instance where condensation occurs on your proc or mobo.

[AntmanMike]

As you can see in my avatar, i am working on fridge cooling, though not in the same way. Here was my thread on this:

Project Condensation (http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52083)

[Diggrr]

Yes Thank you. I've seen this once before.
I already watercool, so I think I'd just put my radiator in the fridge and let the rest of the computer stay dry.

RainMaQer, I think he's refering to condensation that's occuring while the computer isn't on. If it's allowed to dry thoroughly (even under sockets and such) then yes. It should work just fine.
If it's powered up wet, then fzzzt. No more purty puter!

If condensation is a problem, I wouldn't leave the power supply on (using it's back side switch) while the fridge is off, as the power supply still is supplying some power when the computer is off. Otherwise the switch in front wouldn't work.

[RainMaQer]

ok... thanks... I was thinkin that if it got wet period... then no more puter:D

[Tiger]

It is important first to understand how and why condensation occurs in the first place to better understand why such a system works.
All air contains water and this varies according to certain weather conditions. This water content is known as Relative Humidity or RH. If temperature drops then solid objects attain that temperature. The air surrounding that solid object is warmer than the object. This causes the object to absorb the heat from the air and as a consequence the air shrinks raising the RH. If that shrinking causes the RH to exceed 100% then water vapour is turned into liquid water otherwise known as due point.
From the the preceeding paragraph there are two key points;
1. Condensation occurs on the cold object and;
2. Condensation only occurs when the RH exceeds 100%

So how does an enclosed refrigeration system work;
If the components are placed in the fridge and the fridge switched on, everything within the fridge is at the same temperature. The coldest point in the refigerator (i.e. the point at which condensation will occur) is the cold plate or evaporator. Condensation will occur there and no where else. With this type of fridge it is designed so that the condensate is allowed to drain out of the fridge to the exterior. The RH of the air inside the fridge therefore decreases and with time is almost totally dry. This can be become so pronounced that any wet material placed in the fridge will become dehydrated.
The inside of the fridge has a RH of almost zero. This state will remain unless external air is added. Switching on the computer will make no difference to the RH as the only thing that is being added to the system is heat. When the system is switched off it is not suddenly going to become the coldest point in the environment. The coldest point is always going to be the evaporator. When the fridge is switched off and the interior temperature allowed to rise to ambient no condensation is going to occur as there is no cold point and the RH will actually decrease as the higher the temperature will allow the air to accept more water because it already exceptionally dry. This will result in a very high due point.
This kind of system works provided that the refrigeration unit can dissipate the heat load placed on it. Condensation will not occur during warm up phase providing there are not substantial air leaks. i.e. the door seals are good.

[eh?]

Originally posted by RainMaQer
ok... thanks... I was thinkin that if it got wet period... then no more puter:D
if it gets wet while turned on then no more computer period :D

[KFB]

that pcrivals computerator is very interesting, especially since they used alcohol instead of water. makes me think about replacing my water/antifreeze mixture with alcohol to eliminate the risks associated with water leakage. some have mentioned running ethylene glycol (antifreeze) only but i haven't seen results.

[Tiger]

Originally posted by Kentucky Fried Bird
that pcrivals computerator is very interesting, especially since they used alcohol instead of water. makes me think about replacing my water/antifreeze mixture with alcohol to eliminate the risks associated with water leakage. some have mentioned running ethylene glycol (antifreeze) only but i haven't seen results.
As you can see i am running sub-0 and using 40% anti-freeze. Heat transfer is affected - see the sticky above. My system is in line with that data and heat transfer is reduced by about 30%. Was getting 10C delta with water and now 14C delta with antifreeze. With regard to alcohol - I have also tried that. It is worse than antifreeze. I am using an open system and the fumes from the alcohol were mind bending. The family were in a continual state of stupor and threatened to evict me if I continued with the experiment. Since the cooling wasn't that good, although the effects were quite pleasant, I decided to comply with their demands.

[eh?]

tiger what are you using to chill your water?

[Tiger]

I am using an under-counter fridge with a 110W compressor. The freezer unit is immersed in 15L of coolant in a 20L plastic container. I have a Maxijet 750 pump in the coolant.