Unexpected dust filter...

[Thelemac]

Was trying to figure out why I was getting a ton of back pressure on my radiator fan (it felt like it was blowing the opposite direction) and so was playing with some ducting and other fans (radiator ISN'T moving) by placing them on the outside...so I stuck my 108CFM Sunon on it, and had no back pressure that I could feel, but there wasn't a noticable increase in the amount of air comming out the other side so...

I happened to look at the fan blowing in and to my surprise I see a solid surface! I'm thinking "Wait a minute, aren't there supposed to be fins and the like in a radiator?" and lo it turns out to be a 1/16" layer of dust covering my radiator. Was fun cleaning it out through the grill (not moving, remember?) No back pressure now! Tons more air flow through the radiator, too. At least, there is with the case open, probably cuts a bit off when I close it (really need to duct it out.)

Just thought I'd let you all know about this so that you can be warned to check your radiator when you clean your case out!

PS I was going to take a picture, but my camera was too far away and I really didn't feel like putting my thousand pound case down just to have to pick it up again.

 

[klosters64a]

Thanks for the tip, Thelemac!

 

[Mord-Sith]

wrap your radiator in pantyhose sounds stupid but it will keep the dust out.

 

[Thelemac]

BlakeN (Jun 13, 2001 08:20 p.m.):
wrap your radiator in pantyhose sounds stupid but it will keep the dust out.

Doesn't sound stupid at all...I'm actually planning on getting an air cleaner so I don't have to worry about changing my air filters (which I don't have). Course, I really couldn't wrap my radiator in anything...I really can't do anything to it that involves moving it to get under it or anything like that. without putting in at least three hours work.

 

[Colin]

We us a monster Living Air filter and an expensive Meile vacuum with a heppa filter. I still have to clean my filters at least every two weeks.

 

[dozier768]

that sounds like a dang good idea as long as theyre not your own pantyhose bro lol, but serriuosly i went down to my local hardware superstore and got whats called an electrostatic furnace filter and it come in a cut to size kit and it is 95% + efficient and has low restriction and catches dust by chraging its polyester element with airfriction works great

 

[stool]

I live in an especially dusty house, and even using Honeywell air filter units, I have to clean the fan filters in my system every 2-3 weeks. Its worth it, though, to keep all the crap out of the case. BTW, I use the fan filter kits w/foam filter from Allied Electronics.

 

[outhouse]

I was reading this an hour ago and started gaming online and had reboots and lockups and i thought maybe it was because i overclocked my video card which i never do, I checked temps and they were only off by a 1 or 2C checked my screen in front of my duct to CPU and it was clogged and restricting airflow cleaned it got my temps back down. My house is extra dusty and with a huge Mulaccan Cockatoo there is even more dust so it is high time i join the aircleaner crowd on this one. but first i want to thank Thelemac for reminding us instead of trying to up CV to fix my problem or putting a fresh coat of thermal paste on i was checking out the dust like i should have to begin with.

 

[Thelemac]

outhouse (Jun 14, 2001 12:02 a.m.):
I was reading this an hour ago and started gaming online and had reboots and lockups and i thought maybe it was because i overclocked my video card which i never do, I checked temps and they were only off by a 1 or 2C checked my screen in front of my duct to CPU and it was clogged and restricting airflow cleaned it got my temps back down. My house is extra dusty and with a huge Mulaccan Cockatoo there is even more dust so it is high time i join the aircleaner crowd on this one. but first i want to thank Thelemac for reminding us instead of trying to up CV to fix my problem or putting a fresh coat of thermal paste on i was checking out the dust like i should have to begin with.

I always go by the thought of doing less work to fix a problem is better...so always check the easy stuff, first! This is one of those easy things that I just figured out, so I figured maybe there were some others that hadn't thought of it or maybe forgot.

 

[Slake]

dozier768 (Jun 13, 2001 09:06 p.m.):
that sounds like a dang good idea as long as theyre not your own pantyhose bro lol, but serriuosly i went down to my local hardware superstore and got whats called an electrostatic furnace filter and it come in a cut to size kit and it is 95% + efficient and has low restriction and catches dust by chraging its polyester element with airfriction works great

Be careful with that electrostatic charge. I'd be scared to have that in my case. Too much chance of it disharging on those expensive components.

 

[dozier768]

hmm didn't think of that but my radiator is not inside my case. and the electrostatic charge is quite small like rubbing a balloon on your head except way less

 

[Obsydion]

The panty hose trick works for my DD cube. Noticed dust started building up on the radiator within 24 hours after installing the watercooling system in the computer.. Got that tip on this site as well. Good works guys.

 

[Obsydion]

The panty hose trick works for my DD cube. Noticed dust started building up on the radiator within 24 hours after installing the watercooling system in the computer.. Got that tip on this site as well. Good works guys.