How to protect motherboard against condensation
 

I will be adding a peltier to my system and I want to know the best way(s) to insulate my motherboard to protect against condensation, if someone could direct me to a good article or two on how to do exactly that I would greatly appreciate it.

Also I will insulating a Socket A zif.

hteres a good article over at http://www.gideontech.com

Just take a peek at the Pro/Mini article. I cover how I insulated that one.

Its so far been condensation free and even when running at -16Deg C for 24x7 ( just running idle for a day or so)

------------------
C-ya
Joe - Owner/Editor
www.ProCooling.com
Where the Completely Addicted Come to Cool Off

Somebody set up us the bomb.

Ah I found exactly what I was looking for, if anyone else needs to know or improve their condensation prevention heres a link.
http://www.octools.com/articles/sock...ion/intro.html

hehehe just got some of ramils Dow silicone, and stuff in. going to see which one works better, the GE or DOW silicone and the Neoprene I used Vs the Neoprene he uses.



------------------
C-ya
Joe - Owner/Editor
www.ProCooling.com
Where the Completely Addicted Come to Cool Off

Somebody set up us the bomb.

the link is http://www.octools.com/articles/sock...ion/intro.html

Where can you buy Dow Silicone and neoprene and that Dielectric stuff he used in the article?

Yeah where can you get that stuff at :-), I need to know too

McMaster.com is where I got my sheets of neoprene ( I got like 10sq ft of the stuff)

Chip@ overclock-watercool.com had some I believe

for the silicone, you can also get that at McMaster. I like the GE stuff I used more then Ramils, just on its consitency ( more flowable)

------------------
C-ya
Joe - Owner/Editor
www.ProCooling.com
Where the Completely Addicted Come to Cool Off

Somebody set up us the bomb.

Hey Joe could u get some exact links for the stuff because I wanna get the right stuff (like rubber or foam neoprene). plus i'm really lazy

BUMP so Joe can answer my question

www.google.com->search

Umm go to www.mcmaster.com and seatch for Neoprene and look for the closed cell neoprene foam sheets ( it will take some looking)

They also have silicone coatings. you cant link directly into a mcmaster catalog page or I would

------------------
C-ya
Joe - Owner/Editor
www.ProCooling.com
Where the Completely Addicted Come to Cool Off

Somebody set up us the bomb.

Joe,

you used 3/8" thick foam inside the socket, 5/16" thick foam around the socket...what thickness did you use on the backside of the motherboard....and was there a reason why you didn't use 3/8" around the socket as well?

I used what I had with me. I had my 3/8" stuff at home and I was working on it at my parents basement. so I used the 5/16.

I used.. Umm 3/8" on the back cause it would nicely compress against the back, helping to make a complete seal and to help provide all the insulation it could.

------------------
C-ya
Joe - Owner/Editor
www.ProCooling.com
Where the Completely Addicted Come to Cool Off

Somebody set up us the bomb.

In addition to neoprene, I always like the adhesive foam at 2Cooltek... good stuff.

thanks, Joe...i'm at McMaster's site now about to get a sheet of neoprene closed cell foam...would it help to get the one with the adhesive on one side or not? and geez...compression value, density, firmness, tensile strength, elongation, etc...I have no clue what to order =(

also, i'm having trouble picking the right silicone sealant...I see GE and Dow, but I don't know which one to get...they all seem to say they are RTV...

[This message has been edited by Cablepro (edited 02-24-2001).]

At McMaster, think about it... You want flexible neoprene so get some w/ a low firmness. Make sure that it is CLOSED cell neoprene. A high compression value will be helpful if you're getting thick stuff. As far as ahesiveness, that depends on what you're using it for. For sticking on the back of a mobo, adhesive neoprene can be good, but if you're trying to make a gasket, maybe it would be better to go w/ normal stuff.
Also, for the silicone, search for Dow Corning... I think that brings up some of the conformal coating. I'm not sure though. Hope I was of some help to ya.
-Kev

thanks...
my thermistor is installed between my copper shim and the ceramic of my processor...I sanded a groove in the copper shim so that the thermistor fits underneath it without unleveling it from the processor, and the tip of the thermistor is touching the side of the core, like Joe did...
my question is, the copper shim might touch the cold plate...would the cold temperature from the cold plate affect the reading of the core temperature? or does it not matter once equilibrium is reached?

why not make the thermoster paralel to core instead of just tip

the probe gets too thick when I insert it that far...although I suppose I can grind out more of the cold plate to do so...

about RTV silicone: is it very highly corrosive, meaning it'll corrode the board within a couple of years or less?

Yeah, what he said.

Someone have any experience with any of those RTVs or non-corrosive conformal silicone gel? I've been searching Mcmaster for the one on www.octools.com, but I've been having no luck. I just replaced the KT7 that I killed by using Silicone Aquarium Adhesive and spark-plug dielectric grease. I still have the fragging watercooling setup lying on a shelf, but Im scared to use it, since I dont want to kill the board again, but I dont want to risk condensation.

Someone post what they've been using reliably, and I'll be super-happy. Both in the way of the silicone conformal and dielectric grease. Thanks!

OK Heres the deal:

RTV will EAT metal components or atleast rapidly oxidize them and corrode them. ( able to kill SMT parts with ease after being there for too long. Thats why RTV is outlawed from being used to seal Avionics compartments, cayse the acetic acid fumes could still damage the compnents even without being in direct contact.

Silicone "Gel" - Yes I use GE Silicone coating. Works great. I DO have 2 syringes of the DOW stuff from Ramil at OCTools to try out. They both look exactly the same. I will ask Chip @ Overclock-watercool what the part # would be at McMaster for the GE stuff.


Please check the pro/Mini article, I used Vasaline for the sealant on top of the socket and Silicone for the bottom with Neoprene in between.

------------------
C-ya
Joe - Owner/Editor www.ProCooling.com
Where the Completely Addicted Come to Cool Off

Somebody set up us the bomb.

[This message has been edited by Joe (edited 03-01-2001).]

Just wondering..

Is neoprene foam (closed cell?) the same as the black foam used to absorb shock for fragile PC components? (ex: Retail Boxed Maxtor HD foam) I have a LOT of this stuff, and would like to know if it's any good for anti-condensation.

------------------
If at first you don't succeed, slap on a 7k rpm Delta!

Nah the stuff that comes on the back of Mobo's and in boxes is normally open cell foam, and not good for sealing anything. Neoprene is the material used for the gaskets on your car doors ( the seals), stuff thats used in wet suits and ice fishing gloves.