Hard drive cooler and reservoir all in one?

TDrain · 07-22-2004, 12:20 PM

I'm starting to plan a water cooling system and I was a little concerned about my HD temperatures. I've currently got my HD suspended in the air stream from my front intake fans. When I add my water cooling setup, I'm hoping to have just the radiator fan and the power supply fan running which might leave my HD running a little hot.

One thought I've had is to build a reservoir out of a plastic container, remove the bottom of it, and replace it with a 4" x 6" piece of 1/8" thick copper plate. I could then attach this to my suspended HD. This way I get my HD cooled and a reservoir w/o adding another water block to my system.

Has anyone tried this? Any thoughts on the best way to attach a plastic box to a copper plate?

Ted

Yogi · 07-22-2004, 02:15 PM

I would say easiest way to seal it since I don't know if you have the capabilities to mill an oring channel into it all... rtv sealant. The stuff used to make gaskets for certain seals of engines. Sounds like an interseting concept though, I say go for it.

TDrain · 07-25-2004, 12:13 PM

No mill and I'd like to keep it as simple as possible. I was thinking I'll try some kind of epoxy and see if that works.

Yogi · 07-25-2004, 12:23 PM

Ok, I do heartily suggest RTV sealent, works great for this application.

Butcher · 07-25-2004, 01:38 PM

RTV sealant lacks mechanical strength - it just seals. If you need a solid joint then epoxy is probably the best bet. Don't forget the roughen the plastic properly though.

Yogi · 07-25-2004, 01:46 PM

Figured he'd at least screw it together, failed to mention that... good thing you did Butch.

Moony · 07-25-2004, 02:15 PM

I got aquamarine epoxy from home depot...seems to be holding up well. I would recommend it because apparently it is good for sealing where water would contact the epoxy.

SlaterSpeed · 07-25-2004, 03:15 PM

Epoxy sounds your best bet

TDrain · 07-29-2004, 07:54 PM

Cool - thanks everyone. Sounds like marine epoxy is the way to go.

07-22-2004, 12:20 PM	#1
TDrain Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 7	Hard drive cooler and reservoir all in one? I'm starting to plan a water cooling system and I was a little concerned about my HD temperatures. I've currently got my HD suspended in the air stream from my front intake fans. When I add my water cooling setup, I'm hoping to have just the radiator fan and the power supply fan running which might leave my HD running a little hot. One thought I've had is to build a reservoir out of a plastic container, remove the bottom of it, and replace it with a 4" x 6" piece of 1/8" thick copper plate. I could then attach this to my suspended HD. This way I get my HD cooled and a reservoir w/o adding another water block to my system. Has anyone tried this? Any thoughts on the best way to attach a plastic box to a copper plate? Ted

07-25-2004, 01:38 PM	#5
Butcher Thermophile Join Date: May 2001 Location: UK Posts: 1,064	RTV sealant lacks mechanical strength - it just seals. If you need a solid joint then epoxy is probably the best bet. Don't forget the roughen the plastic properly though. __________________ Once upon a time, in a land far far away...

07-25-2004, 03:15 PM	#8
SlaterSpeed Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 234	Epoxy sounds your best bet __________________ aka. slater3333uk - The self proclaimed 'Middle Player' 'Liquified'

07-22-2004, 02:15 PM	#2
Yogi Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 26	I would say easiest way to seal it since I don't know if you have the capabilities to mill an oring channel into it all... rtv sealant. The stuff used to make gaskets for certain seals of engines. Sounds like an interseting concept though, I say go for it.

07-25-2004, 12:13 PM	#3
TDrain Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 7	No mill and I'd like to keep it as simple as possible. I was thinking I'll try some kind of epoxy and see if that works.

07-25-2004, 12:23 PM	#4
Yogi Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 26	Ok, I do heartily suggest RTV sealent, works great for this application.

07-25-2004, 01:46 PM	#6
Yogi Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 26	Figured he'd at least screw it together, failed to mention that... good thing you did Butch.

07-25-2004, 02:15 PM	#7
Moony Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New York Posts: 48	I got aquamarine epoxy from home depot...seems to be holding up well. I would recommend it because apparently it is good for sealing where water would contact the epoxy.

07-29-2004, 07:54 PM	#9
TDrain Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 7	Cool - thanks everyone. Sounds like marine epoxy is the way to go.

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