Magnetic Shielding for Pumps

[sevisehda]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my water cooling system. At first I thought a rad box was a good idea. A blower, 2 heatercores and 2 mag3 pumps definately wouldn't fit inside my curent chieftec case. 1 problem with the Mag3s is they produce quite the magnetic field which gives my mnitor the shakes, placing the pumps in a radbox under the desk would be the out-of-sight out-of-mind solution. I recently came across a post of someone building a 2 sided case, 1 side with the hardware the other side there cooling stuff. The idea inspired me. The problem for me with a bigger case is the fact the pumps would still be close to the hardware and my monitor.

A large custom case has several benefits over the rad box. Reduced tubing means more flow, easier to move 1 unit rather than 2. The only issue is the shaking monitor would drive me insane at some point. Even though I haven't noticed any stability problems that kind of EMF so close to my computer cant help anything.

Are there any relatively cheap and easy ways to shield magnetic fields?

[aE0n]

Steel will shield a magnetic field, as long as it's isolated from the source.

[Capt. Nemo]

also not sure but ferrite cores wrapped around the power cable might help..
(like the ones used on good monitor cables)

[bigben2k]

No Nemo, the field is generated, regardless of the power cord (tying a knot in it, btw, has a similar effect).

A grounded steel cage is still the best cure. I wouldn't worry about it affecting anything else than the monitor.

The best cure otherwise, for the "monitor jigglies" is still distance.

[Capt. Nemo]

I stand corrected

[bigben2k]

No prob (BTW, it's still a great tip, it just doesn't apply here).

[Bignuts]

It shouldnt take much to shield the pump, look at shielded home speakers for inspiration. They operate at varing frequencies, and at high field strengths, yet require very little metal sheet to ensure operation near TV's. I have noticed that the shielding that is used also runs parallel to the relative poles of the magnet structure on speakers, ie the magnet in a speaker has its pole axis in line with the movement of the cone, and the shielding is placed as a voice coil would be, except on the outside field of the magnet.

Also, if you believe that the need to ground the shielding that you create for your pump, I would run the ground wire to a splice in the pumps ground, nearest to where it enters the pump assembly. If the pump has been modded to draw power from the power supply, I would mount the shield ground to the ground connection that is soldered it accept the plug receptacle, this will help reduce ground loops.

But I am unsure whether this process is needed or not.

[sevisehda]

Thanks for the input. It now looks as if I can build a large "cubish" case. My plan at this point is to use mdf and build a dual* sided case, the inside of the cooling half will be lined with sheet steel, then a sound dampening material. 1 side would hold the MB, the other would house the PS for the computer, PS for the blower, the blower, the pumps, the rads, I almost want to "hide" the HDs in the cooling side to further dampen there sound.