watercooled power supply idea?

8-Ball · 05-05-2004, 08:01 AM

Ok,

recently someone mentioned that they had managed to cool the mosfets on their board rather successfully by mounting a waterblock on the back of the board.

I was wondering if a similar approach could be used with a power supply, whereby a large waterblock is mounted to the base of the circuit board in the power supply with a large TIM pad, as used with some hard drive coolers.

This way, the stock heatsinks could be left on, but a lot of the thermal energy might be conducted through the traces and into the waterblock.

Any suggestions/opinions?

8-ball

AntiBling · 05-05-2004, 08:26 AM

Cooling the PCB card isnt going to help nearly as much as cooling the hot components themselves, with a block attached directly to the components.

In addition I wouldnt trust a thermal interface as an insulator between the electrified solder points on the PCB and a water block. It would need a real insulator, which defeats the whole purpose.

8-Ball · 05-05-2004, 08:33 AM

Obviously, it wouldn't cool as well as direct cooling of the hot components, but equally, all of the components in the power supply will be subject to a degree of cooling.

The conductivity of the interface material on the other hand is an issue which needs addressing. Any input anyone?

8-ball

Meethoss · 05-05-2004, 08:41 AM

Um. Why not just directly cool the components?

8-Ball · 05-05-2004, 08:55 AM

Because this is a hell of a lot easier, and should in theory work for ANY power supply.

Directly cooling the components may be difficult due to space constraints, and it only allows for the cooling of certain components.

If you really wanted a cool power supply, you could do both.

8-ball

MadHacker · 05-05-2004, 11:37 AM

I'm working on cooling my powersupply...
just going to take 12 gage copper plate and solder a copper pipe to it then just attach the voltage regulators to it.
simular to the HD coolers that have been made. I don't expect great temperature reduction but enough to keep it within operating specification.

dima y · 05-05-2004, 12:18 PM

hmmm dang it looks like cooling the power supplys is the trend nowdays.

i have though up of the nice little idea how to cool the power supply WELL.

you desolder the mofsets take the PCB out of the stock PSU case then you solder the mofsets back BUT the trick is to put them on the BOTTOM side of the PCB therefore you can have 2 small and neat looking waterblocks for the PSU and it will fit most PSU's too. You can even do 1 step further an make it 1 block but that might be hard depending on the PSU. stay tuned should be coming up shortly as soon as I free up some time

JamesAvery22 · 05-05-2004, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntiBling

Cooling the PCB card isnt going to help nearly as much as cooling the hot components themselves, with a block attached directly to the components.

In addition I wouldnt trust a thermal interface as an insulator between the electrified solder points on the PCB and a water block. It would need a real insulator, which defeats the whole purpose.

Ive used some Thermal Tape on the back of GPUs (that have the open contacts right in the middle of the resistors) and never had a problem. Measured the resistance and it was always OL. Dont remember the brand off the top of my head but can look it up when I get home.

05-05-2004, 08:01 AM	#1
8-Ball Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oxford University, UK Posts: 452	watercooled power supply idea? Ok, recently someone mentioned that they had managed to cool the mosfets on their board rather successfully by mounting a waterblock on the back of the board. I was wondering if a similar approach could be used with a power supply, whereby a large waterblock is mounted to the base of the circuit board in the power supply with a large TIM pad, as used with some hard drive coolers. This way, the stock heatsinks could be left on, but a lot of the thermal energy might be conducted through the traces and into the waterblock. Any suggestions/opinions? 8-ball __________________ For those who believe that water needs to travel slowly through the radiator for optimum performance, read the following thread. READ ALL OF THIS!!!!

05-05-2004, 08:33 AM	#3
8-Ball Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oxford University, UK Posts: 452	Obviously, it wouldn't cool as well as direct cooling of the hot components, but equally, all of the components in the power supply will be subject to a degree of cooling. The conductivity of the interface material on the other hand is an issue which needs addressing. Any input anyone? 8-ball __________________ For those who believe that water needs to travel slowly through the radiator for optimum performance, read the following thread. READ ALL OF THIS!!!!

05-05-2004, 08:41 AM	#4
Meethoss Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 188	Um. Why not just directly cool the components? __________________ Meethoss

05-05-2004, 08:55 AM	#5
8-Ball Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oxford University, UK Posts: 452	Because this is a hell of a lot easier, and should in theory work for ANY power supply. Directly cooling the components may be difficult due to space constraints, and it only allows for the cooling of certain components. If you really wanted a cool power supply, you could do both. 8-ball __________________ For those who believe that water needs to travel slowly through the radiator for optimum performance, read the following thread. READ ALL OF THIS!!!!

05-05-2004, 11:37 AM	#6
MadHacker Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: Okotoks, A.B. Canada Posts: 726	I'm working on cooling my powersupply... just going to take 12 gage copper plate and solder a copper pipe to it then just attach the voltage regulators to it. simular to the HD coolers that have been made. I don't expect great temperature reduction but enough to keep it within operating specification. __________________ "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" - (Einstein)

05-05-2004, 08:26 AM	#2
AntiBling Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: orlando FL Posts: 147	Cooling the PCB card isnt going to help nearly as much as cooling the hot components themselves, with a block attached directly to the components. In addition I wouldnt trust a thermal interface as an insulator between the electrified solder points on the PCB and a water block. It would need a real insulator, which defeats the whole purpose.

05-05-2004, 12:18 PM	#7
dima y Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: palo alto, CA Posts: 164	hmmm dang it looks like cooling the power supplys is the trend nowdays. i have though up of the nice little idea how to cool the power supply WELL. you desolder the mofsets take the PCB out of the stock PSU case then you solder the mofsets back BUT the trick is to put them on the BOTTOM side of the PCB therefore you can have 2 small and neat looking waterblocks for the PSU and it will fit most PSU's too. You can even do 1 step further an make it 1 block but that might be hard depending on the PSU. stay tuned should be coming up shortly as soon as I free up some time

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