Water cooling and safety

[lesking]

I have some real concerns with Water cooling.

My big concern is safety. I undsertand that measures like Distilled water etc minimise the risks, however I do not believe that these systems are "inherently" safe. For example, if someone was to use non-distilled water, or the distilled water was to become contaminated for some reason, the risk of shock would be increased. Also, the inside of a PC is a very poor environment for such a cooling system. In the case of a leak, the exposed electronics inside a PC would almost guarantee a short which could result in electric shock. Until electronics within PC's are sealed, such a system will always be dangerous.
From a risk management point of view, a scenario where the risk of electric shock is a consequence of such a system is too great for the benifits.

Do these systems conform to any safety standards? Or are they an ad hoc collection of fish tank components?

I know I will probably be shunned for being a sour puss, but I do think these are real concerns, and I don't think enough concern was made for them in the article.

I just think that these concerns should be voiced.

Les.

 

[phsstpok]

I can't say I really know how to address your concerns so I will just express some thoughts.

You mentioned "ad hoc fish tank components". Now I know you were just try to put emphasis on the fact that water cooling rigs seem like they are just thrown together. However, I want to point out that fish tank components are used in a wet environment and they are considered safe so your analogy is not so good.

For a computer it would probably be prudent to take some safety precautions.

I would think it would be a good idea to use a ground fault interuption cicuit. (I think that's what it's called). These are the electrical outlets that we use in our bathrooms and kitchens to protect us from the risk of electrical shock. Shorts are rapidly detected and the circuit quickly shuts down, fast enough to save lives.

Moving the power supply as far from the water plumbing might also be good idea. Thus if there were a leak the water should only contact low voltage areas as the only output of a power supply are +3.3, +5, and +12 volts, plus a few others.

It's probably costly but I imagine electrically non-conductive coolants can be used. That would elimnate any risk of electrical shock.

In Nitrogen and more exotically cooled rigs, silcone and other insulators are sprayed around the region of processor to guard against condensation causing shorts. I suppose for a water cooling rig you could surround the water cooling plumbing with a second water-tight enclosure using similar techniques and perhaps something as simple a PVC piping.

<b>I have so many cookies I now have a FAT problem!</b>

 

[CharlesHF]

Distilled minimizes the effects of electricity, but only a little. When the water hits the metal, it picks up a few metal ions, and becomes contaminated with them, thus allowing it to conduct electricty.
If you are careful, and test your system before use, you should be good to go. If you don't use hose clamps, you're asking for leaks! Use them faithfully on EVERY connection that you can use them on. It could save your equipment. Tighten them until you can't tighten the any more (just don't break whatever it is you're tightening it around!) and you'll be fine.

You can buy electrically non-conductive liquids, and you can use them as coolants. (don't know if their thermal conductivity is as good, though) And yes, they are usually VERY expensive. If my memory serves me correctly, 1 gallon of 3M's non-conductive solution (can't remember the name!) is $500.

Soyo Dragon+ Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1600+ AGKGA-Y
H20 Bong Cooled
256MB DDR RAM

 

[jamarno]

Somebody once posted pictures of a catastrophic failure of his water cooling system. The water block melted a huge blob of solder onto the motherboard, and the vinyl hose also melted.

I'd want hose made of rubber (EPDM, used for car water hoses, not neoprene), an air cooled heatsink on top of the water block with a fan that comes on in case of excess
temperature, and a splash shield to keep water spray out of the power supply.

 

[aikman]

I would imagine anyone contemplating putting together a water cooling system probably has rather an extensive experience in building PC's. I know I have.

If you put the components together yourself, there's of course no guarantee that your system will adhere to all the rules and regulations. But most builders are concerned with these issues, and do their best to protect both themselves and their systems. MY watercooling unit is both grounded, and has it's own fuse.

No electrical system is inherently safe. Done right, however, I don't see a particularly large risk with watercooling. It's more likely that your TV or fridge will burst into flames, than that a waterleak in your system will cause a fire.



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