Temperature Controller/Computer fan hookup idea/project - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

merkerguitars · 02-09-2004, 09:51 PM

Ok I'm going to school for process control and instrumentation....which is pretty much dealing with open and closed loops processes...anyways....I have a brilliant idea....I was thinking of hooking a temperature controller up to my computer...(get one for the hard drive bay, one for the case and maybe one for the processor) well first I would hook up these little stick on temperature measuring devices called thermocouples and stick them to my hard drives, heatsink etc. They output a 4-20mA current that the temperature controller senses and then provides a 4-20mA output that (this is the tricky part) I have to run into a converter to provide a 0-13VDC output to control my fan speeds...I figure if I do this I can have a reliable cooling system and a really super quiet computer.

nanofever · 02-09-2004, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by merkerguitars
Ok I'm going to school for process control and instrumentation....which is pretty much dealing with open and closed loops processes...anyways....I have a brilliant idea....I was thinking of hooking a temperature controller up to my computer...(get one for the hard drive bay, one for the case and maybe one for the processor) well first I would hook up these little stick on temperature measuring devices called thermocouples and stick them to my hard drives, heatsink etc. They output a 4-20mA current that the temperature controller senses and then provides a 4-20mA output that (this is the tricky part) I have to run into a converter to provide a 0-13VDC output to control my fan speeds...I figure if I do this I can have a reliable cooling system and a really super quiet computer.

*blink blink* Fans that adjust their speed depending on case/cpu diode temperature already exist. Is that was you were suggesting or did I miss something.

steveincolumbus · 02-10-2004, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nanofever
*blink blink* Fans that adjust their speed depending on case/cpu diode temperature already exist. Is that was you were suggesting or did I miss something.

som ppl like makeing something from what they have and improving upon what they already own.....
or have you never built anything or modified anything?

I think the thermocouples with an op amp or mabe even a op amp driving a variable voltage regulator, or just building a small transistered amplifier would do it... There are several ways to go about it...
I have never messed with thermocouples but it is possible, i would think it might be easier to just use a thermister, since thats how most of them are made, and most companies try to go the cheap route...

merkerguitars · 02-10-2004, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nanofever
*blink blink* Fans that adjust their speed depending on case/cpu diode temperature already exist. Is that was you were suggesting or did I miss something.

Nope that doesn't even do as close that I want.....If I use a temperature controller I get 100% accurate control of the fans and I could data log my temps. Plus I could see the temp all the time without needing silly monitoring programs.

shakran · 02-10-2004, 12:45 PM

these devices already exist to do just what you want to do. They meausre CPU and case temps and automatically adjust cooling fan speeds to compensate. They also display the cpu and case temps on an LCD readout, generally inserted in a 5 1/4 bay. The nicer ones also monitor all sorts of stuff, such as what tune is playing in winamp, etc. They come in all colors and styles, from calculator-style LCD's to full out LED array color shifting ones. Many also include manual override controls for the fans so you can run 'em at full even if the temps haven't gotten that high yet.

All this can be yours for $50 on the high side generally. They're astonishingly cheap considering gadgets like this usually command a large price premium. You can get the cheaper ones for less than $15 if you know where to look.

Vanquish · 02-10-2004, 03:12 PM

I have a digital Doc 5, it is able to run / monitor 8 fans and each fan can have its own Temp sensor dedicated to it. It monitors Fan Speed, Temp and Voltage. The only thing I dont like about it is that with my tornados, it turns them On or Off, no inbetween. This sux cuz as soon as one is on for 3 seconds my case temp drops 2 degs making the fan turn off, then around 10 seconds later it heats back up again and turns back on for another 3 seconds LOL

I mainly use it for the Warning messages / ease of use so fan noise aint a big issue for me.

nanofever · 02-10-2004, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by steveincolumbus
som ppl like makeing something from what they have and improving upon what they already own.....
or have you never built anything or modified anything?

I could attempt to re-design/improve the internal combustion engine but why bother when people with significantly more invested in the development of engines and with Phds in engineering already do this for a living ?

Re-inventing the wheel is kind of silly unless your wheel is faster, cheaper or more reliable.

cheesemoney · 02-12-2004, 11:40 AM

You sound like a honda commercial.

02-09-2004, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Temperature Controller/Computer fan hookup idea/project Ok I'm going to school for process control and instrumentation....which is pretty much dealing with open and closed loops processes...anyways....I have a brilliant idea....I was thinking of hooking a temperature controller up to my computer...(get one for the hard drive bay, one for the case and maybe one for the processor) well first I would hook up these little stick on temperature measuring devices called thermocouples and stick them to my hard drives, heatsink etc. They output a 4-20mA current that the temperature controller senses and then provides a 4-20mA output that (this is the tricky part) I have to run into a converter to provide a 0-13VDC output to control my fan speeds...I figure if I do this I can have a reliable cooling system and a really super quiet computer. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

02-10-2004, 12:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	these devices already exist to do just what you want to do. They meausre CPU and case temps and automatically adjust cooling fan speeds to compensate. They also display the cpu and case temps on an LCD readout, generally inserted in a 5 1/4 bay. The nicer ones also monitor all sorts of stuff, such as what tune is playing in winamp, etc. They come in all colors and styles, from calculator-style LCD's to full out LED array color shifting ones. Many also include manual override controls for the fans so you can run 'em at full even if the temps haven't gotten that high yet. All this can be yours for $50 on the high side generally. They're astonishingly cheap considering gadgets like this usually command a large price premium. You can get the cheaper ones for less than $15 if you know where to look.

02-10-2004, 03:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vanquish Insane Location: Truro, Nova Scotia	I have a digital Doc 5, it is able to run / monitor 8 fans and each fan can have its own Temp sensor dedicated to it. It monitors Fan Speed, Temp and Voltage. The only thing I dont like about it is that with my tornados, it turns them On or Off, no inbetween. This sux cuz as soon as one is on for 3 seconds my case temp drops 2 degs making the fan turn off, then around 10 seconds later it heats back up again and turns back on for another 3 seconds LOL I mainly use it for the Warning messages / ease of use so fan noise aint a big issue for me.

02-12-2004, 11:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
cheesemoney Loser Location: Paradise	You sound like a honda commercial.