PC use in 110 degree room???

[jackiev]

Have a manufacturing environment where the room temperature can get up to 105 - 110 degress in the late afternoon (it is this hot WITH FANS). Need to have a PC with continuous running program available. Are heat problems inevitable, or what can be done to prevent problems due to heat?

 

[butchrecon]

Heat problems with those tempuratures is a given. Keeping a couple of fans on the server can help out quite a bit. Keep the system in sleep mode when not in use. Is there going to be direct use (someone standing at the PC)or network use. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[jackiev]

PC is in direct use, but accesses network data. There is also a printer attached. The program installed accepts part number input directly (barcode scanned in), references an Access database for component part numbers & prints a barcode label of the partnumber & components. Printer 'hangs' and PC locks--sometimes both at once--at random intervals. If the printer 'hangs', a second scan USUALLY produces the label.
ANY other suggestions on how to alleviate the heat issue?

 

[butchrecon]

Your lock ups could be heat related. Is it possible to air condition this room? You really should bring the heat down a lot. That type of temp for a computer that gets warm itself is not good. What type of system is it? If air conditioning is out, put a couple of BIG fans blowing on it. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[hernanhr]

Why not try remoting your pc. You can buy extension cords to remote the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

 

[Eguy]

Hi everyone;

Lets remember that fans by and of themselves do not cool the air. Moving 110 degree air over a 130 degree processor does not offer much of a temperature drop. You really need to either cool down the room or get that PC out of there.

Been there.

Ed

 

[CitrixEngineer]

There are some good water cooling products available - or you could try designing your own

http://www.agaweb.com/coolcpu/build.htm

Note the section on using chilled water and tackling condensation.

Hope this helps

 

[dkediger]

Black Box offers an air conditioned cabinet.

We also have PCs on our shop floor in a similar environment. Since we are a metal fab shop, we made cabinets with small air conditioners that are basically pressure relief valves. The cabinet is pressurized with clean air, the valve releases pressure causing a temp drop. Not as effective as refrigerant based AC but simpler and cheaper.

 

[Advocate]

lateral thinking ...

does your budget/circumstances justify an alternative approach ?

there are companies which supply electronci/pc type equipment for extreme/hazardous environments such as milspec and hazardous eg chemical/petroleum industry

i recall seeing some products at an exhibition in london a few years ago when working with london underground

a web search may give you some ideas ...

what about minimising equipment in hot room and using a terminal for remote access ?

good luck ... Best of Irish Luck, David.
djwilkes@hotmail.com

 

[basweek]

Take a look at this product line.

http://www.exair.com/cabinetcooler/cc_page.htm

 

[Karl Blessing]

General rule in Air-Cooling, you cannot cool the PC any lower than the existing air temperature. Karl Blessing aka kb244{fastHACK}

 

[soy4soy]

A general rule of thumb for hard drive life expectancy regarding heat:

Every 10 degrees Fahreinheit you cool your PC, you double the life of the drive.

The converse is likely true here: Every 10 degrees warmer halves the life expectancy of the hard drive.

Anything that can be done to remove the PC from the extreme heat will save you $$$ in the long run.