TEC Chiller Watercase with Arduino Project

[Asche]

Hi ! I'm Asche, i'm a French people of 25 years old (i don't use english usually so, i'm sorry if i make weird sentence).

I recently discovert the youtube video of Linustechtips teams, and, the way they are done, it's just fantastic compare to what i know of french review.

So i decide to join this forum, and as an introduce, i want share with you my fancy crazy projet (i call it personnally "what the f*** project" you will see why later).

 

If you don't want read, ok i understand, so i've make a video for you (enjoy my crapy french accent) : http://youtu.be/TnLe8-Of5V0

 

 

I got watercooling in my PC right now, with juste a big radiator (9*120 mm) external of course. the whole system is controled by an "Aquaero", this is a very great product, i think its the "ultimate way" to control a watercooling loop.

And i though, "Aquaero is nice that true, but with the Arduino, i'm sure i can do better, not in term of easy install or user interface, but in term of fonctionallity".

 

The project :

So my wish was to build a custom case (actually at first, it was only about building a control panel) which is contain the pump for the PC loop, some TECs, a watercooling loop for the TECs, probably piloted vavle, a control panel connected to the Arduino Mega, and finally, the WTF Feature.... Cameras !

 

Schema :

 

Tecs layout :

 

Internal layout :

 

 

So yeah, i've started this crazy project in Junuary, and it's not finish yet...

 

The frame :

• I started with a nice framework (made by a friend) :

 

• After that, i starting to add the rads :

 

• Then, adding the top cover panels :

 

• Adding the screens  :

 

• Adding the analog vumeters for showing information (Truly guys, coolest way to see what's happen in the system uh ?)

 

 

• Mounting the PC pump (D5 with EK res) :

 

• And the XSPC res/pump for TEC hot face cooling :

 

• Covering the top panel :

 

 

• Making front panel (Two temp sensor reader, one Voltmeter and an Ammeter) :

 

 

Making of Valves :

 

Just a big servomotor (17kg.nm) connected to a 90° manual valve :

 

 

 

 

 

Proof of working : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzthbJSoLeo

 

 

Custom analog meter background :

 

 

 

 

 

Light up :

 

 

 

Good view of the watercase with covers :

Sweet

 

 

 

 

Making the TEC frame exchanger :

I got 6 of them (72W) and 2 other (110W) from different website :

 

Like that ? :

 

Thermal grease :

 

Done !

 

Attaching :

 

 

 

Assembling, tubing :

 

• New mid-plate :

 

 

 

 

• Got some stuff :

 

• Tubing the TECs :

 

• Putting the two valve together :

 

• Straigh to the pump :

 

• Adding by-pass valve (in case of the electric valve fails) :

 

• Tubing the whole thing :

 

 

There is two flowmeter for checking the flow of the two valve, there is one here :

 

 

 

Backplate :

 

 

 

• I/O of the back, there is 2 connectors for going into the PC, and the big 9*120 rad (still external, and moslty of time, fanless), 4 holes to put tube through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electronics :

not hard electronics, but still, i don't have fancy hardware to do my own board, so i got breadboard instade :

• 12 hours of work, non-stop :

 

 

 

• Panels wire :

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wanna see actual state ? click below !

 

We call that "Kurde" to say its a total visual mess, not clean viewl at all !

 

Yeah i know...

 

 

I work on the Arduino program with a friend (name Holblin) and i hope i will show you some result soon !

 

Thanks for reading ! Stay tune for more news !

 

 

PS : Original thread (french forum) : http://www.modding.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4042

PS2 : Oh yeah guys, please don't start with the "TEC are useless" war with me, i totally know that, and i just want to have fun with this project, my system will never fight with a DOD or real chiller, it's not the goal, i juste want to reach below the ambient temp.

[VSG]

Extremely cool stuff! Good job so far

[imdavidh96]

-snip-

This is great, love TEC's i used one in a test computer for a while mounted under a closed loop

fucking great -20 idle and 0C load thing is tho that the pump failed and long story short

 

fire

[davidbuss]

You've got some crazy creative stuff going on here man! Keep it up 

[Asche]

This is great, love TEC's i used one in a test computer for a while mounted under a closed loop

fucking great -20 idle and 0C load thing is tho that the pump failed and long story short

 

fire

 

-20°C idle ? hell ! what kind of TEC you use ? with what cpu ?

[MeepLikesToBuildPc's]

un Français?
et vous avez un PC fantastique!!!

lol. im french too  

just for ur info:

i live in holland so speak dutch.

my mom speaks french so i speak french.

my dad is dutch and i go to a dutch school so i learn dutch.

and my parents talk to eachother in english so i learn english

[DildorTheDecent]

This looks sooooo cool. Completely custom. How do TECs work exactly? Also is this just for cooling? 

[Asche]

This looks sooooo cool. Completely custom. How do TECs work exactly? Also is this just for cooling? 

TECs are very simple : You have a hot face, and a cold face when you apply 12v to it.

Inside the TEC there is 2 type of steel, allowing the current to move calorie from 1 face the other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling

 

 

 

un Français?

et vous avez un PC fantastique!!!

lol. im french too

just for ur info:

i live in holland so speak dutch.

my mom speaks french so i speak french.

my dad is dutch and i go to a dutch school so i learn dutch.

and my parents talk to eachother in english so i learn english

Hey l'ami français Enfin, tu cumul plusieurs langue !

 

 

Extremely cool stuff! Good job so far

 

You've got some crazy creative stuff going on here man! Keep it up 

 

Thanks !

[DildorTheDecent]

TECs are very simple : You have a hot face, and a cold face when you apply 12v to it.

Inside the TEC there is 2 type of steel, allowing the current to move calorie from 1 face the other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling

So the TEC sandwich in one of your images should get things to go very cool then? 

[Asche]

It suppose to, yes.

 

In Idle, you can acheive very low temp with a TEC, -10°C at least, but i don't want to reach a so low temp, because of condensation issue.

My goal is just to reach 4 or 5°C under the ambiant temps, i will regulate that, with the number of TEC activated, and the flow going to TECs waterblock and external radiator.

[VSG]

TECs are indeed simple but very fragile, especially if you have to get them shipped. They can also be hard to control if you have no idea what you are doing. Luckily the OP is not one of them

[Asche]

Thats true, i have control all of them before mounting, and after mounting between the waterblocks, seems OK so far.

[Hurkatan]

I'm loving the customization on this build. You have some serious talent my friend!

[Asche]

Hi !

 

Some update today, I have re-started entirely the project, because of rust issue with the frame.

 

So, in few step :


Painting with anti-rust :




 

Then i've decide to change the main pump (was a D5), because of the complexity of the circuit, and the long distance between the watercase and my PC, added to that the fact i use an external radiator for cooling the PC.

So i'm going with 2 laing DDC 1T (the silent one) :

 

 

I have tried some mounting with my electrovalve :

 

But, anyway it will depend of the space i will have... so i've finally come to that :

 

Support :

 

The idea :

 

 

Drilling new hole :

The valve themself :



This is the valve to the TEC cold face :


And this is the valve to the standard rad (my external one) :

 

Stay tune for more update, i need some 90° fitting, and i wait for new TEC (cause i've break some during the unmounting).

I'm planing to do a chemical nickel plating inside the TEC's waterblock, to prevent corrosion issue (i use Aluminum tec's waterblock, with copper rads !)

[Asche]

8/12/2014 :

 

Adding controller for dual DDC pump :

Fixing :

Cutting hole :

New internal agencement :







 

Mounting TECs :






Wire is on the other side for cleaner look :


All that, plug on the relay switchs :


Safety with 10A fuse (1 fuse for 2 TECs) :

 

 

Mounting vibration canceler for the dual DDC :

For placing the vumeters, i have to move the reservoir of his previous position :









Alim modding :




Custom connexion :






Some gallery :

 

A demo of two TEC turn on (without load), and the effect on the Ammeter (French video !)

 

I'm currently tubing, so, pictures in some days.

[Asche]

Just added the layout of water in the watercase and pc :

 

Tecs layout :

 

Internal layout :

[Guest]

Just added the layout of water in the watercase and pc :

 

Tecs layout :

 

Internal layout :

 

It took me a while to realise that the designs are in French. Yay for my limited knowledge of French and being able to guess most things.

[Asche]

The word are mostly "transparent", mean really similar to the English word, for example : "Radiateur" means "Radiator", so i haven't found useful to fully translate for this forum.

 

PS : "Froid" mean "Cold", and "Chaud" mean "Hot", btw the arrow are colored to show that

[Phorlorn]

Oh my god, analog vu-meter and Arduino! Thats really awesome, looking forward to see it fully assembled!

[clarkmcc]

This is diffidently the most absurd, coolest project I've seen here!

[Asche]

Oh my god, analog vu-meter and Arduino! Thats really awesome, looking forward to see it fully assembled!

 

Thanks !

 

This is diffidently the most absurd, coolest project I've seen here!

 

I see it the same way , its so much fun for me to build that ! it been almost a year i'm working on it !

 

Adding some new pictures today :

 

Shunt (for measure the Ampere drain by the system on the 12v rail) :

 

It is placed under the PSU :

Watercase on (with pump off) :

Left screen : Internal 200mm fan in the watercase, right screen : reservoir of the pc loop :

2*16 screen :

TECs :

Connection to the outside :

Reservoir of PC loop :

custom I/O board :

I start to see the end of it ! I'm waiting more watercooling part for complete the tubing, then i will need to continue the programming of the Arduino, there is only... 30% of the job done i think... It stay all the TECs + electrical valve to build, and how to deal with default like Flow going down to 0, or that kind of stuff.

[Widerebel]

I really like the idea of this project, the only downside.. the wires look horrible. it wil make the whole thing much cleaner and nicer. 

Just, keep it up!

[Asche]

I totally agree with you Widerebel, but, i was far from knowing the amount of wire that would be here. And it is very difficult for me to cut those wire to the correct lengh.

If i have the time, but really if, i will spend some day to re-wire all the project from scratch, and make all that cleaner.

 

Btw, i've made a video for showing a good look of the actual state of the project :

[Asche]

So ! For christmas, i have put all the panels up to the frame, to show you some almost finish pictures.

 

Before watching, you need to know : the adjustment default will be fixed later, and there is a fan mounted outside the case, i was not planned to do that at the beginning, but the flowmeter is on his way... i will try to do my best about it, otherwise it will stay like this.

 

Sorry for the weak light.

 

A small window to check the reservoir level... its a totally mess, i was plan to make is lower... i will hide the wood later, and try to make it bigger for clear view of the res.




The outside mounted fan...


Power on !








































Merry Christmas !

[Ghost]

What an awesome build. I saw earlier that you said you will keep the coolant temp at 4C below ambient, however, if you incorporate a humidity sensor such as the DHT11 (Arduino library) you can calculate the dew point, and seeing as you are using hardware to calculate everything, you could incorporate that, and keep the water temp 3C above the dew point for example, you would be able to reach much lower temps.

 

Here is an example of a dew point chart: