Has anyone ever used an A/C coil as a watercooling radiator?

[iamdarkyoshi]

Something that came into my head ages ago. What if one were to use the coil from a window air conditioner, pump water through it (the tubes are copper) and put a large, low RPM fan on it? It could go in a frame and just sit under the user's desk with tubes running out of the PC. I was thinking about this because my F@H temps with ten fans at a low RPM on a 240mm and 360mm radiator are still higher than I would like.

 

These are what I am talking about:

 

Good idea? Bad idea?

[Vivilacqua1]

seems like alot of work, but in my eyes, a little too ghetto.

[iamdarkyoshi]

seems like alot of work, but in my eyes, a little too ghetto.

This is the linustechtip forums, home of ghetto. lol

[W-L]

Something that came into my head ages ago. What if one were to use the coil from a window air conditioner, pump water through it (the tubes are copper) and put a large, low RPM fan on it? It could go in a frame and just sit under the user's desk with tubes running out of the PC. I was thinking about this because my F@H temps with ten fans at a low RPM on a 240mm and 360mm radiator are still higher than I would like.

These are what I am talking about:

-PIC-

Good idea? Bad idea?

 

It would work well as long as you had a powerful enough fan to push the air through the dense fins, most use all copper brazed tubes with aluminum fins so the fluid wouldn't have contact with the aluminum itself.

 

Only thing is I'm not sure if the freon or gas they use leaves a residue so a good flush wouldn't hurt.

[iamdarkyoshi]

It would work well as long as you had a powerful enough fan to push the air through the dense fins, most use all copper brazed tubes with aluminum fins so the fluid wouldn't have contact with the aluminum itself.

 

Only thing is I'm not sure if the freon or gas they use leaves a residue so a good flush wouldn't hurt.

yah, the fins are really dense. Would need some good pressure rated fans.

[Enderman]

you can do it as long as you properly flush the rad with tap water for several days, then deionised water for a few hours before drining and adding it to your loop

also you will need some corrosion inhibitors to prevent different metals from reacting with eachother if you have more than just copper in your loop

 

usually people who want this much cooling buy a 3x3 120 or 140mm monster rad specifically made for PC cooling, but you can use car or AC rads too if you prep them properly

[ChatDaw]

Something that came into my head ages ago. What if one were to use the coil from a window air conditioner, pump water through it (the tubes are copper) and put a large, low RPM fan on it? It could go in a frame and just sit under the user's desk with tubes running out of the PC. I was thinking about this because my F@H temps with ten fans at a low RPM on a 240mm and 360mm radiator are still higher than I would like.

 

These are what I am talking about:

 

Good idea? Bad idea?

Bad idea in my opinion.

[0ld_Chicken]

Lots of oil residues and most types will build up acids after being open to the atmosphere. But nothing a good cleaning with a alkaline cleaner shouldn't take care of but I've never tried it for anything other than new refrigerant. There are r-11 flush kits (the flush is r-11, but cleans multiple types) but i don't think it would get it "water clean" but should remove any acids or oil buildup but i don't know if you can buy that without a license.

You could wire the fan that came with whatever coil you would be using into a 120 circuit probably, especially smaller US based units.

[iamdarkyoshi]

Lots of oil residues and most types will build up acids after being open to the atmosphere. But nothing a good cleaning with a alkaline cleaner shouldn't take care of but I've never tried it for anything other than new refrigerant. There are r-11 flush kits (the flush is r-11, but cleans multiple types) but i don't think it would get it "water clean" but should remove any acids or oil buildup but i don't know if you can buy that without a license.

You could wire the fan that came with whatever coil you would be using into a 120 circuit probably, especially smaller US based units.

the idea here would be for quieter operation. I could probably get my temps under 50 with some OEM dell fans...

[TheRandomness]

the idea here would be for quieter operation. I could probably get my temps under 50 with some OEM dell fans...

Lots of 200mm push/pull, problem solved.

[0ld_Chicken]

the idea here would be for quieter operation. I could probably get my temps under 50 with some OEM dell fans...

it'd take some experimenting but as long as your not afraid of ghetto (i get the feeling you are not) it could definitely work. I was thinking about smberging a coil like this in liquid that runs through a open air evaporative cooler type setup (volenti, or bong cooler) to humidify my house in the winter and maybe lower pc temps a bit.

It'd be kinda cool to install a full sized one outside and just run it as a coil with a fan whenever you've got low ambient temps. It'd be pretty quiet without the compressor running and it'd be outside anyways. That condensation in the winter thou. Maybe I'll try it when i replace my ac next year.

Sorry for going way off base...

[BuckGup]

DON'T!!!! Will work in theory and for the first 30 minutes until condensations shorts your PC out. A teacher's friend did this and bye bye computer.