Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,310
- Location
- Rollergirl
What's the consensus with external radiators at an open window, should they suck the cool air in or blow the hot air out? Would intake of cold air risk condensation?
Edit: this thread lead to me installing an external radiator in my garage, here's how it took shape...
First, it's some hammer action with the battery drill. I decided to forget the blank plates and just route from inside the right hand storage cupboard. I routed 2 hoses and also a signal cable for the PWM control of the fans.
Next, I bought some shelves from Homebase, a bargain at £20 IMO.
Now I've set the PC up so that I can remove the external rad and link the flow and return, so that I've got a stand alone PC should I need to move it to another room. I've also set the top rad in the case to ramp it's fans up should the rad in the garage fail to cool for any reason (PSU trip or whatever).
I then stuck some swivel 90 fittings on and connected up the external hoses.
Now, I hook the hoses up to the external radiator. I've made it so that I can easily disconnect at the radiator and drain if I need to, and I've stuck a 600w EVGA PSU in there to power the 4 fans.
All up and running, so on to some tweaking for temperature etc..
Afterwards, I decided to fit a little bypass and then mount the radiator properly.
Next, I boxed it all in and applied some insulation to make it snug. I've installed an anti-condensation heater and a frost stat.
Finally, I've installed a little flap on top that will keep the heat in if it's Brrr.. and this will lift up automatically to let the hot air out when the fans ramp up to 100% when gaming.
Now I just need to monitor the numbers and tweak accordingly. My OCD is now at bay.
Edit: this thread lead to me installing an external radiator in my garage, here's how it took shape...
First, it's some hammer action with the battery drill. I decided to forget the blank plates and just route from inside the right hand storage cupboard. I routed 2 hoses and also a signal cable for the PWM control of the fans.
Next, I bought some shelves from Homebase, a bargain at £20 IMO.
Now I've set the PC up so that I can remove the external rad and link the flow and return, so that I've got a stand alone PC should I need to move it to another room. I've also set the top rad in the case to ramp it's fans up should the rad in the garage fail to cool for any reason (PSU trip or whatever).
I then stuck some swivel 90 fittings on and connected up the external hoses.
Now, I hook the hoses up to the external radiator. I've made it so that I can easily disconnect at the radiator and drain if I need to, and I've stuck a 600w EVGA PSU in there to power the 4 fans.
All up and running, so on to some tweaking for temperature etc..

Afterwards, I decided to fit a little bypass and then mount the radiator properly.
Next, I boxed it all in and applied some insulation to make it snug. I've installed an anti-condensation heater and a frost stat.
Finally, I've installed a little flap on top that will keep the heat in if it's Brrr.. and this will lift up automatically to let the hot air out when the fans ramp up to 100% when gaming.
Now I just need to monitor the numbers and tweak accordingly. My OCD is now at bay.

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