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smoke for testing airflow in case

Fullmetal Chocobo

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
I am seriously considering getting this spray smoke for testing airflow in my case. I have 5 92mm and 1 120mm Akasa amber fans in the case now, and I'd like to see if they move enough air before I purchase more fans for the case.

I can take out any equpment in the case besides fans, so I won't have to worry about damaging components. I just need to make sure these fans can push air from the front to the rear of the case.

This should work, right?

EDIT: Link to case, although I bought it from Enermax.
 
Normally air enters a case through many openings, so unless the smoke bomb can supply the smoke everywhere, you'll only get a vague idea of what's happening inside using a case side window.

A better setup would be a DD5 (DigitalDoc 5)......with eight external temperature sensors. Combine that with the MB sensors, and you'll get a good idea what's happening inside the case when you add fans or increase fan speeds.
 
i spent 20 years measuring heat sink performance by putting thermocouples
on stuff, without using the smoke method. of course, on most systems the
"goes into's" and the "goes out of" (always referred to as 'goesinta' and
'goesoutta', may also be used for anatomical references) are very well
defined.

not being one to breathe smoke, how about dry ice, dropped into a bucket
of water ? i am told it produces a heavy & quite visible vapor. you don't
want to breathe too much of it, it's just CO2.

need a well-ventilated room, either way.
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Get one of these.

It will provide much more enjoyment! 😉
Click to expand...

We had a commercial type smoke machine for doing fire drills on the ship. I hated the chalky taste and smell of the smoke. Definitely gave me motivation for desmoking the space faster.
 
I find these matches are great for testing the system.
http://testproducts.com/safeca...f7a414d2aa773ffc994298

Keep a match in a tin tray at the bottom of the system. If the case doesn't have a window then use a sheet of plexi taped over the side so you can see everything. Let the system fill with smoke then turn it on. See if it vents all the smooke relativly quickly. If there are any dead spots in the system you'll still see smoke lingering in those areas. I found thats the best way to test teh airflow threw the system and make sure there is no dead spots where heat can build up. Often there can be turbulance in the case where the same hot air is just constantly being cycled threw the cooler causing problems.

BTW this and the chemical smoke used by cans and machiens will not harm system components. Just de sure the system is clean and there are no lingering dust bunnies for the smike to cling too.
 
Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

We had a commercial type smoke machine for doing fire drills on the ship. I hated the chalky taste and smell of the smoke. Definitely gave me motivation for desmoking the space faster.
Click to expand...

That depends on the fog juice used. Ours are extremely mild. It's slightly "dry" but I can tell you the stuff out of a can is much worse and if heavily used will leave a residue! :Q



 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

We had a commercial type smoke machine for doing fire drills on the ship. I hated the chalky taste and smell of the smoke. Definitely gave me motivation for desmoking the space faster.
Click to expand...

That depends on the fog juice used. Ours are extremely mild. It's slightly "dry" but I can tell you the stuff out of a can is much worse and if heavily used will leave a residue! :Q
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what fog juice we used, but as the electrician on the ship, I had to deal with the smoke a lot, and I hated it. So much that I couldn't take the risk of getting some equipment and running into that smell again.
 
What did it smell like? Ours smells sweet and I kind of enjoy it actually. :Q

In any case it has to smell better than a smoke candle or squib. Some of those are downright nasty and leave a smell that lingers (and smells worse!) than the nastiest fart.
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
What did it smell like? Ours smells sweet and I kind of enjoy it actually. :Q

In any case it has to smell better than a smoke candle or squib. Some of those are downright nasty and leave a smell that lingers (and smells worse!) than the nastiest fart.
Click to expand...

The nastiest fart--relatively speaking considering I was on an all male Navy ship. Some guys took pride in that.

It was chalky--very very pervasively chalky. I was also the gas free engineer, so I had to breathe anything that I determined safe to breathe, and I always ended up breathing that crap in.
 
Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

The nastiest fart--relatively speaking considering I was on an all male Navy ship. Some guys took pride in that.

It was chalky--very very pervasively chalky. I was also the gas free engineer, so I had to breathe anything that I determined safe to breathe, and I always ended up breathing that crap in.
Click to expand...

So you'd rather breathe flatulence then fog? You sure it wasn't a kero burner? :laugh:

 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

The nastiest fart--relatively speaking considering I was on an all male Navy ship. Some guys took pride in that.

It was chalky--very very pervasively chalky. I was also the gas free engineer, so I had to breathe anything that I determined safe to breathe, and I always ended up breathing that crap in.
Click to expand...

So you'd rather breathe flatulence then fog? You sure it wasn't a kero burner? :laugh:
Click to expand...

Are you suggesting I had a choice? LOL
 
Everyone has a choice. Even if you chose not to decide you have still made a choice. (Freewill) :laugh:

The CO2 suggestion sounds interesting as that has no smell but don't do that in a tight confine or you may suffocate. Dry ice can actually be used as a pest fumigant on RV's and boats for that reason.
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Everyone has a choice. Even if you chose not to decide you have still made a choice. (Freewill) :laugh:

The CO2 suggestion sounds interesting as that has no smell but don't do that in a tight confine or you may suffocate. Dry ice can actually be used as a pest fumigant on RV's and boats for that reason.
Click to expand...

Although not preferred, I can carry the bloody case outside (it weighs ~100 pounds empty) if necessary. I could run the test inside if no permanent damage would result. I'm mainly concerned at this case is going to water cooling next month, and components (RAID, RAM, etc) have to be aircooled regardless. Although I don't think anyone on XS has watercooled a RAID controller. Mwa ha ha.
 
My raid controller would need two water blocks! :laugh:

In a case that size you could water cool with all rigid pipe and fittings. With that much room why not use decent HS and strong axial flow?
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
My raid controller would need two water blocks! :laugh:

In a case that size you could water cool with all rigid pipe and fittings. With that much room why not use decent HS and strong axial flow?
Click to expand...

I honestly can't think of anything but "shits and giggles". I'm watercooling for fun, and because I think the case is begging for it. And I want to make sure that the case is so heavy that I never have to worry about anyone stealing it.
 
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