Suspended Harddrive With Pix now

[Tiamat]

I have successfully suspended my WD Raptor using bungee cord material. It is fully decoupled from my case. Is there any danger that the Harddrive will create its own static discharge, thus killing itself - Do i need a grounding wire? I think i read somewhere that a suspended disk that rotates really fast can create a static discharge.

BTW, temps of harddrive have gone down quite a bit. No real numbers, but before it was quite warm to the touch, now its slightly warm.

Edit: These are random pictures i took today as I disassembled and reassembled my computer out of boredom.

Sorry, this is the first time i have ever used a camera. My GF left it here, so i figured i give it a whirl

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jonomega/HDD_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/j...ssembled_bright_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/j...e_Window_bright_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/j...ega/Duct_Ghetto_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/j...ga/Duct_Closeup_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/j...a/Duct_finished_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/j...hetto_Unnoticed_sm.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jonomega/Front_sm.jpg

 

[Zepper]

Drives should have a direct path to earth ground for draining static. I recommend one (a ground wire) even though it probably isn't strictly necessary.
.bh.

Have a :beer: !

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Drives should have a direct path to earth ground for draining static. I recommend one (a ground wire) even though it probably isn't strictly necessary.
.bh.

Have a :beer: !

Thanks for the info - can i go to radio shack and just grab any 'ol 22 gauge wire and wrap non-insulated ends around a screw on teh hdd and a screw on the case?

Btw, ill post pix once i get a digi cam. Just in case somebody wants to know how to set a suspension up in a small case.

 

[tracerbullet]

Any ol' wire should do the trick, 22ga is plenty. The drive, if it builds up anything at all even worth noting, will have no problem draining it down a 22ga wire. If that's what you have on hand, go for it. We aren't talking about lightning strikes or anything, just tiny, tiny amounts of static, if any at all.

 

[Tiamat]

thanks much guys!

I hate to be redunant, but i have never done this before...

I have 16ga speaker cable lying around. Do i just strip the ends of it and wrap the copper around the screws?

Im using 16ga because it was lying around and i didnt want to buy 90ft of 22ga at radio shack...

Thanks!

 

[Tiamat]

bump

 

[0roo0roo]

anything will do
i'd more worry about heat build up

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
anything will do
i'd more worry about heat build up

Heat is not an issue, i have a Evercool 120mm Aluminum fan blowing on it.

thanks

 

[stevennoland]

Just curious, but why suspend it? I would assume you want to minimze the noise the drive makes being amplified by your case.

 

[Tiamat]

Ill load some pix sometime, just got a digi cam, gotta read up on how to post pictures. I have no background on uploading pictures or whatever.

Basically, i removed the perpendicular harddrive mounting thing in my Superlanboy because it was blocking airflow. However, I wanted my raptor to benefit from the 120mm fan.

 

[Tiamat]

bump due to added pictures for anybody that wanted to see a harddrive suspension

 

[xbassman]

Good job!

Now what's the verdict? I am sure it improved your cooling, but did it make a noticable difference with hd noise?

And what's up with the cardboard duct thing? I haven't seen that one before...

 

[Tiamat]

Ok for the Cardboard. I noticed my PSU fans were staying in the 1800rpm range which was a bit noisy. My SLK947U fans are arranged vertically, so its hot air is going directly into my psu exhaust. So, i got this ghetto idea of, what if i block those fins? Well, that failed. LOL. Basically my cpu temps have increased by 10C and my psu fan is spinning at 1900rpm. So... Verdict - Its not worth redirecting or blocking cpu air from getting into the psu, because eventually, the hot air will get their probably by natural convection and you are worse off.

The suspension was somewhat "required" because I removed the entire HDD cage. Removing the HDD cage has allowed the intake fan to be able to get much more air into my case. This was proven with "put my hand 4" behind front fan" method. My raptor is cooler due to increased surface area exposed to the airflow.

Verdict:
1. My case is no longer readily transportable.
2. I was able to tidy up the cables a bit on the bottom for front USB, SATA, Reset etc.
3. However, I have no where to hide my round IDEs.
4. It is much easier to take out and replace the motherboard - its still a b1tch, but Ive done this like 6 times the last month because i wasnt happpy with cabling seen through the window.
5. Redirecting/Blocking Hot CPU air from forced convection into PSU doesnt really work because Natural Convection turns around and laughs at you.
6. For some unknown reason, my system temp went down by 5-10C from Cardboard mod.

 

[BW86]

very cool, nice job

 

[0roo0roo]

cardboard in a case is a no no. fire

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
cardboard in a case is a no no. fire

I sealed it with Electrical tape if that matters. Anyways, i just removed it. thx for the tip tho.

 

[bsr]

Besides noise, this could actually give the HD less shock if the case was ever bumped real hard (Or more shock if it slammed against the side )..... Nice thinking none the less, I would of never thought of that if I didn't have a place to mount it.

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
cardboard in a case is a no no. fire

Does it really matter? that's one reason why cases are made of metal, if it gets on fire, the fire is not going anywhere except for out after it's burned.


And besides, some custom mods are wooden cases (ever see yoshi's mods? )

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: bsr

Besides noise, this could actually give the HD less shock if the case was ever bumped real hard (Or more shock if it slammed against the side )..... Nice thinking none the less, I would of never thought of that if I didn't have a place to mount it.

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
cardboard in a case is a no no. fire

Does it really matter? that's one reason why cases are made of metal, if it gets on fire, the fire is not going anywhere except for out after it's burned.


And besides, some custom mods are wooden cases (ever see yoshi's mods? )

Its pretty secure. The power plugs, and 16ga ground wire i use are stiff enough to keep the HDD from banging into the front or right side panel. It would take quite a bit of force (dropping the case) to cause the HDD to hit one of the walls. Of course if that were to happen, id probably have to replace my motherboard and a few other components ;D

Oh, if you want to try it, the Bungee cord was very cheap from McMaster-carr. Just look for the smallest diameter cord. Its 15 cents for 1 foot. I ordered 10 feet. This was enough for me to totally mess up once, and redo it. The cable clamps - i got at Home Depot for 4$ or so.
I got my idea from silentpcreview.

 

[Demonicon]

Sorry if I missed it, but where can I get this type of bungee cable (any particular recommendation)? This is very interesting idea and i'd like to take a crack at trying this.

also, I'd probably want to go for a more rigid application. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

EDIT:
Just saw your post above. Excellent.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Demonicon
Sorry if I missed it, but where can I get this type of bungee cable (any particular recommendation)? This is very interesting idea and i'd like to take a crack at trying this.

also, I'd probably want to go for a more rigid application. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

EDIT:
Just saw your post above. Excellent.

No prob - its a pretty cheap project to try ~ 6$ max + your time.