Watercooling - Instability

[NewBlackDak]

I've had some instability with my watercooling rig, and I think it's EMI related. I was having random lockups. so I opened my case, and was making sure of no leaks, and checking the water level when I noticed the monitor was wery wavy on the side my case is on. I put the side panel back, and they went away. I ran a few more tests, and found out that even at stock speeds with the processor and northbridge at ambient the rig is still unstable. A little more work, and I found out that it's only unstable in video stuff. I clocked down the video card then tried another. Both were the same. Realising the the pump was less than 3" from the video card I took the pump out of the case, and put it on the floor(which puts it about 3ft from both monitor anc PC). The instability went away completely. While this is OK for some, we have cats, neices and nephews. If I can't have the whole thing self contained in my case then I can't have it. Anyone else seen this? Would some very thin aluminum wrapped around the pump stop this?
For those interested the pump is an Eheim 1250.

Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks NBD

 

[HardWarrior]

Interesting. I've wondered for some time why magnetic drive pumps, designed for aquariums, didn't cause problems in water cooling rigs. You might try hunting up a pump that takes the environment inside a computer case into account. I THINK dangerden has one.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Thanks HardWarrior.
Does anyone know if the Dangerden or Swiftech pumps are sheilded?

 

[HardWarrior]

I don't know if it's shielded, but it sure is a little work horse. The specs are first rate.

 

[Sokratz]

check out the reviews on that eheim. I don't think most folks are having problems with that model but not for sure. Also try to move the pump outside the case for awhile perhaps?

 

[NewBlackDak]

It works fine outside the case, but as I said I can't leave it that way. I don't want it that way either. I want the machine semi-mobile, and parts hanging out kill that.

I might just order one. Maybe just being smaller will help since I can relocate it to a less sensitive area in the case. The 1250 is so big that I really only have one place I can mount it. I'm going to take some thin guage aluminum, and try to section it off in its owh housing.

 

[VisableAssassin]

strange your having a problem i have the same pump and I ahve no EMI problems at all.

 

[SuperPickle]

How are you routing the power cord for the pump? The AC cord for the Eheim is not shielded and may be causing troubles if it's carelessly run along data cables or near other sensative circuitry. I've not had problems with the 1250 inside my machine but maybe yours just won't play nice. Good luck.

 

[NewBlackDak]

That just might be it!! I had the cord running up the PCI slots, across at the top(under the fan and above AGP slot), and up the backplate. I built a little box with a plug in it that powers on with 12v, and it is plugged in there. I put the pump back in the case, and let the power cord hang out the side. There were no problems. I wonder if I can just run it up the back of the case on the inside, and go over the top of the fan to avoid the closeness with the AGP slot altogether, and give a little space away from the mobo. It would be no big deal exiting the case on the bottom, and just plugging in outside though. We'll see what I come up with, and I'll get some pics up when I'm done.