Liquid Cooling Build

[bcmbob]

Anatomy of a BLAT.

No not that one. This one - Bomac Liquid Audio Technology. It started out as just the BLA, but applied to a 2.1 speaker system it resolves to Bla, Bla, Bla. Not good. So added the “T” and was quickly advised by JB (lehmanhill) that I had moved from the shop to the kitchen.

I have several PCs with liquid cooling and mostly out of curiosity wanted to apply that method to audio. Purchased two of these on a whim and collected the necessary parts from the stash. No way to drill into the coolers so a standoff plate was built.

Located the mounting hole by spreading compound on the chip which was soldered to the PCB with standoffs attached.

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The simplest, though not most efficient way to combine the plate and the cooler was double sided heat transfer tape. They were clamped together overnight for a solid set. If I do another one I'll make some sort of bracket that will allow the use of paste instead of thermal tape.

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Mounted amp module to cooler and cut tubing links.


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[bcmbob]

]First shot was built on plywood frame. The cooling elements were all standard 80 mm format.

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Fill port/air release worked great but I didn’t like having the liquid that close to the amps.

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Here the system is making cool music with no leaks and a stable temp just above ambient.
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[bcmbob]

Second attampt was centered around the idea of keeping the liquid below the amp. Cobbled up another woden frame and placed my chin firmly on my palm and began to ponder.

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Started fabrication of base for cooling system with 1/8” x 2” aluminum angle from the local hardware store. Transformer brackets are from ¼’ x 3’ angle.

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Attached 1/16” corner braces with two part epoxy for both stability and squareness.

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[geraldfryjr]

Very Cool !!!
I have been wanting to do something like that for Year's !!!
Great Job !!!



jer

[AndrewT]

Originally Posted by geraldfryjr

Very Cool !!!

that's the purpose !!!

[bcmbob]

Photo of lap/inset construction.

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Underside with support/feet and a touch of Bondo for the oopses from hand cutting.

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Holes for bottom supports are countersunk for flathead screws.

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Corner reliefs for wire paths on transformer bracket.
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Looks like it’s going to work so now on to the reservoir.

[bcmbob]

Initially hoped to do a combo pump/reservoir with a fish tank AC powered unit. But it was too big for the cooling box. As luck would have it, the seven year old pump in my main PC lost a bearing during this time so it wasn’t a total waste.

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Right method but still to awkward for installation in the BLAT.

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Gave up on the combo unit and built a res I knew would fit.
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Shows outline of inlet deflection plate and square outlet suction tube.
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Here are some leak test pics. Problems can be masked when the system is active so an overnight non-powered proof was done.
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[bcmbob]

Oh, I forgot about the signal. With my chin still firmly mounted on my palm (visualize “The Thinker”) the following developed. There wasn't enough room to mount the posts in the standard position without inteference with the cooling tubes. A 90 degree flip did the trick.

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More corner removal to prevent the possibility of a short from insulation damage.
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Looks like everything fits.
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[bcmbob]

Wall wart DC socket for pump/fans, AC inlet with self-contained fuse and safety ground lug.

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Putting it all together with wiring. Hoorraay!

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Cut and tape together possible cover from postboard. It was then glued together and all the tape removed.

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For the purpose of collecting some temperature data, I also made a standard cooling rig for comparison/discovery of efficiency.

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Still have to decide where to place remote FE LEDs, or change to a lighted main switch.

This is the smallest format - 40mm, but 70, 80, and 120 are available if your amp can heat your music room on an autumn afternoon.


There you have it. The anatomy of a BLAT. Great fun and a worthy challenge. Probably not where Dario thought his excellent design would end up, but I couldn't resist.

Cooling liquid is the same as what has been used in the PCs.

[bcmbob]

Andrew, I got two answers to your question:

1. It's the same as the answer to the question "Why does a man climb a mountain?"

2. A three letter word that starts with "F" and ends with "N". You may or may not be familiar with the concept.


P.S. and maybe a little useful discovery.