Measuring Water Temp

[headala]

Hey, does anyone know how I can measure my water temp without actually dunking a sensor in the water? Like maybe attaching it to the outside of a block or tube or something?

Thanks!

 

[sadvocate]

Hey, does anyone know how I can measure my water temp without actually dunking a sensor in the water? Like maybe attaching it to the outside of a block or tube or something?

Thanks!

You could use a sensor like this or this if you use an Aquatube.

To get the most accurate reading of your water temperature, you need to take the temperature of the water, not the surrounding tubing or the top of a waterblock. If this is just a one time temp reading to check your on-die temps vs. your water temps - drop a probe into your reservoir (consider using an oral thermometer - but be careful to clean it before and after, maybe use one of the disposable sleeves). You could also use an IR temp sensor into your reservoir, but read the directions on use as it is easily possible to get erroneous readings (especially reflective surfaces and translucent liquids). If you did use IR, you want to take the temperature without anything obstructing the beam, so not through the radiator but through a cap or opening in the radiator.

If you're looking for a long term solution, the above links point to the best type of solution. You could also make your own, if neither of those will work for you.

Otherwise, just make up a number - bad probe placement is about as useful and only slightly less deceptive.

 

[headala]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I looked at those options, but since I use 3/8" tubing and it's not easy to get that stuff where I live, they won't work for me.

I've got to find a way to use the included foil thermistors to monitor the water temperature. Oh, it's long-term monitoring I want to do, not just a one-off type of thing. Forgot to put that in the OP.

So, any ideas?

 

[JC634]

I made temp sensors to monitor water temps for use with a Crystalfontz LCD controller. Look here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1028114

 

[headala]

Nice job...I'm thinking I may try to do something similar but not with a t-fitting (I just drained my loop 2 weeks ago, don't want to do it again!). I may drill a hole through my res's cap and epoxy a probe through that.

Are there any ways to monitor the temps w/o putting a probe in the water, like taping it to a the radiator?

 

[JC634]

If you really want to measure water temp, it must be in the loop itself. If you want to meaure temp changes over time, using a probe attached to the CPU would be just as effective.

If you want to have a non-contact water temp probe, it would *seem* that the best place would be directly on the heat exchanger tube of your radiator. About as close to getting a water temp without actually being in contact with the water. Perhaps 1 probe as close to the entering water and 1 as close to the exiting water. That might be a reasonable gage of water temp delta from the radiator.

Getting a probe attached might be a problem. I really don't know how easy it would be to get to the radiator tube...

Jim

 

[headala]

Using an upside down Swiftech 120.2 rad it seems like I could just tape the sensors to the back side (outside) of the inlet tanks, so that the incoming water is hitting that part directly. I'm going to take all my sensors and place them at various parts of the rad and see which one I get the most change on load.

I'm still toying around with the idea of waterproofing one of the sensors and running it down my fill line. Maybe using a piece of a drinking straw filled with silicone around the wire/thermistor connections with the end of the thermistor sticking out?

 

[goodgod]

I was thinking about putting a probe in a t-type connector but now that I saw this thread drilling a hole in my res is a better and easier idea. Then I'll just fill the hole with lots of epoxy and maybe a piece of acrylic.