Wish List - 1) HyperColor Dye

[tygrus]

I recently saw a picture of a water cooled system and thought ...
"I would be fun to have the liquid change color depending on temperature". Remember those hyperColor T-Shirts or the multi-colored temperature strips.

Problems:
* Color coding would for <7 temperature ranges and cannot be adjusted by users to match desired system.
* Insufficient temperature differential (The wider you make the working range, the more of a temperature difference is required for definite change).
* Temperature points (before and after) change with load, pump L/min, fan speed and ambient temperature.

 

[Erasmus354]

about the only way to do it would be with some solution that would likely have particulate matter in it, or in some way shape or form gunk up equipment in the loop. I dont even have a window on my case. I watercool for the priceless combination of silence and performance. I could care less about some color changing dye that will most likely cause more headaches then its worth.

Neat idea, and I think you addressed some of the bigger problems with the idea, namely the fact that it would be hard to come up with a temperature range for changing colors. The one thing you forgot to think about is the fact that water temperature doesn't change very much in a watercooling loop. While the core temperature varies by a lot, the water temperature varies by much less, namely because water has a very high specific heat. So not only do you not know what temperature range the person is operating at, your margin for change will typically be very small.

 

[Arcygenical]

Thermochromatic inks... On average 3-5micron in particle size,

so shouldn't really impact any non pin design waterblock.


http://www.thermochromicinks.com/

 

[nonlnear]

One logistic problem is that a color sensitive dye would be tuned to change colors at particular temperatures. Different people with different loops in different ambient conditions means you've got to basically have a different product tuned for each type of loop. Also, with high flow setups, the total temperature change within a loop (highest - lowest) is so small that the dye would have to be very carefully tuned in order to see any effect. You'd basically ahve to know your loop's high and low temps, Now if you're pushing three blocks with a reserator 1 or something ridiculous, then there's a hope of seeing some effect with an off the shelf product. Why you'd want to d that is beyond me though. It still wouldn't be cheap.

Basically, any loop that has a significant enough temperature change to effect a dye would reap significant benefits from a better pump. Conversely, anyone running a "good" pump(s) wouldn't be able to see temperature sensitive effects, because there aren't significant enough temperature changes throughout the loop.

edit: I guess it depends on what kind of effect you want. If you want to see different colors in your loop at stable load temps, then I'd say it ain't gonna happen for a good WC rig. If you want your coolant to change color from ambient temperature to load, then it's a possibility. i.e. if you want it to be blue when the system is off, and red at load. That'd be pretty cool! (No pun intended.)

 

[tygrus]

Having another look at the problem ...
Colouring the tubing seems a better option as it is:
* stationary and doesn't have to support sudden temperature change (slow response OK); and
* different spec tubing can be used for the various cool and hot sides (well a bit warmer).

Might be useable for 50%-100% load ie. clear <25C, from blue for 25C to red for danger ?C.

Anybody know their temperature ranges ?
I'll do some research on published reviews and report later...

 

[Arcygenical]

Most of these dies decompose under UV light, and don't last more than 2-5k hours.