Just got a new K40 Mini from OMTech. Added Air Assist and a Mini-Gerbil Controller Card and removed the Air Scoop.
I’m water cooling via a bucket with 4 gallons of distilled water. I previously hadn’t done tons of research on water temp and my temps have been right on 20C and I saw it once hit 21 C on a short burn.
Seems the OH MY GOD temp is over 20 C.
That being said I see that most people out there don’t have $500 chillers and just use the bucket method as I do.
I have read more than I want to about water temps but want to know the Real World, practical application of bucket cooling from people like me who may run at 21 C for a moment or two.
I understand that tube life can be shortened, I get that and without trying to be offensive a lot of internet experts are just that. Internet experts.
My device will probably always be a hobby device and not a production device. If I were running a widget for production I’d buy a $500 chiller or even better a $3000 machine from somewhere.
In a hobby environment, if you hover around 20, 21 C what are the real implications of doing that. I don’t have enough time on my machine (less than a week) to have the experience.
I guess what I’m looking for is someone who has used the machine a few years with bucket cooling who can say “Don’t do that” or “It works for me and I change my tube under normal wear and tear”.
Without rambling on too long 68 degrees roughly a couple degrees under most interior household temps. At 5AM I checked my bucket temp and it was 18C (spare room, heater vent closed partially). Temp theory says that now is the time I should work.
I have been chilling my water with ice packs and I can operate it seems just over 20 (20.4 or 20.5) most of the time.
Sorry for rambling but I’m just curious if there are long term bucket cooling users out there and how they manage.