Build Log: The Manhattan Project

[EHW Ai]

On 03/07/2022 at 19:19, Avacado said:

Perfect. I have a few of those 25mm Noctuas. They are good fans. 

 

Thought you be interested in seeing where I went with the active cooling for the DDCs:

 

 

The fans will plug into the splitty (three of them), which will comprise one channel on the Quadro. The three ddcs will then each be assigned to one of the three remaining channels on the Quadro. Because the DDCs can pull up to 4amps of current each when they start up, I'll disable fast/full start for them in AquaSuite, which will keep the current under the Quadro's maximum of 2amps each. See the following two links for more info about that:

 

PSA: Disable Aquacomputer Quadro's "Start Boost" feature if you are using it with an 18W PWM DDC re-wired to a single 4-pin PWM cable.
(The Quadro boost overloads the pump during start (>2A) and trips its own OCP protection repeatedly.)

 

Running a 3.2 DDC 18W rewired to 4pin header from a Quadro 25W, recently started tripping Quadro's over current protection resulting the pump to cycle on and off

 

While I do have the option of adding shrouds, It really won't be necessary:

 

 

 

As for the typically ugly color of the Noctuas, I've worked out something for them as well. I'll wrap them in in the copper strip that's on its way, securing them with copper rivets:

 

 

 

The additional copper will go well with the the 3090 KPE once I move it to this build, and there will be additional copper embellishments as well throughout the build. 

 

 

Anyway, if you're wondering why three DDCs, I wanted to make sure I've got enough headroom to plug the kit & kaboodle into the MORA3/Test Panel assembly:

 

 

Last but not least, I'm a bit concerned about the problems people have been having with power supplies lately with respect to higher end systems tripping over current protections in (e.g.) Seasonic and other psus. The Atlas II portion of the build does have a 1300Watt Seasonic Platinum PSU in it and I'll be running some stress testing to make sure it's up to the task. 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by iamjanco

[EHW Ai]

...more progress. DDC group isn't quite finished yet (need to clean up the wiring somewhat), but their Noctua fans are wrapped in copper now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Avacado]

2 hours ago, iamjanco said:

...more progress. DDC group isn't quite finished yet (need to clean up the wiring somewhat), but their Noctua fans are wrapped in copper now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dayum. Is that 5 DDC's?

[EHW Ai]

The loop toward the front of the image is three 4.2 DDCs (0.2mm copper strip is hiding two of the 60mm Noctuas at the bottom of the dual DDC top); the loop in the rear is two D5s. Keep in mind I'm working-in provisions to add the dual MORA 420 option as well. 

 

Anyway, about the active cooling I'm setting up for the three DDCs: PWM control for each of those will be assigned one channel using the Quadro (the three fans are connected to the Active Splitty9 which will be assigned a channel of its own via the Quadro); with the Quadro connected to the Aquaero 6LT at the top rear above the PSU. Each of the DDC heat sinks also has a thermocouple attached to them which in-turn are connected to the Quadro. 

 

While 12VDC power for the DDCs is pulled from a bus in the lower rear which is connected to the PSU to avoid tripping OCP in the Quadro, the Quadro and the Active Splitty9 also get their own 12VDC and 5VDC via a peripheral PSU output so that they'll function properly as far as PWM control goes.

 

I'll also be attaching thermocouples to the cpu block and to the front and back of the KPE GPU blocks.

 

Got more copper arriving this week (mostly for aesthetic purposes): 4x 14gauge 2"x12" copper bars, and 1x 1/8" (.0125") 2"x12" copper bar. Somewhere in all that are also provisions for a Farbwerk 360 RGB LED Controller, which I might use to control led strips embedded in (e.g.) the "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" collage I put together during the CCP beers virus pandemic lockdown period. I figure if I accomplish that, all I'll have left to work on is installing a full sized church organ w/pipes and finding someone who is a combination of Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Marty Feldman to play them while dressed as someone like the Abominable Dr. Phibes or Herr Doktor Frankensteen's laboratory assistant.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by iamjanco

[Mr. Fox]

8 hours ago, iamjanco said:

The loop toward the front of the image is three 4.2 DDCs (0.2mm copper strip is hiding two of the 60mm Noctuas at the bottom of the dual DDC top); the loop in the rear is two D5s. Keep in mind I'm working-in provisions to add the dual MORA 420 option as well. 

 

Anyway, about the active cooling I'm setting up for the three DDCs: PWM control for each of those will be assigned one channel using the Quadro (the three fans are connected to the Active Splitty9 which will be assigned a channel of its own via the Quadro); with the Quadro connected to the Aquaero 6LT at the top rear above the PSU. Each of the DDC heat sinks also has a thermocouple attached to them which in-turn are connected to the Quadro. 

 

While 12VDC power for the DDCs is pulled from a bus in the lower rear which is connected to the PSU to avoid tripping OCP in the Quadro, the Quadro and the Active Splitty9 also get their own 12VDC and 5VDC via a peripheral PSU output so that they'll function properly as far as PWM control goes.

 

I'll also be attaching thermocouples to the cpu block and to the front and back of the KPE GPU blocks.

 

Got more copper arriving this week (mostly for aesthetic purposes): 4x 14gauge 2"x12" copper bars, and 1x 1/8" (.0125") 2"x12" copper bar. Somewhere in all that are also provisions for a Farbwerk 360 RGB LED Controller, which I might use to control led strips embedded in (e.g.) the "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" collage I put together during the CCP beers virus pandemic lockdown period. I figure if I accomplish that, all I'll have left to work on is installing a full sized church organ w/pipes and finding someone who is a combination of Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Marty Feldman to play them while dressed as someone like the Abominable Dr. Phibes or Herr Doktor Frankensteen's laboratory assistant.

 

 

 

 

I know I have said it before, but I love how that workspace looks. It is a work of art.

 

The choice of music is also a good fit for the aesthetic.  

[Avacado]

15 minutes ago, Mr. Fox said:

I know I have said it before, but I love how that workspace looks. It is a work of art.

 

The choice of music is also a good fit for the aesthetic.  

IKR? I want to tour his house before I die. I will pay admission too. 

[Sir Beregond]

35 minutes ago, Avacado said:

IKR? I want to tour his house before I die. I will pay admission too. 

Yeah I want in on this. 

[EHW Ai]

some more recent pix, etc.

 

the first are some recent copper purchases:

 

 

 

these next two have to do with the bulkhead fittings/copper plate I'll be installing that will provide for the installation of the QDCs and power on/off switch: 

 

 

 

i likely will change the color schema for the bulkhead fittings; probably use one color for one loop, and another color for the other loop. just not sure yet which two of the three colors (silver, red, black) I'll use. i'm thinking red and either silver or black. red because of the subtle injection of red in the build thus far; silver because I've got a ton of silver fittings for the brunt of the two loops.  the last, black, should be self explanatory.

 

...or i might just leave the color schema the way it's currently pictured above. hmmm... decisions, decisions, decisions.

 

anyway, it all needs to be buffed/polished clean and shiny of course and covered in a sealant that will help keep the copper from tarnishing.

Edited August 12, 2022 by iamjanco

[EHW Ai]

drilled the holes in the 16 gauge copper plates for the bulkhead fittings and power switch; dry fit them before buffing and polishing the plates:

 

 

 

 

 

[EHW Ai]

I did a quick run through 1000 grit (wet) and am happy with the results. It's not perfect, but then I never suffered from OCD    Anyway, the bands around the DDC fans haven't been properly seated yet (you'll note they're loose), and see if you can tell how my version of the Atlas II frame itself differs from the 100% stock version. Besides hardware, here's a hint: I had to extend one of the wings a bit to fit everything on the right. Note: it's a solid extension that you can lift it by.

 

 

[EHW Ai]

So I decided to add 0-15VDC and 0-10amp  Simpson panel meters to my Atlas ii build, which I just ordered. I kept them small (1.5 inch through-hole) so that I could mount them in a plate I'm fabricating that will be attached to the left rear lower pump mount. That panel will also include six fuse holders and led lights that will be used to indicate whether a fuse is good or not; as well as banana jack test points to monitor the 12VDC. Three of the fuse holders will be dedicated to three DDC pump motors.

 

Anyway, pix of the parts follow, as well as representative images of the gauges.

 

 

 

 

[EHW Ai]

First up, a big sale by EVGA while they try to eliminate their backlog of Leather Jacket's 30X0 Series GPUS:

 

Spoiler

 

Next, a change to what I previously mentioned about the voltage and ammeter gauges. I cancelled that order because I was having issues with the vendor (Newark), and ordered 2.5 inch round gauge versions from a different vendor. They have to come direct from Simpson and Simpson doesn't sell small quantities directly to the consumer, so it'll be a few weeks before they arrive. An example of what they look like follow (an AC gauge is pictured):

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Now for the best part, at least from my POV: having gotten the idea from EVGA's pricey E1 product, I decided to add the gauge pod to the Atlas II chassis as already mentioned above. That said, I also managed to find the following pipe cups (they're already here) that will sheath the gauges almost perfectly:

 

 

Once the gauges are installed, the pods will look something like this:

 

 

I had thought about running copper pipe from the rear to support them, but they're pretty heavy (7-8 pounds together from the heft); so  I'll just use standard 1/2 inch pipe and fittings to do so. If I feel I need to do so once I get that far, I'll also give them a "copper treatment"  (or maybe even a steam punk treatment).

 

Then I'll run the wiring for them through a flange and the pipe, and fuse/wire them and add test points, also as already mentioned above. 

 

That's it for now 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by iamjanco

[Mr. Fox]

That's going to look really sweet. Can hardly wait to see the finished product.

[Avacado]

45 minutes ago, Mr. Fox said:

That's going to look really sweet. Can hardly wait to see the finished product.

IKR? It's like watching the birth of a child!

[Mr. Fox]

9 hours ago, Avacado said:

IKR? It's like watching the birth of a child!

It is, indeed. 

[EHW Ai]

Ah, yes, giving birth to babies. What else would you give birth to?

 

Loaded questions aside, I'll be sheathing my black pipe in what follows (it won't prevent birthing babies though):

 

[Avacado]

10 hours ago, iamjanco said:

Ah, yes, giving birth to babies. What else would you give birth to?

 

Loaded questions aside, I'll be sheathing my black pipe in what follows (it won't prevent birthing babies though):

 

Just be carful when you cut the cord. 

[Bastiaan_NL]

Entertaining as usual Jan, I'm always impressed by your creativity. A lot of stuff I work with but you find cool ways to implement it in this build!
Like the parts below, I hate them from a professional point of view as it's not as strong as the stainless variant I prefer and it should never be used on a marine engine but the texture will be a cool touch to this build. 

On 02/09/2022 at 20:06, iamjanco said:

 

 

On 04/09/2022 at 13:27, Avacado said:

Just be carful when you cut the cord. 

This... I know how it feels

Edited September 9, 2022 by Bastiaan_NL

[EHW Ai]

On 04/09/2022 at 07:27, Avacado said:

Just be carful when you cut the cord. 

 

I'm getting ready to cut that  cord. What should I do with the bag that's attached?

 

ION (in other news), both the black pipe and the shielding/heat shrink have showed up. Gonna be a fun side project. 

[EHW Ai]

2 minutes ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

Entertaining as usual Jan, I'm always impressed by your creativity. A lot of stuff I work with but you find cool ways to implement it in this build!
Like the parts below, I hate them from a professional point of view as it's not as strong as the stainless variant I prefer and it should never be used on a marine engine but the texture will be a cool touch to this build. 

 

Thanks  and yeah, as you likely know, black pipe quickly turns into a heavy duty rust magnet if you clean the oils it ships in off and don't cover it with something else. 

 

I've got a plan though. I always do 

[Avacado]

2 hours ago, iamjanco said:

 

I'm getting ready to cut that  cord. What should I do with the bag that's attached?

 

ION (in other news), both the black pipe and the shielding/heat shrink have showed up. Gonna be a fun side project. 

Store it for stem cells when you get old....

[Mr. Fox]

On 04/09/2022 at 04:27, Avacado said:

Just be carful when you cut the cord. 

Just be thankful that humans don't have to eat the afterbirth. 

[EHW Ai]

Roughed out the gauge module:

 

[EHW Ai]

Got the gauge pod/fuse block mounting bracket drilled out:

 

[EHW Ai]

made a few changes to that prototype, and am going to have a new pump bracket made for the build; it includes mounting for the gauge pod, an area for test jacks, and an area for eight panel fuse holders w/led indicators. Oh, almost forgot, my Simpson gauges should arrive tomorrow.

 

added: gonna use 1/8" bright annealed stainless for that custom plate.

 

Edited September 14, 2022 by iamjanco