[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]
Hello all I asked my son for a comment as this is one of his specialty areas. Here is his reply. " Can't think of one offhand but he might find the UPS he has provides some excellent monitoring features via its network card. The larger models (depending on vintage) have a temperature sensor input on the NW card and I think an auxiliary switch input (could be wrong about that - true of APC family which are now from the same parent company, I have recently fitted a stack of these 2 to 5kVA range). In which case a Hochiki 12V smoke or heat detector could be hooked up to it. Or a mains powered one with an optional relay base (available from electrical factors such as City Electrical, WF, Newey etc) would give a volt-free contact output. That output from either type could be connected to the aux input if it has one, or find a way to get an alarm input to the server via a USB or serial or parallel port switch input converter. I think what he has discovered is the very urgent need for cooling of computer equipment. The power density when any amount of kit is packed together - on shelves or a rack - then located in a small space - under the stairs - is much higher than free-air circulation can hope to cool and temperatures of 50C among the gubbins are not uncommon. Enough to kill a hard disk, age capacitors etc. The surface temperatures of any switch mode power supply can be far higher than this. We have a constant battle with those poxy 12V halogen downlights that are all the rage - or thankfully were all the rage as Building Regulations have all but outlawed them - they are a fire hazard and I can point to a number of piles of ash that were once magnificent old houses that were 'modernised' with this lethal technology. The answer is to spread it out, turn it off when not used or buy some airconditioning. At least get the air moving. I would suggest for an understairs cupboard that an extractor fan high up and a fresh-air inlet low down would go a long way. Outside air is a pretty cheap way of cooling but damp is then a problem - we could get elaborate here and cook up an air-to-air heat exchanger to isolate the two air systems ... go to a scrap yard and get an old Intercooler from a lorry turbocharger system! Heath Robinson would be proud. Mike" > -- james kilty http://www.kilty.demon.co.uk http://unitycontrol.co.uk can anyone help with viral marketing for him and his brother in these lean times? -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html