Components and Design Cont’d
Radiator
Removing the bottom cover plate reveals the radiator, control circuit board, and wiring.
The custom aluminum radiator measures approximately 7.25′ x 11.5′ x 1′ and incorporates 20 horizontal flow tubes, which connect the cylindrical head tanks in two passes. The large radiator (along with the increased airflow provided by the two 120mm fans) contributes significantly to the increased performance of the Exos-2.
Power and control wiring pass thru the back wall of the Exos-2 chassis via a DB-9 connector. Two swivel connectors are used to attach the inlet and outlet tubes.
LED Display Panel
Moving around to the front of the Exos-2 brings us to the LED display panel.
The Exos-2 control panel consists of a 3-digit LED display and four push buttons. Three remote temperature sensors are included with the Exos-2, which can be installed to monitor various temperatures inside the PC enclosure (CPU, GPU, internal air temp, etc).
The first digit of the LED display indicates which sensor channel (1, 2, or 3) is currently being displayed. The temperature readings can be set to display in either °C or °F.
(LED Display Panel from Exos-2 User’s Manual)
By default, the Exos-2 audio alarm will sound if any sensor reaches 55°C (131°F), the LED temperature will flash, and the fans will speed up to 100%. The alarm settings can be changed for all three sensor channels by the end user from 0°C (32°F) up to 99°C (210°F).
If the temperature value of sensor #1 (typically monitoring the CPU) reaches 3°C (5°F) above the alarm set point, the system will automatically shut down the computer.
PCI Slot Adapter
The Exos-2 includes a PCI slot adapter that allows the tubing and wiring to pass neatly into the PC enclosure without modification.
A small circuit board mounted on the inside of the slot adapter provides the following connectors:
- Main power (12 VDC)
- Temperature sensor #1
- Temperature sensor #2
- Temperature sensor #3
- ATX power switch pass-through
- Two optional fan headers
Tubing
The tubing supplied with the Exos-2 is PVC (vinyl) tubing measuring 3/8′ ID x 1/2″ OD. The tubing has a slight blue tint and is relatively resistant to kinking while still being flexible enough to allow easy routing. Additional lengths and sizes (1/4′ ID) may be needed if multiple waterblock coolers are to be used inside the PC.
Note: To make assembly easier, I dip the ends of the tubing into hot water to soften them up before pushing them onto the barb fittings.
Coolant
Koolance supplies their own pre-mixed coolant that comes in a 700 ml double-sealed vinyl bag. The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) lists the major ingredients as being (% by weight):
- Distilled water 70%
- Ethylene glycol 27% (automotive antifreeze)
- Additives 3% (corrosion inhibitors: phosphate, nitrate, carboxylate, Azole; anti-foaming agent, dye, and pH buffer)
I measured the pH of the coolant to be 8.0, which is optimum for minimizing corrosion.
Caution: The blue Koolance coolant contains antifreeze (Ethylene glycol), which can be toxic to small children and pets if ingested. Just be careful.
