Thread: Condensation

Originally Posted by slboytoy

I've searched on this, and everyone talks about it being an issue (which it is), but I haven't found any threads that talk about fixing it.

I've lost a HD, and DDR so far by condensation. During my reading week, i'm going to seal off the homemade box and add fans and stuff, because I think my car will be just made for the summer now. Is there anything I can do right now to fix it to last until the summer??

There is a non-conductive silicon spray for motherboards that you can use to repel moisture from the slots (which is probably what killed the memory). You might want to give that a whack to help out.

could you just try the selica gel stuff that comes with a new pair of trainers?

Well that stuff is designed to dry out the air in the packet by absorbing excess humidity (moisture). Unfortunately, it doesn't do anything in an environment like a PC case, which is usually open to airflow in some way. In fact, the heat from the PC operating works quicker to dry out the area than thay gel will, but the problem seems to me with moisture already being present in the case, in which case, that spray would keep it from getting on the contacts in the first place, so that even if there was a little extra moisture in there, it would dry out once the computer fired up.

The only other alternative is to place the PC in a more protected area, such as the cabin of the vehicle itself, unless your window seals leak when it rains, in which case, you could have the same problem anyhow.

hmm
never thought about it since im in so cal and its usually warm but at night it does get cold
dewpoints around 45-50 and it does get in that range

think i have anything to worry about?

You know how when people talk about dew, they say it "falls"? That isn't too far from the truth. Actually, dew is moisture cooling and condensing from the air, and falling (as well as forming) on the ground.

Inside a car, which is usually for the most part dry, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Bear in mind, that if the car gets wet inside (leaky window seals), the wet carpet will give off its moisture to the air in the cabin, and there is an elevated (though pretty small) chance of some of it actually condensing in your PC case.

I just returned from a week in the Coachella Valley. You guys have it SOOOO good there. I really want to move back out there ASAP, (I was born in Merced, so Cali's my stomping grounds). I've experienced those cold nights, but, at least where I was, there really wasn't any moisture in the air, so no dew.

From personal experience: ALECCS has been mounted both inside the car cabin, and in the trunk, and after three years of steady, reliable operation, I have yet to see any evidence of condensation, or moisture of any sort for that matter. Its case is made primarily of standard case metal, which will show corrosion if wet, and there is none to be found anywhere on or in the case.

Bottom line, I think there's nothing to worry about, as long as the intended mounting position is relatively dry.