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Liquid Resistor — Parallax Forums

Liquid Resistor

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-03-02 19:21 in General Discussion
Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good or better
than air.

Thanks!!

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 05:08
    I think what you are looking for is the dielectric constant of material.

    By definition air is 1.

    Mineral oil is around 2.2. Some vegetable oils are 3 or higher (I'm not
    sure, but it seems like canola oil is very high). You can find this in a CRC
    handbook (the chemistry/physics one) which should be at any library you can
    think of.

    Oil is the traditional choice for cooling power resistors and transformers.
    Be wary of old-style transformer oil, though -- it contains something nasty
    (PCBs? PCVs? I forget and my hazcom training is faded).

    Water seems good, but impurities in it reduce its insulating properties plus
    it is hard to keep water clean and present.

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller:
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm


    >
    Original Message
    > From: Cy Brown [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=RzlgSvFWmfz63mWta4g5rKbVgAhf-cYJS0V8kbyrOFmKEoBhOCZ9_DVD2Nx43_-5ZtDzNg5bvq1nt7U]bushman@t...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 11:00 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >
    >
    > Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good
    > or better
    > than air.
    >
    > Thanks!!
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 05:21
    There is 3M Fluorinert, its expensive, but its fairly safe to experiment
    with (about 400$ US/Gal.)

    Here's a link:
    http://www.3m.com/market/industrial/fluids/fluoprop.html

    I was going to use it instead of water in my PC fluid cooling rig, but I
    couldn't find anything smaller than 1 Gal. My system only takes 16oz.
    Others have used it in that situation, with not too much temperature
    reduction. Water was free, and right there, so it was used.

    Also a cheap fluid would be mineral oil (aka transformer cooling fluid). AS
    far as I know its non-conductive. And its easily available.

    -Rob

    PS
    If you're wondering what the heck I'm doing water cooling a PC... here you
    go:
    http://www.aasdcat.com/rstaph/cooling/smartcase.html


    Original Message
    From: "Cy Brown" <bushman@t...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:00 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor


    > Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good or
    better
    > than air.
    >
    > Thanks!!
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 06:44
    Cy:
    What do you mean by insulator? Non-conductive cooling fluid, high breakdown
    voltage, low dielectric constant?

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: Cy Brown <bushman@t...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:00 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor


    > Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good or
    better
    > than air.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 16:34
    Just for the record, I don't liquid cool my PC. That was someone else
    (Staph).

    I have, however, cooled power resistors.

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * One day left to save on PAK-I and PAK-IV: http://www.al-williams.com/awce

    >
    Original Message
    > From: Cy Brown [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=g2gztIA43_anRbz1MuRFt5jfQpHmf8H5MBqqlP7pCKX2r5rQPqY1g4HxeqGlOnvL0wMhO7RT3LbzNnsYt9k]bushman@t...[/url
    > Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 10:46 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >
    >
    > Yes, I want to be able to immerse my circuitry in liquid as if it where in
    > air. Mineral oil seems to be the quick answer but will Im worrid about
    > corrosion also. My project is similar to Al Williams but I want
    > to see if I
    > can immerse the whole machine in liquid. The idea is as much for
    > the looks
    > as it is for cooling. 3M Fluorinert may be the way to go, Ill
    > just have to
    > save up for it.
    >
    > Cy Brown
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Ray McArthur <rjmca@u...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:44 AM
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >
    >
    > Cy:
    > What do you mean by insulator? Non-conductive cooling fluid,
    > high breakdown
    > voltage, low dielectric constant?
    >
    > Ray McArthur
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Cy Brown <bushman@t...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:00 AM
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >
    >
    > > Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good or
    > better
    > > than air.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 16:45
    Yes, I want to be able to immerse my circuitry in liquid as if it where in
    air. Mineral oil seems to be the quick answer but will Im worrid about
    corrosion also. My project is similar to Al Williams but I want to see if I
    can immerse the whole machine in liquid. The idea is as much for the looks
    as it is for cooling. 3M Fluorinert may be the way to go, Ill just have to
    save up for it.

    Cy Brown


    Original Message
    From: Ray McArthur <rjmca@u...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:44 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor


    Cy:
    What do you mean by insulator? Non-conductive cooling fluid, high breakdown
    voltage, low dielectric constant?

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: Cy Brown <bushman@t...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:00 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor


    > Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good or
    better
    > than air.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 17:08
    Getting a bit off topic but I had to share the humor. Overheard an old
    friend telling another about the Christmas Tree lamp saver that he was
    using, proudly announcing that I had built it for him. Huh? Inquiring,
    he described the SELENIUM rectifier immersed in oil in a Skippy peanut
    butter jar. He was still using it 30-40 years later to clip half of the AC
    and thereby extend the life of the bulbs. VBG

    What kind of oil? Darned if I remember- Probably SAE20 ;-

    I sent him to the store to buy a $5 dimmer and a plastic box to put it in.

    Wayne





    At 10:34 AM 2/8/01 -0600, you wrote:
    >Just for the record, I don't liquid cool my PC. That was someone else
    >(Staph).
    >
    >I have, however, cooled power resistors.
    >
    >Al Williams


    Wayne Roderick P.E. (EE, ret)
    CEO, Teton Short Line, (NMRA life-1721)
    e-mail tetonsl@i... Pocatello Idaho, USA
    http://www.ida.net/users/tetonsl/railroad
    Note new URL- /biz/ becomes /users/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-08 19:38
    LOL. Last time I visited my uncle on the farm he was using
    a selenium rectifier charger to top off 12V batteries. I
    remember him building this thing in the 50's - Filament
    xfmr, selenium bridge, a light bulb for current limiting.
    Wonder if it's the same bulb...

    Jack

    Wayne Roderick wrote:
    >
    > Getting a bit off topic but I had to share the humor. Overheard an old
    > friend telling another about the Christmas Tree lamp saver that he was
    > using, proudly announcing that I had built it for him. Huh? Inquiring,
    > he described the SELENIUM rectifier immersed in oil in a Skippy peanut
    > butter jar. He was still using it 30-40 years later to clip half of the AC
    > and thereby extend the life of the bulbs. VBG
    >
    > What kind of oil? Darned if I remember- Probably SAE20 ;-
    >
    > I sent him to the store to buy a $5 dimmer and a plastic box to put it in.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-02-09 00:08
    Getting a bit off topic but I had to share the humor. Overheard an old
    friend telling another about the Christmas Tree lamp saver that he was
    using, proudly announcing that I had built it for him. Huh? Inquiring,
    he described the SELENIUM rectifier immersed in oil in a Skippy peanut
    butter jar. He was still using it 30-40 years later to clip half of the AC
    and thereby extend the life of the bulbs. VBG

    What kind of oil? Darned if I remember- Probably SAE20 ;-

    I sent him to the store to buy a $5 dimmer and a plastic box to put it in.

    Wayne





    At 10:34 AM 2/8/01 -0600, you wrote:
    >Just for the record, I don't liquid cool my PC. That was someone else
    >(Staph).
    >
    >I have, however, cooled power resistors.
    >
    >Al Williams


    Wayne Roderick P.E. (EE, ret)
    CEO, Teton Short Line, (NMRA life-1721)
    e-mail tetonsl@i... Pocatello Idaho, USA
    http://www.ida.net/users/tetonsl/railroad
    Note new URL- /biz/ becomes /users/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-02 19:21
    does any body knows if the bs2 and the bs2sx are compatible??
    im trying to send data wireless, but somehow i have 1-bs2 and 1-bs2sx but
    they dont communicate??
    any suggestion what is the problem???
    Also one of my BS2, when i tried to to download a program is says that can
    not find com1, and that it needs power supply??
    But it works with others bs2??
    so anybody knows what is the problem?
    and if so, how can i fix it??
    thank you.



    >From: "Cy Brown" <bushman@t...>
    >Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    >To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    >Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 10:45:38 -0600
    >
    >Yes, I want to be able to immerse my circuitry in liquid as if it where in
    >air. Mineral oil seems to be the quick answer but will Im worrid about
    >corrosion also. My project is similar to Al Williams but I want to see if
    >I
    >can immerse the whole machine in liquid. The idea is as much for the looks
    >as it is for cooling. 3M Fluorinert may be the way to go, Ill just have to
    >save up for it.
    >
    >Cy Brown
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >From: Ray McArthur <rjmca@u...>
    >To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    >Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:44 AM
    >Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >
    >
    >Cy:
    >What do you mean by insulator? Non-conductive cooling fluid, high
    >breakdown
    >voltage, low dielectric constant?
    >
    >Ray McArthur
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >From: Cy Brown <bushman@t...>
    >To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    >Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:00 AM
    >Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Liquid Resistor
    >
    >
    > > Where can I find a liquid that is a very good insulator? As good or
    >better
    > > than air.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >

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