digital temperature/fan-control with LCD for PC, selfmade

[keiang]

It is done, a final version of a guidance how to built up this fan/temperatue-control is available now
for the Download. (press button "Auf gehts" to start download)
Here you can find some pictures and a detailed desription in english





the main characteristics in the overview:

- Micro-controller digitally regulated fan/temperature-control, regulation works 100% independently of the operating system (e.g. Windows...)
- with up to 8 sensors the temperatures of the PC's are monitored and the speed of the fans are adapted automatically
- very exact temperature sensors with a accuracy of 0,1�C (DS1820)
- several safety functions protect against the overheating of the computer hardware
- low-loss control of the fans by pulse-width-modulation (PWM), saves energy and produces no additional heat
- the fans can be regulated within a range of 40% to 100%
- The fan's speed is also shown in PWM mode, over the whole work area
- USB-interface
- suitable also for watercooling
- display of all values on LCD 1*20/2*20/4*20 (temperatures, fan's "rpm", alarm status...)
- simple operation over only 2 keys
- very flexible configuration possible (alarm temperatures, sensor-fan config, hysteresis...)
- storage of all settings in eeprom

Sorry for the bad english, i will try to improve the translation but it is a little bit hard for me. Maybe someone can help me?

[peteamer]

Astonishing , I really don't think your .pdf needs much translating except perhaps where to solder on the back side of the board for some of the components. A very good example of a picture (Especially of that quality) is worth a thousand words.

And that's without reading the English instructions.


Thanks for sharing that. It looks awesome.

And... er... Welcome To SPCR !!! keiang.




Pete

[ChristianN]

Wow

That really is well done.

[Sleeper]

Just took a look and could NOT find it.
No connection to your site.

Please, please, please repost!
Thanks
Sleeper

[keiang]

No connection to your site.

i dont know where the problem is, but is seems to be only outside of europe. These links works here is germany, england, greece but in the USA are problems. Maybe because it is a german domain "*.de", but if you like i can send you the howto and the decription via email.
Simply send me a email to [email protected] with subjekt "Howto fan-controll" and you will get the decription in english.

but one another try does this link work?
---> www.keiang.de

[evalachovic]

I had no problem with the links to the site and downloading plans. I was very excited about building this myself until I hit supply problems.

First I have problems finding a US parts supplier - even the best I found (Allied) only had some of the parts (and there was nothing special about the parts - just ordinary resistors were a problem). I guess as a hobby this is vanishing and there is little demand for a retailer.

As a fallback I went to the German site to which the parts list had links. All went well until I got to checkout where I was told that for export they needed a minimum order amount of 100 euros.

Does anybody know of a US/Can retailer that has a good selection of parts? I know for a few dollars more I could buy something similar already built, but it was the idea of the fun of building it (and the fear of mucking it all up).

[Tyrdium]

Adding to evalachovic's request... Anyone know where to get cheap (i.e., about 10 bucks or less) LCD displays? Preferably graphic and backlit, but alphanumeric and non-backlit is fine.

[sthayashi]

Does anybody know of a US/Can retailer that has a good selection of parts? I know for a few dollars more I could buy something similar already built, but it was the idea of the fun of building it (and the fear of mucking it all up).

Digikey, Mouser, and Newark are my sources for electronic parts. For smaller stuff, I've also used Futurlec, but was unimpressed by their shipping times (though the price was right).

Adding to evalachovic's request... Anyone know where to get cheap (i.e., about 10 bucks or less) LCD displays? Preferably graphic and backlit, but alphanumeric and non-backlit is fine.

Optrex LCDs can be had inexpensively, IMHO, but not as cheap as you're asking for.

[keiang]

If someone are not able to connect to my website and want to get the "HowTo built this Fan-Control", please simply send me a email to "[email protected]" with subjekt "HowTo Fan-Control" and i will send you the full archive containing a screenshot of my website, all plans and the HowTo.

[keiang]

A "small" update of the project:

1.) Instead of a normal Text-LCDs (HD44780 etc.) also a graphics LCD can be connected now, with that some more information can be indicated at the same time. I used a GLCD with the controller "T6963C" (240 * 64 pixel) here.

Here is a short video: Video of the GLCD (press button "Auf gehts" to start download)
Description of the GLCD: Regulation with GLCD






2.) The software for Windows is now also almost ready. At this time all dates of the regulation can be indicated and adapted (temperature-, fan-, regulation dates as well as all configuration data: temperature limits, sensor-fan config, etc.).
As next a small interface comes for the software "Samurize" http://www.samurize.com included, with that everyone can represent the dates graphical likes he want to.
You find a precise description and even further information here: Windows Software



The most important enlargement is to be let indicate all dates in a diagram. With that one gets a very good overlooks about the regulation behavior and with that whether all attitudes are correct.
The diagram can be stored if required with a right click as a graphics file.







3.) With this enlargement bigger fans (>2W) or several can be connected at the same time. in total 6 fans with each 10 W can be connected.

Description of the fan enlargement: fan enlargement

[~El~Jefe~]

omgosh this is so sick.



i will have to geek it out and start making this. I want a 6+ sensor system. I would love to have more, my vision is to monitor:

northbridge, top of case, 350 phantom, cpu, vga chip, hd temp all with a calibrated system that I could mildly trust. Also, to measure resevoir temperatures in my reserator, but that I think www.coolerguys.com has for sale as an inline water temp monitor.

neato cheatos, i like the whole thing.

expect a some cashola from me soon.

can you use Paypal or something to wire the money? dood you deserve it for such a nice swanky piece of electronic.

[keiang]

Just a short update of this project. I have added support of a new graphic LCD:

graphic LCD during operation ( all data scrolling from down to upward ):





the setup menue on graphic LCD:










Mode choice by pressing switch:








on this graphic LCD I have tested now a diagram function:






short movie of diagram mode:


download movie ( to start download click on button "auf gehts" ): graphic LCD -> diagram mode

Link: graphic LCD with "SED1520"-Controller connected to fan control V1.4d

[keiang]

Ok here are now a final update of this project.

I have reworked the hole Windows Software V1.8 and added many new feature.








I have finished 2 extension for this project:

- "8 channel light control" -> "8 channel light control"
- "Emergency shutdown / alarm output / pump check" -> "emergency shutdown"


extension: "8 channel light control"


- With this extension can 8 additional light channels manages and to be programmed own light sequences. Here a short sample movie: light sequence. ( to start download click button "starte download" )
- it can be also showed the speed of a fan as bar graph or as a binary value
- alle settings can be done in windows software:



extension: "Emergency shutdown / alarm output / pump check"


The emergency shutdown works in this case not over the Windows software but ove the connection "power switch" of the main board. Through that the emergency shutdown is independently of Windows and works much more secure with that.

- With this extension the PC can in the alarm case shutdown or completly switch off.
- In Addition there is another relay with that on the extension an additional fan or a pump in the alarm case can be activated.


In the case of following alarms the emergency shutdown is activated:
- temperature of a sensor rise over the defined value ( overtemp. )
- a temperature sensor turned out
- rate of a pump or flow sensor lies under the defined value or completely breaks down

[JazzJackRabbit]

I don't know where you are man but you should try commercializing this stuff. m-cubed charges obscene amounts of money for its solutions and yours maybe with a little tweaking could be just as good.

[keiang]

I don't know where you are man but you should try commercializing this stuff. m-cubed charges obscene amounts of money for its solutions and yours maybe with a little tweaking could be just as good.

This fan control are still better than this from m-cubed .
The fan control from m-cubed are not able to use a lcd...

Here are the connectors from my fan control:

[JazzJackRabbit]

This fan control are still better than this from m-cubed .
The fan control from m-cubed are not able to use a lcd...

I was thinking about the ways the user can adjust the fan speed depending on the temperature sensors and whatnot. The miniNG reviewed here seems to provide a number of different options. I don't see the same flexibility in your controller (although I might have simply missed it). If you could provide the same functionality or beat it I really think you could compete with m-cubed or sunbeam solutions.

[keiang]

This fan control are still better than this from m-cubed .
The fan control from m-cubed are not able to use a lcd...

I was thinking about the ways the user can adjust the fan speed depending on the temperature sensors and whatnot. The miniNG reviewed here seems to provide a number of different options. I don't see the same flexibility in your controller (although I might have simply missed it). If you could provide the same functionality or beat it I really think you could compete with m-cubed or sunbeam solutions.

The "miniNG" dont has an own USB Interface! It is only possible to connect the "miniNG" to the pc by using the "T-Balancer". And as i read in a german forum, with also tested the "miniNG", it is a little bit tricky to configure via poti...
The "miniNG" has only 2 temperature sensors and only 2 fan channels.


The fan control i have developed offer 3 different mode:

1.) manuel - each fan channel can be configured to a fix fan speed
2.) target temp - ( also called PID-regulation ) each of the 8 sensors can be configurated with an own temperature, it is also possible to configure with of the fans are responsible for cooling this sensors. In this mode the fans are automaticly controlled so that the configured temperature are reached for each sensor.
3.) step - Each fan channel can be set in a step mode ( also called 2-point regulation ) in this mode the fan are automaticly swich off or switch on with an configured fix speed.

Everthing can be configured by the Windows Software ( over USB ) or with 2 buttons on the front.






Here an example of the mode "target temp.":
- red line = temperature of sensor1
- white line = speed of fan1
- configured "target temperature" = 35°C

As you can see the speed of fan1 controlled automaticly: