EC

Electric Comet

20/06/2016 9:11 PM

making enclosures for electronics

anyone done this

how does the wood hold up over time

i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times


i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application












This topic has 14 replies

b

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 5:24 AM

On Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 12:15:37 AM UTC-4, Electric Comet wrote:
> anyone done this
>
> how does the wood hold up over time
>
> i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
> will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>
>
> i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
> more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application

Does it not only have to last as long as the remaining life of the laptop? What are the chances that the next laptop has the identical dimensions?

Dt

DerbyDad03

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 11:31 AM

On Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 12:15:37 AM UTC-4, Electric Comet wrote:
> anyone done this
>
> how does the wood hold up over time
>
> i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
> will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>
>
> i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
> more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application

These were built by a Master Electrician that I "know" through another
usenet group. They are old and I can't speak to how they held up. (He
hasn't answered that question yet. I'll let you know if/when he does.)


PC/AT
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/Woodiy%20AT.jpg

PS/2 M30
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/woody%20m30.jpg

PS/2 M30/286
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/woody%20m30-286.jpg

PS/2 M70
http://gfretwell.com/electrical/woody.jpg

LM

"Lee Michaels"

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 2:00 PM



"Electric Comet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> anyone done this
>
> how does the wood hold up over time
>
> i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
> will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>
>
> i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
> more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application
>
>
I have built some boxes for electronics. I always drilled lots of holes for
air circulation. Put the holes so that the heat can escape upward and some
cool air can come in below the heat. It should be OK. If it does warm up a
bit, you can always install a fan. They have some very quiet fans for
computer now.


Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 9:52 PM

"Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast dot net> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I have built some boxes for electronics. I always drilled lots of
> holes for air circulation. Put the holes so that the heat can escape
> upward and some cool air can come in below the heat. It should be OK.
> If it does warm up a bit, you can always install a fan. They have
> some very quiet fans for computer now.

One thing to keep in mind about a fan is that it sucks power. If you're on
a battery, having a fan could mean significantly reduced run time. It
might be worth considering a switch (automatic or manual) and making sure
your case is as open as possible.

Puckdropper

Dt

DerbyDad03

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

23/06/2016 9:16 PM

On Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 5:49:51 PM UTC-4, Electric Comet wrote:
> On Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:12:13 -0400
> ads wrote:
>
> > The dual core Intel processor in my laptop can hit 172F or more when
>
>
> this is a more efficient design and lower power so will not get that
> high
>
> my concern is more to do with longevity
>
> i am going to try and see how it does

I heard back from the gentleman that built these.

PC/AT
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/Woodiy%20AT.jpg

PS/2 M30
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/woody%20m30.jpg

PS/2 M30/286
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/woody%20m30-286.jpg

PS/2 M70
http://gfretwell.com/electrical/woody.jpg

He said that they were built between 1986 - 1991, adding "They lasted until
they were too obsolete to use. I never had the RF interference problems
everyone predicted but that is probably due to the way IBM made the boards."

a

ads

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 2:12 PM

On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 21:11:57 -0700, Electric Comet
<[email protected]> wrote:

>anyone done this
>
>how does the wood hold up over time
>
>i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
>will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>
>
>i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
>more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Be aware that internal temperatures in laptops can get very high.

Look for CoreTemp, a free program that reads the temperature of the
processor to see just how hot the specific device runs.

The dual core Intel processor in my laptop can hit 172F or more when
working hard. This is in conditioned space that's 78F. Expect higher
internal laptop temperatures if the ambient temperature is above 78F.



gg

gray_wolf

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

23/06/2016 12:33 AM

On 6/21/2016 4:24 PM, John McCoy wrote:
> Electric Comet <[email protected]> wrote in news:nkaf17$7se$1
> @dont-email.me:
>
>> anyone done this
>>
>> how does the wood hold up over time
>>
>> i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
>> will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>>
>>
>> i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
>> more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application
>
> Unless you put the wood in direct contact with some
> part of the electronics that is very hot (i.e. try
> to use the wood as a heat sink) I would expect the
> wood to have a longevity factor several orders of
> magnitude longer than the electronics.
>
> John
>

I agree. I've seen many a Fender, with wood cabinet, guitar tube amp that ran
plenty hot. I never saw the wood destroyed. Most of the old tube radios had wood
boxes. Didn't seem to hurt them either.

JM

John McCoy

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 9:24 PM

Electric Comet <[email protected]> wrote in news:nkaf17$7se$1
@dont-email.me:

> anyone done this
>
> how does the wood hold up over time
>
> i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
> will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>
>
> i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
> more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application

Unless you put the wood in direct contact with some
part of the electronics that is very hot (i.e. try
to use the wood as a heat sink) I would expect the
wood to have a longevity factor several orders of
magnitude longer than the electronics.

John

JM

John McCoy

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

24/06/2016 6:30 PM

krw <[email protected]> wrote in news:lasomb1eees6pfpnvm47pe18dhkg3rrces@
4ax.com:

> It depends on what that's measuring. If it's a thermal diode on the
> processor chip itself, 172F isn't all that hot (<80C). The processor
> should be able to take at least 105C (~220F) or perhaps 125C (~260F).
> Of course, the key is understanding exactly what is being measured.
> Without that information you have no information.

Exactly so. In most cases what's being measured (because it's
what's we can really control) is the case temperature. But as
you note, some devices have an internal sensor measuring the
die (junction) temperature.

It would be unusual to find a case temp rating above 85C in
a commercial grade product. That roughly corresponds to a
junction temp of 105C. Automotive grade parts are usually
spec'd for a case temp of 125C. There is a significant price
premium for that temperature grade.

John

a

ads

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 11:36 PM

On Tue, 21 Jun 2016 20:35:33 GMT, [email protected] (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:

>ads writes:
>
>>>
>>
>>Be aware that internal temperatures in laptops can get very high.
>>
>> Look for CoreTemp, a free program that reads the temperature of the
>>processor to see just how hot the specific device runs.
>
>That's generally measuring Tj (Junction temperature, the highest
>operating temperature of the actual semiconductor) or Tc (the temperature of the
>processor chip case itself).
>
>The air temperature within the laptop is significantly less, assuming
>that the heatsinks, cooling devices and ventilation openings are functioning correctly.

All true, but I allow for the laptops that get set on upholstered
furniture and carpet and inhale lots of the stuff that nakes "dust
bunnies". I've cleaned large wads of that material out of a number of
laptops. If the user isn't aware of keeping the vents clean and
avoiding upholstered surfaces, the airflow drops drastically and the
internal temperatures go up rapidly.

kk

krw

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

23/06/2016 7:36 PM

On Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:12:13 -0400, ads wrote:

>On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 21:11:57 -0700, Electric Comet
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>anyone done this
>>
>>how does the wood hold up over time
>>
>>i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
>>will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>>
>>
>>i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
>>more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>Be aware that internal temperatures in laptops can get very high.
>
> Look for CoreTemp, a free program that reads the temperature of the
>processor to see just how hot the specific device runs.
>
>The dual core Intel processor in my laptop can hit 172F or more when
>working hard. This is in conditioned space that's 78F. Expect higher
>internal laptop temperatures if the ambient temperature is above 78F.
>
It depends on what that's measuring. If it's a thermal diode on the
processor chip itself, 172F isn't all that hot (<80C). The processor
should be able to take at least 105C (~220F) or perhaps 125C (~260F).
Of course, the key is understanding exactly what is being measured.
Without that information you have no information.

BB

Bill

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 12:24 AM

Electric Comet wrote:
> anyone done this
>
> how does the wood hold up over time

Indoors, I would say it holds up pretty well, if you finish it and keep
it dry. Maybe a few hundred years? But, it does not last forever...


>
> i am not expecting a lot of heat as it is a low power device but it
> will be warmer than ambient sometimes and then cooler at other times
>
>
> i found a project that is using wood for a custom laptop but i am
> more interested in the longevity factor for wood in this application
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

EC

Electric Comet

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

23/06/2016 2:44 PM

On Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:12:13 -0400
ads wrote:

> The dual core Intel processor in my laptop can hit 172F or more when


this is a more efficient design and lower power so will not get that
high

my concern is more to do with longevity

i am going to try and see how it does








sS

[email protected] (Scott Lurndal)

in reply to Electric Comet on 20/06/2016 9:11 PM

21/06/2016 8:35 PM

ads writes:

>>
>
>Be aware that internal temperatures in laptops can get very high.
>
> Look for CoreTemp, a free program that reads the temperature of the
>processor to see just how hot the specific device runs.

That's generally measuring Tj (Junction temperature, the highest
operating temperature of the actual semiconductor) or Tc (the temperature of the
processor chip case itself).

The air temperature within the laptop is significantly less, assuming
that the heatsinks, cooling devices and ventilation openings are functioning correctly.


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