Peltier cooling device

[ktheking]

Hello,

Anyone came across some ready made peltier based hdd cooling device (or a nice diy guide on that matter) ?
Building one yourself wouldn't be that hard,but getting it properly done could be another matter (heat/cold dispertion - avoiding condensation).
I have to do some datarecovery once in a while -not very often- for not very whealthy customers (and try to avoid using the high $$$ demanding deepspar,pc3000,etc. interventions),and I think cooling down the drive does help in some cases.

Thanks in advance for any advice (negative or positive).

K.

Belgium/Europe

[phishin_ca]

Cooling a drive works less than 5% of the time. Don't waste your time. If you fix the drive it will run at room temperature. come to think of it I have only had one problem solved by cooling, and I think I just got lucky. Freezer is a myth. Period. Where is blackst for reinforcement here?

[jono-ats]

Cooling makes a difference more often than you think. The freezer is not entirely a myth.

[drc]

I can think of maybe a case or two with old WD desktops with crappy bearings that worked better cold. IMO some sort of customized peltier device sounds like way too much work. Don't confuse yourself by trying to apply excessive technology.

[HDD Spaz]

I once had a wd2500 with a dodgy head. cloned all good heads, after cooling bad head read speed was 500% faster. As soon as disk got up to temperature head could barely read.

And no, I am not telling you how I cooled it.

[fzabkar]

And no, I am not telling you how I cooled it.

In the freezer?

[dobrevjetser]

You can buy peltier elements at Farnell. www.farnell.com
But you have to add your own 2 cents to adapt it for a harddisk.

Dobre

[BlackST]

Freezer : in 1 hr. or less you have dew growth inside when you take it out... AND : read the sheet shipped with Samsung drives, if possible : they clearly state that the platters are covered with a lubricant ant it reacts to humidity and low temp. I rarely see thermal-related problems, and in any case I prefer a perfect solution.

P.S. this thread gave me an idea , it will be discussed .... "elsewhere" stay tuned.

[Doomer]

Freezer : in 1 hr. or less you have dew growth inside when you take it out...

This would be incorrect
Physics doesn't work this way

PS: Strange thing is I discuss the same topic at least once a year
PPS: more details here - http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=11:22373 (sorry it's in Russian )

[Doomer]

One more thread about the same stuff - http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=11:36520-34

[BlackST]

Doomer, the HDA is not airtight, a small amount of humidity is always inside. For me, when you take the HDD out of freezer and the temperature rises quickly, condensation is unavoidable. Seen it.

[Doomer]

OMG
Here we go again
Please read my links, there are tons of explanations

Bottom line is - no dew inside

[BlackST]

I have a different experience then. And all the "freezed" drives that came in had similar damage. AND dew traces inside - I think it was dew trace. Next time I'll take some pics. so you can tell.
I assume that if there's a weak head, freezed or not it's weak, so in minutes it can be exchanged (with proper gear). I prefer this kind of trial and error.

[guru]

sometimes I go the opposite way and heat the thing up ;o)

[guru]

Spaz..was it upside down Brute apres rasage?

[HDD Spaz]

Nah, I blew it. Hard Drives are male, responds well to a blow

[fzabkar]

Freezer

I was kidding ...

[BlackST]

Nah, I blew it. Hard Drives are male, responds well to a blow

I start worrying...

[craig6928]

freezing use to work a longtime ago

but when the drive heats up your have dew trace which can damaged the drives.
so one hit chance you get.

[dick]

Out of interest......what would be the considered upper and lower operating temperature range of a standard specification modern hard drive?