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BigAl01
Volunteer Moderator

Plant Rack Mod

Well, it's not a computer if that's what you were thinking!  But I did use some computer components - a PSU, a fan controller and five 120mm fans to create airflow across the shelves in my wife's new plant rack that arrived from Amazon last week.  This new LED light plant rack replaces an old florescent tube plant rack that we've had for 30 years.  The old rack used 80mm fans and a fan controller from the 1990's, along with a generic PSU from that time frame.  The new plant rack has LED lights that adjust for three types of light, and I had a 850 Watt Cooler Master PSU that was perfect for the job.  The new fan controller was bought about 5-9 years ago, but I decided to buy new black 120mm fans that all matched, instead of using some clear ones (including a few that had LED lights in them).  I think it worked out pretty well.  The plant rack itself took some time to assemble but it's all good.  My wife Sandra is happy!

 

The plant rack came in a heavy box.The plant rack came in a heavy box.

 

First test of the PSU, fan controller and my initial set of fans.First test of the PSU, fan controller and my initial set of fans.

 

The new fans arrived from Amazon.  All five match each other.The new fans arrived from Amazon. All five match each other.

 

Wiring up the fans with 3-pin fan extensions.Wiring up the fans with 3-pin fan extensions.

 

The PSU and the fan controller sit on top.  I tied them together with a grounding wire.  Lessons learned from prior builds in plastic cases.The PSU and the fan controller sit on top. I tied them together with a grounding wire. Lessons learned from prior builds in plastic cases.

 

The new plant rack is in place and operational.The new plant rack is in place and operational.

 

Close up of one of the fans.Close up of one of the fans.

 


As Albert Einstein said, "I could have done so much more with a Big Al's Computer!".
4 Replies
mengelag
Volunteer Moderator

That's absolutely awesome Al! Love the mod

Ryzen 7800X3D - Radeon 7900XT - MSI Tomahawk X670e MB - 64gb 6000mhz G-Skill Neo - Noctua NH D15 - Seasonic Focus V3 GX-1000W PSU - 4TB Samsung Gen. 5 NVMe - Fractal Torrent Case - ROG PG48UQ OLED
BigAl01
Volunteer Moderator

Thank you.  It appears that airflow over orchid plants is important.  Our first plant rack had it but the airflow wasn't very much from 80mm fans.  The real reason for replacing the old plant rack was the florescent tubes that sometimes didn't turn on.  I swapped out several tubes and they usually would turn on, but not 100% of the time.  As a previous reliability engineer, I demand reliability from my appliances.

 

The original plant rack lasted 30 years.  I'm not complaining.The original plant rack lasted 30 years. I'm not complaining.

 

 


As Albert Einstein said, "I could have done so much more with a Big Al's Computer!".
0 Likes
BigAl01
Volunteer Moderator

Oh, did you notice the paper-clip hangers on the fans?  I thought that was creative.


As Albert Einstein said, "I could have done so much more with a Big Al's Computer!".
0 Likes
mengelag
Volunteer Moderator

I did ya, that's super cool. Looking forward to seeing the next project

Ryzen 7800X3D - Radeon 7900XT - MSI Tomahawk X670e MB - 64gb 6000mhz G-Skill Neo - Noctua NH D15 - Seasonic Focus V3 GX-1000W PSU - 4TB Samsung Gen. 5 NVMe - Fractal Torrent Case - ROG PG48UQ OLED