Thermaltake T-Type water-temp indicator:



Thermaltake describes their digital temp device as a "T-Type Water Temperature Indicator" product number CL-W0033. The device comes packaged as seen below.



Included in the package is everything you need to install the T-Type temp indicator, including quick-connectors for 1/4' (6.4mm Thermaltake ID), 3/8" (10mm) or 1/2" (12mm) ID tubing. Two of each of course allowing you insert the T-Type section anywhere in your system. Also included is a Velcro section which can be trimmed.

CL-W0033 Specifications
Sampling Rate	1 Second
Range	0°C to 90 °C (32°F to 194 °F )
Resolution	0.1 °C (0.1 °F)
Accuracy	+/- 1 °C (+/-2 °F)
Display	Constant
Alarm Setting Range	40°C ~ 90°C
Range	0°C to 90 °C (32°F to 194 °F )
LED Status	Blue = normal / Red = Alarm
Weight	203g (total)

To determine the relative accuracy (calibrate) of the Thermaltake's T-Type meter I placed the T-junction with it's thermocouple in an ice-bath while simultaneously placing probe from an EXtech 22-816 RMS digital multimeter. The EXtech indicated 0.1C while Thermaltake's T-Type indicated 1.7C. Next I removed a pan of boiling water allowing it to drop below its 100C temp as the T-Type temp-meter's limit is 90C. The EXtech multimeter indicated 72C with the T-Type indicated 75C, however leaving both devices in the water as it cooled Thermaltake's T-Type was off just 1-celsius degree as the water-temp dropped between 60C and 30C. As advertised the meter does become more accurate where it counts most.

Thermltake's T-Type water temperature indicator was tested in my Alphacool's passive water cooling system 12V Cora 662 XP. The kit is based on 8mm (internal) hosing and Alphacool's AP910 (made exclusively for Alphacool by OASE) centrifugal pump rated at 900l/h and 2.8m max delivery height. Water temps are measured at the inlet and outlet of the water block.



Splicing the tubing between the radiator outlet and NexXxos XP inlet. The system is configured as follows: Pump > Radiator > Waterblock > Reservoir (return to Pump inlet). Repeated tests indicate this particular order yields the lowest CPU (water block) temps. As noted above I placed the T-type meter at the NexXxos XP inlet and a waterproof Mercury based thermometer submerged in the reservoir, which is directly fed from the water block outlet. Measurements at these points as well as monitoring the P4 630 internal thermal diode provide us with all the information we might need for Delta-T formulae.

Testing>

Intel Test System
CPU	Pentium 630 Retail (3.0GHz 2MB L2 1.31Vcore) Socket-775
Mainboard	Asus P5ND@-SLI Deluxe (BIOS 0802)
Memory	Corsairmicro 5400UL (2x512MB DC CL3-2-2-6)
Graphics	AOpen 7800GTX
Power Supply	PCPower&Cooling TurboCool 850 SSI
Cooling	Alphacool 12V Cora 662 XP (passive H20-system)
Operating System	Windows XP

As a simple empirical test I placed the T-Type meter in front of the CRT screen while running Asus ,AIBooster (indicating CPU Vcore, temp, speed, FSB, CPU utilization, memory voltage, PCIe voltage, system temp, etc.). Panopsys utility Throttle Watch 2.01 and S&M CPU stress tester. Our first photo below indicates the system running IDLE at default speeds/Vcore (3.0GHz/1.31V) the second running under LOAD settings remaining the same.





As indicated above by comparing the temp (lower) on the T-Type meter and the AIBooster GUI the discrepancy between water temps entering the CPU-block at IDLE and LOAD widens as the CPU produces more heat. In each test it was essential enough time elapsed so the coolant achieved a thermal equilibrium. The coolant used was Danger Den endorsed MCT-5. MCT is just slightly less effective at cooling compared to unadulterated distilled H20, but contains corrosion inhibitors which protect against Galvanic Corrosion (aka Dissimilar Metal Corrosion). In the photo below I've devised a low-cost solution for a rough Delta-T extrapolation by placing a Mercury based thermometer in the Alphacool supplied Cape Cooplex 25 compensating reservoir which is located just opposite the T-Type meter.



Although the accuracy of the unit is not comparable to that of a high end digital multimeter, it’s good to see that for less then 1/100th of the cost you and I can have 99% of the accuracy determining K-value (Delta-T). Thermaltake seeks to make water-cooling and the ability to measure the performance of your water-cooling system accessible and affordable.


Conclusion:

Thermaltake has expanded their water cooling lineup and now offers both passive and active cooling solutions approaching the upper mid-line.

Pros

Accurate +/- 1c

Easy to Install

Alarm

Place anywhere in/near case

F/C readout

Price

Extra adapters

Cons

Dual inline would be better

Minimum Alarm setting 37C

The T-Type water temperature indicator is a low cost solution offering accuracy, programmability and an alarm feature tunable from 37C. The unit can be found in the UK at CaseTech £12.95, or at TekHeads £14.75 incl. VAT. In the USA the CL-W0033 T-Type can be found at CaseCooler $28.95. I would to thank Annie at Thermaltake.

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