Suggestions on reducing humidity of outside air

[trdphotog45]

I live in an apartment that has steam heat, and the residiual heat is such that I haven't even had to turn the thermostat on!
This being the case I have both of my PCs near my 2 windows.
The main PC is rigged so that outside air is brought in by a 'window fan' (a nice unit that looks like a small A/C unit) that can blow the air in or out.
I (temporarily) rigged a small 'air funnel' that guides the air into the case but leaves my case fan and a 'slot' (both exhaust) fan free to evacuate the hot air without having to fight against the incoming air.

Here's the problem:
So far this winter the outside air [humidity] has been very high because of all the d@m% snowstorms and rain we've had here in NH.
I need to figure out how I can take some of the humidity out of the [incoming] air...
As it stands now, I can't run my PC(s) when the humidity is above 60-70% .
The only thing I've thought of is somehow using a 'dehumidifying' chemical that comes in a tub (usually used to dry out damp basements and the like), but I need some ideas as to how.
I should mention that I'm on a fixed income and can't afford to buy a water cooling unit.
How about some ideas?

[61Dynamic]

Unless it's so humid that dew is foming on your computers I don't think you have to worry about it. I've never thought much about an over abundance of humidity though. I do know you definately don't want the air to be too dry. The drier the air is, the greater the risk of static discharge which is a serious issue especially if you work on your PC's in there.

[LiquidFrozenRoot]

My setup is set with and like this ..

don't care if its slow crappy MB but hey it works an stuff
Intel P4 1600Mhz @ 1602Mhz
Nvida GForce2 32MB
Ram 1024mb PC133
HDD Dual WD40GB ATA100
CDRW 52X
CDDVD 16X
valcano 7 Stock CPU FAN
two intake Crappy 25CFM fans on the back
one Outgoing 25CFM Fan inFront installed in the 5.25 Drive bay lol --its really gay
I have a dual Prob type Temp Monitor in the 5.25 bay gets the CPU and case temps

Without "CoolAir Drip" Name © By me
Idle Case 85.6F
Idle CPU 92.7F

F-load Case 91.5F
F-load CPU 130.9F way too HOT for Me
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
With "CoolAir Drip" Name © by Me

Idle Case 49.6F
Idle CPU 50.3F

F-Load Case 54.9F
F-Load CPU 88.9F Runing Westwood Games 92.4F oh yeah much better
---------------------------------------------------------
WIth "CoolAir Drip" on Computer Powered off

Case 30.2F
CPU 21.0F Holy Crap thatz Cold....
---------------------------------------------------------

Want MOre info on the CoolAir Drip and how to Build one Post here and I will Post info on the CoolAir DripSystem... keep in Mind this system works and temps May vary depending on the Air Temp outside your House.
But the good side is its Very Cheap to Build and anyone can do it ... even if you live in the ghetto and have barely anything.

[trdphotog45]

Sounds interesting [LiquidFrozenRoot], although those low temps seem way too cold.
Please post the info here, I'm very interested to check it out.

[LiquidFrozenRoot]

well Like above I live In a cold place so I cut a hole in my basement window and installed a 100 CFM fan I got for $19 at RS Installed cover and a filter on the outside of the window so no snow or Rain can get in

then I went out a got a dry lint duct and attached it to the 100 CFM installed in the window then I connected the other end to the fan attached to the back outside my case witch pulls air in and over the CPU... and bamm it works rather nicely

however then temps vary because of the temp out side... the temps I posted were taken at night when it was 25F-30F I have plans to install a
cut a hole in the bottom of my case and install a dehumidifier

witch I recommend to anyone who wants to cool their computer this way..
and is highly recommended if you live in a place like NH and places where its rainy and snowy all the time
.....

stay tuned for the temps after I buy and install the dehumidifier..

P.S. the cover I instlled is a standard outside the house fan cover you have for the hot air coming out of your dryer the only thing I did was removed the lil door inside it so it stays open....
keep in mind i've been cooling my pc's like this for years .. first came up with the idea when I was over clocking my old 90Mhz and needed to cool it cuz it got really HOT....and thus this system was born....

[LiquidFrozenRoot]

first I would like to clear up some mistakes some people do when cooling this way ... here is what you do inside the case..

Tunnel the air Directly to the CPU FAN.. by Making a Shroud custom for your Case and CPU fan setup I being the cheap guy I am I made mine out off cardboard and super glue.you would probly have better air flow with a plastic one.. but like I said I am cheap..

Don't pull the air into the whole case it does no good when you have your exhaust fans the case will be cooled by the air as it comes off the heatsink
and then your Case fans take the air out the case...

remember your case will only get hot if your CPU does not have Cool air and the cpu will get hot and make your case temp to get higher..

[trdphotog45]

Exactly what kind of dehumidifier are you planning to get?
In my experience dehumidifiers create a huge amount of heat.

That's why I'm now thinking of going with a plastic tub of that dehumidifying chemical (I think it's available at most hardware stores). It's reusable (all you have to do is pour out the water that accumulates), and I was thinking of taking out the crystals, drilling some fairly small holes (big enough to let the water drain, but small enough so there will be minimal air pressure escaping down the drain tube) in the bottom of the tub, placing a screen (cut to size) at the bottom, putting the crystals back, then attaching a funnel underneath with a plastic hose clamped to it that runs into a collection container.

Then I'd need to fix that unit to the bottom of the 'Air Funnel' I created (after cutting a hole for it of course), and then experimenting with a 'baffle' of some sort to force the incoming air onto (or preferably THROUGH the crystals) and using another baffle or a screen to keep any crystals from getting into the PC, and also to collect some of the 'build-up' from the [airborne] chemical (if any).

I think that possibility (of the incoming air absorbing some of the chemical and depositing inside the PC) requires some research and obviously the whole project entails a lot of experimentation, not to mention the fact that the warm weather isn't too far off and I'll have my A/C running....

Unfortunately, due to some medical problems (one of which is 3 wks of getting used to a new medication) my progress on this project will be slow.
As it stands now, I'm only checking my email once a week (or so). That's why it took me almost a week to respond to your last post.

I'll be interested to hear how your project progresses so keep posting.