Computer in a Resturant Kitchen?

BinaryWASP

BinaryWASP

New Member
Hello,

Let me preface the problem a little bit.
I just setup the entire IT architechture in a resturant/movie theater my first month on the job as the new IT manager. I pretty much got everything up and running with just a few exceptions that are way beyond my abilities. That's why I'm coming to you guys. Maybe you can help me out and solve these crazy mysteries.

There's a computer in our kitchen area that the executive chef uses to place orders. Well, it's a steady 80+ degrees in there at any given time. I had a consultant tell me that the temperature is too hot for the computer to operate and that's why we were getting multiple BSOD's a day.

Additionally, the machine is next to an industrial freezer. Big. Metal. Reflective. Well, we're using a USB wireless NIC in order to get net access. It's having a difficult time picking up a signal. The AP is no less than 30 feet away from the machine (despite a couple walls).

So here's my questions to you guys:

1. Is there a way to cool the machine in a cost effective way (sans liquid cooling)?

2. Any way to get a better wireless signal?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
good question, well structured

As for the cooling options you not going to have much lucl with this one, any serious alternative will be muco expansivo. An option is to move the machine somewhere cooler and just run very long cables to the point at which is it required. Yeti (haven;t seen him around for a while) may be able to come up with a better suggestion
 
ugh...that's what I was expecting.
Sometimes I just want to hear other people say it...
That's gonna be one upset chef. heheh
swedish_chef.jpg
 
i'll PM yeti to check this out, but i really cant think of anything. What is the ambient temp, and peak and low points in the kitchen in celcius. Also what coooling do you have at the moment, and what are the temps of your cpu (you can check this in bios)
 
Unfortunately this machine is in Houston and I'm 3 hours away in Dallas.

I'll have to make a trip down there to get an official reading inside the box, but I'll update you on what I find when I'm down there.

In the kitchen area the temperature ranges between 26.6 to 40 or so.

As far as the actual cooling..I'm not 100% sure. I'm sure it's got some standard heatsync that came with the box. Keep in mind I'm brand new to this position and haven't had time to do any inventory of what I have.

I'll keep you updated.
 
whats the layout of this kitchen like, i ask in case you have a dry stores area thats nearby or a part of the kitchen where temps might be lower. I setup a system for the chef at a restaurant I used to work in and found that the dry stores was at a much lower overall temp and was situated right next to the kitchen meaning it was not a long way for the chef to travel.

The main box however did have an improved heatsink in it and i added two extra 120mm fans to give a good flow through the box but end result was a stable system for chef to use for his ordering and stock takes
 
I'm so glad I'm getting some good advice here! I think I'll stick around for a while! :D

Anyways, the machine actually is in the dry storage area (marked by blue). The PC (red diamond) is noted. Perhaps moving it to another corner farther away might be an option to consider.

Regardless, I think an upgrade on the heatsync is going to be manditory.
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dont forget too that the hottest places in that kitchen are going to be next to the ovens (yeah i know obvious) but also near to any fridge/freezer equipment. The main element of the freezer unit gets it cool by drawing heat out so the exterior working parts get extremely hot. Thus making that area fairly warm i would guess.

Moving it would probably make a great option, find somehwere in the kitchen area with the least equipment near it so theres nothing else to heat it up.

As mentioned before, the ideal option would be to store the base unit somewhere else, like a room nearby and cable the monitor, keyboard and mouse etc into the kitchen seperately
 
BinaryWASP said:
Unfortunately this machine is in Houston and I'm 3 hours away in Dallas.
Click to expand...

My neck of the woods, eh? :D Dallas metro here.

I'd suggest a copper heatsink with a 45CFM+ rated fan. I'd imagine noise is no issue since it's in a bog noisy kitchen. Also, do you know the ducting material behind a dryer machine? aluminum foil looking? You could modify the side panel to attach this, port it to another room, and use a large industrial exhaust fan at the end to suck all the hot air out of the machine. Not sure how effective it will be but worth a try if you have the materials around, pretty cheap stuff.
 
BinaryWASP said:
Frisco huh?

Well, I'm technically in Plano. Moving to Frisco to be closer to the girlfriend.
....
http://www.studiomoviegrill.com

Hit me up and I can get you some free movie tickets.
Click to expand...

ALRIGHT!!! :D I knew moving here would pay off!

I do believe I've passed that before, never been though. Next time we go out I'll be sure to PM you for 2 tickets if it's possible. Thanks man!
 
Another problem that I don't think was addressed is the high humidity and grease in the air. The grease in particular will play hell with the cpu fins/cooling fan. It will retain dust and reduce cooling.

If the pc is in a separate room, the effect will depend on the air flow and direction, how much the door is open, how much air is recycled in the hvac system.

PCs operate in far worse conditions than these. For your future reference Google "industrial pc" to get some ideas of what is out there. They tend to be low tech cpus (don't believe the cook if he says his recipes are high tech) but can work at high temps (up to say 50 degC). Much more expensive than the average pc. You could also have a workstation remote from the pc as already suggested.

Starman*
 
In the late 80s I worked in a place similar to this: an autoclave room. Even in the winter, the temps were around 30°C, with very high humidity and dust year round, and the inventory computer kept crashing. Even lots of fans and a custom case couldn't stop the problems. They gave up:( after two weeks because long enough cables weren't available back then to put the computer in another room that was cooler.
Tom
 
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For the CPU, I'd suggest a Zalman CNPS9500LED or a Thermalright XP-120 with a fan with CFM above 70. Also get a case that will circulate enough air for you.
 
Computing power is of no consequence for a kitchen pc unless someone publishes a gaming version of Iron Chef! Here's a guide to max cpu operating temps. The standard Athlon XP can run up to 95 degC. Hot enough to do a few crepes on the side?

Starman*
 
Well another suggestion...

Place the computer in the area of all the other PCs. and run a montior cable with a keyboard and Mouse cable to the location we needs it. Fixes the heat issue, and the wireless connection issue. Fairly cheap being only the cost of the extension cables. It would save room aswell.
 
Trizoy said:
Well another suggestion...

Place the computer in the area of all the other PCs. and run a montior cable with a keyboard and Mouse cable to the location we needs it. Fixes the heat issue, and the wireless connection issue. Fairly cheap being only the cost of the extension cables. It would save room aswell.
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thats what i was thinkin...or even put the copmuter in the freezer, and run cables for monitor/mouse/keyboard out the door or cut a hole or something
 
Freezer room in a kitchen is precious...at least in my 2 freezers it is lol. doubt they want a PC mess in there.
 
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