A look back at the development of Water Leak detection in Computer & Server Rooms Water leak detection came about in the late 70’s when computer rooms were in there infancy. Computer rooms as today, contain air conditioning which contains water for humidifiers and sometimes chilled water for cooling. Because of the large amount of Proveedores de Ventiladores al por mayor power cables, data cables and water pipes needed in the room, a raised floor was and is still used to hide all services. Unfortunately, any water leaking under this raised floor would not be discovered until power/data connections were immersed in water and the computer stopped working. Up to the mid 80’s water was detected using spot probe sensors. These units would consist of either an etched PCB or two metal electrodes. Sensing for water was done using a DC voltage in one sensor whilst looking for a return signal in the other. Providing no return signal was seen in the return sensor, no water was present.

The problem using this type of system was erosion of the sensors due to electrolyses and the limited area of water detection, water could flow away from the sensors and not be detected until too late. During the mid 80’s water detection cable was developed. The advantage of this type of sensing being that water is detected along the entire length of cable. This allowed areas or equipment containing water to be surrounded insuring that leaks were found no mater what direction the water flowed. From the mid 80’s through to today advances have mainly been with the alarm panels and the reporting of water leaks. Today you can be Texted, Emailed, receive a phone call, record it on a building management system or just have the simple buzzer and lamp. My involvement in water detection I was first asked to design a water detection system in the late 70’s whilst working as for Vikingshaw Products Ltd. Our Mother company Vikingshaw Ltd at that time built computer rooms around the country and Vinkshaw Products supplied them with Power Distribution Units etc.

The first systems were simple in there design being DC based with PCBS for sensors and control units with a simple buzzer and lamp. Unfortunately it wasn’t long before I discovered that DC was not the correct way to detect water as our sensor copper tracks would disappear if left in water for a few hours. It was from this point that I used an AC signal in the sensors to stop them eroding away. In the Early 80’s I went into partnership and started a company called Wayscale Ltd. During the 80’s, 90’s I developed a process to manufacture water detection cable and alarm systems to display water leaks from one to 128 different areas or zones. The top of the range multi zone control unit used addressable outstations with four independent water detection zones and a 24 alpha numeric display to advise of the water leak location in words and numbers. In 2003 and by mutual consent both my partner and myself decided to stop trading and closed down the factory.