Looking for a rugged PC to work in a hostile environment?

Question

Computers

They set me the task of finding equipment - a PC. It is supposed to work in conditions of increased aggressiveness of the environment:
Temperature from -30 C
High humidity ~ 100%.
The impact of any chemistry.
Must work on the street.
It should be possible to display the image on the screen, in connection with which displays of such a plan are also being sought, it is supposed to connect a video camera to it (or connect directly to the display and use the PC <-> switch camera, recording is not required), as well as various sensors: temperature (-30 - 500 C), vibration and others.
Sensors, video cameras, screens on sale found a large assortment for reasonable money, but there are big problems with a PC.
I studied various on-board PCs, solutions from micromax such as ,Stealth LPC
but not satisfied with the price at all. I would like to find a PC itself worth no more than $ 200-300.
It is even possible to work with a soldering iron, but I would like to avoid it.
High performance is not required at all, the most important requirement is to work outdoors in winter: It is quite possible to protect yourself from moisture and any chemistry, if only he does not suffocate then of course ...
Ideally, you need something that you can stuff Linux into and program everything, what is needed.
Advise in which direction to dig in search of such a technical solution?

Answer 1

Look for payment terminals, they are quite resistant, though not very strong, but they are not difficult to program.

Answer 2

And what are you going to feed them on the street and look where? Is it also necessary to have devices that can withstand such conditions? Or will it be a type of server for some kind of sensors? If the first (you need the participation of a person directly with this computer), then you will not find anything cheap, if the second, then you can take something not so protected and add security yourself (polystyrene, things to absorb moisture (as an option, such things are sold with shoes or backpacks , etc)

Answer 3

I don’t catch up, why is -30 annoying?
The usual temperature limits are from -55 to +125, everything that goes beyond them is already Extreme-Temperature Electronic with prices in kilodollars.

Answer 4

The temperature is garbage - below -10 it's sad only if the computer turns off, otherwise it's just to provide heating.
Worse chemical protection, humidity - here, for an independent solution, you will not have to take on a soldering iron, but on a hacksaw for metal, sealant and sculpt a sealed case, think over heat output, etc. ... there are no special requirements for the computer itself (protection from shaking just a problem, and then only because of the cooling systems and methods of attaching components, if they are of course - video cards, expansion cards, disks, ... in some cases, you can generally get by with what will be built into regular or mini-itx boards) .
The monitor is also protected by a box with a glass wall - just again there are requirements for glass, but there are definitely solutions to choose from, contact any office involved in cutting and supplying glass (especially those who make glass-metal furniture in addition - they have more choice of glass types) .
But even worse - anti-vandal solutions, this is not just a durable case, but also its fastening and protection ... it is also a completely different area from IT.

Answer 5

hammerheadspb.narod.ru/index.files/Page831.htm won't work?

Answer 6

If it's "cheap" then only on the basis of processors with low TDP, and even so that the case serves as a radiator. Sculpt the body yourself from aluminum with sealed seams, hang in the shade. Instead of a screw, you can attach a CF card to the IDE. All other options will be more expensive at times, although many times more reliable. For severe frosts, you can put a light bulb for a few watts inside, which you turn on for a short time before turning on the main circuit.

Answer 7

The idea came to mind, if anything - criticize.
Various automation units are widely used in the mine. I personally disassembled them, collected and studied them. The design is as follows: an iron sealed case with a removable front panel, the front panel is screwed on bolts around the entire perimeter, between the panel and the body there is a rubber gasket in the recess. Places of contact with a width of approximately 1 cm along the entire perimeter of the front panel. This place of contact is coated with lithol and closed. As a result, the internal equipment is hermetically sealed from the outside world. The cable entry on the reverse side is also sealed. When assembling, a moisture-absorbing bag is placed inside.
But these are cases that fully meet the requirements of explosion safety in mines.
You can order a body with neatly welded seams from local craftsmen, think over a cable entry, abundantly sealed with sealant. And on this issue of moisture, dust, chemical security will disappear.
What about the temperature: on one video surveillance site I met such advice on organizing a winter box for equipment. A small piece of “cable from the warm floor” is placed inside. It is connected through the regulator from the same heat-insulated floor. The regulator is set to a temperature that is comfortable for your equipment. For reinsurance, you can make a separate compartment for the heating element. The main thing is that between these two compartments the common wall should be larger.
While writing, I thought that the underfloor heating regulator does not have a temperature sensor, but there are other household regulators with a thermometer and a relay. For example, you set it to 20 degrees, the relay turns on at 19 and turns off at 21. Convenient and cheap.
If ordering an iron case turns out to be expensive, then you can assemble it yourself from sheet iron, generously grease the seams with sealant. You can also add an inner shell made of polyethylene.
If you also need a monitor, then the front panel, as mentioned above, is made of some kind of durable plexiglass.