Reflections on watercooling: Difference between revisions

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Every pump I'm aware of runs off 12V, with a maximum draw no greater than 30W. You can thus power them with any combination of Molex, SATA, or even PCIe cables, so long as you match the final form factor. I use PCIe cables with Molex converters; [https://www.performance-pcs.com/cables/power-supply-adapter-cables/pci-express-to-molex-adapter-cable-sleeved-pcie2molex-c.html PerformancePCs] sell a nice sleeved one. Almost all pumps are either D5 or DDC; the former is quieter and more powerful, but slightly larger. I roll exclusively with Liang D5s. PWM models can be controlled on the fly, while "Vario" models have a physical potentiometer which almost always ends up being a bitch and a half to get to. I recommend going with PWM. Varios will typically have a 3-pin hookup reporting tach, while PWM will have a 4-pin hookup.

As for soft vs hard tubing, I use soft tubing, and don't intend to ever do otherwise. Soft tubing is trivial to cut, cheap, has plenty of give, bends without a heating gun, doesn't shatter, and is already quite enough of a pain in the ass. Old types of soft tubing were prone to plasticizer leeching, but newer types don't have them. I recommend [https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-tube-zmt-matte-black-19-4-12-5mm EKWB ZMT] (zero-maintenance tubing), so long as you don't mind it being opaque. Cheap anti-kinking coil can wrap your soft tubing to give it more resistance, and also provide some color.

As for soft vs hard tubing, I use soft tubing, and don't intend to ever do otherwise. Soft tubing is trivial to cut, cheap, has plenty of give, bends without a heating gun, doesn't shatter, and is already quite enough of a pain in the ass. Old types of soft tubing were prone to plasticizer leeching, but newer types don't have them. I recommend [https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-tube-zmt-matte-black-19-4-12-5mm EKWB ZMT] (zero-maintenance tubing), so long as you don't mind it being opaque. Cheap anti-kinking coil can wrap your soft tubing to give it more resistance, and also provide some color. (Some) hard tubing can survive higher temperatures than soft tubing, but such high temperatures are bad for your other components, especially pumps, and ought be avoided.

Reservoirs are primarily useful to keep pumps wet. Adding water volume doesn't solve any real problems in one's loop. Pumps will quickly deteriorate if run dry. It's doubtful that you'll have more than a liter of coolant throughout your loop. I've provided some component volumes in [[Schwarzgerät_III#Bespoke_loop|this table]].

Draining your loop will be a pain in the ass no matter what. The process is simplified with drains, which ought be put as low in your loop as possible (gravitational low). With that said, no drain is going to completely clear your loop by itself; there will be some shaking and leaning involved. The use of quick-disconnect valves can help; when engaged, they partition the loop. Draining is typically accomplished with either ball valves (they have a lever which controls flow) or drain valves (they are airtight unless depressed, at which point they allow flow). Drain valves typically come with two tops: a short closed one which is typically used, and a longer, open one which is used for draining (it presses the flow control, and allows a compression fitting to be screwed in).

Draining your loop will be a pain in the ass no matter what. The process is simplified with drains, which ought be put as low in your loop as possible (gravitational low). With that said, no drain is going to completely clear your loop by itself; there will be some shaking and leaning involved. The use of quick-disconnect valves can help; when engaged, they partition the loop. Draining is typically accomplished with either ball valves (they have a lever which controls flow) or drain valves (they are airtight unless depressed, at which point they allow flow). Drain valves typically come with two tops: a short closed one which is typically used, and a longer, open one which is used for draining (it presses the flow control, and allows a compression fitting to be screwed in). If you don't have a free port in which you might add a drain, a T-valve can be useful.

Hard and soft tubing use different connectors. Soft tubing is best combined with G¼ compression fittings. Hard tubing seems to use barb fittings, but I don't really know much about it. Compression fittings are virtually leak-proof when used correctly. First, ensure that there's no dust on the o-ring(s). Screw the base securely into the port, being careful not to overtighten (overtightening reduces the effectiveness of o-rings. Do you want to blow up <i>Challenger</i>?). Insert the tube into the ring (run the tube under warm water if you encounter difficulties), until a bit of tube comes out the other side. Connect the tube to the base, pushing it as far down as it can go. Rotate the ring until it is tight and touching the base. Ideally, you should see neither threading nor tubing between the base and the ring. Go ahead and yank on the tube. It's not going anywhere.

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 Every pump I'm aware of runs off 12V, with a maximum draw no greater than 30W. You can thus power them with any combination of Molex, SATA, or even PCIe cables, so long as you match the final form factor. I use PCIe cables with Molex converters; [https://www.performance-pcs.com/cables/power-supply-adapter-cables/pci-express-to-molex-adapter-cable-sleeved-pcie2molex-c.html PerformancePCs] sell a nice sleeved one. Almost all pumps are either D5 or DDC; the former is quieter and more powerful, but slightly larger. I roll exclusively with Liang D5s. PWM models can be controlled on the fly, while "Vario" models have a physical potentiometer which almost always ends up being a bitch and a half to get to. I recommend going with PWM. Varios will typically have a 3-pin hookup reporting tach, while PWM will have a 4-pin hookup.
-As for soft vs hard tubing, I use soft tubing, and don't intend to ever do otherwise. Soft tubing is trivial to cut, cheap, has plenty of give, bends without a heating gun, doesn't shatter, and is already quite enough of a pain in the ass. Old types of soft tubing were prone to plasticizer leeching, but newer types don't have them. I recommend [https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-tube-zmt-matte-black-19-4-12-5mm EKWB ZMT] (zero-maintenance tubing), so long as you don't mind it being opaque. Cheap anti-kinking coil can wrap your soft tubing to give it more resistance, and also provide some color.
+As for soft vs hard tubing, I use soft tubing, and don't intend to ever do otherwise. Soft tubing is trivial to cut, cheap, has plenty of give, bends without a heating gun, doesn't shatter, and is already quite enough of a pain in the ass. Old types of soft tubing were prone to plasticizer leeching, but newer types don't have them. I recommend [https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-tube-zmt-matte-black-19-4-12-5mm EKWB ZMT] (zero-maintenance tubing), so long as you don't mind it being opaque. Cheap anti-kinking coil can wrap your soft tubing to give it more resistance, and also provide some color. (Some) hard tubing can survive higher temperatures than soft tubing, but such high temperatures are bad for your other components, especially pumps, and ought be avoided.
 Reservoirs are primarily useful to keep pumps wet. Adding water volume doesn't solve any real problems in one's loop. Pumps will quickly deteriorate if run dry. It's doubtful that you'll have more than a liter of coolant throughout your loop. I've provided some component volumes in [[Schwarzgerät_III#Bespoke_loop|this table]].
-Draining your loop will be a pain in the ass no matter what. The process is simplified with drains, which ought be put as low in your loop as possible (gravitational low). With that said, no drain is going to completely clear your loop by itself; there will be some shaking and leaning involved. The use of quick-disconnect valves can help; when engaged, they partition the loop. Draining is typically accomplished with either ball valves (they have a lever which controls flow) or drain valves (they are airtight unless depressed, at which point they allow flow). Drain valves typically come with two tops: a short closed one which is typically used, and a longer, open one which is used for draining (it presses the flow control, and allows a compression fitting to be screwed in).
+Draining your loop will be a pain in the ass no matter what. The process is simplified with drains, which ought be put as low in your loop as possible (gravitational low). With that said, no drain is going to completely clear your loop by itself; there will be some shaking and leaning involved. The use of quick-disconnect valves can help; when engaged, they partition the loop. Draining is typically accomplished with either ball valves (they have a lever which controls flow) or drain valves (they are airtight unless depressed, at which point they allow flow). Drain valves typically come with two tops: a short closed one which is typically used, and a longer, open one which is used for draining (it presses the flow control, and allows a compression fitting to be screwed in). If you don't have a free port in which you might add a drain, a T-valve can be useful.
+Hard and soft tubing use different connectors. Soft tubing is best combined with G¼ compression fittings. Hard tubing seems to use barb fittings, but I don't really know much about it. Compression fittings are virtually leak-proof when used correctly. First, ensure that there's no dust on the o-ring(s). Screw the base securely into the port, being careful not to overtighten (overtightening reduces the effectiveness of o-rings. Do you want to blow up <i>Challenger</i>?). Insert the tube into the ring (run the tube under warm water if you encounter difficulties), until a bit of tube comes out the other side. Connect the tube to the base, pushing it as far down as it can go. Rotate the ring until it is tight and touching the base. Ideally, you should see neither threading nor tubing between the base and the ring. Go ahead and yank on the tube. It's not going anywhere.

Reflections on watercooling: Difference between revisions

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