Easy way to drain system?

[Aris]

I've been thinking of ways to setup my system that will allow it to very easily drain it, and i was wondering how all of you drain your systems. refilling wont be a problem, but im not totally sure how to completely drain the system without taking all my electronics out first.

pics to illistrate would be helpfull also. Thanks.

 

[Double Jesus]

well i don't have any pics but I used some extra quick connectors that i had leftover from my fluval 303 canister filter (for my fish tank). it's just 2 valves that shut off the water and then disconnect in the middle of them.

 

[govtcheez]

well i don't have any pics but I used some extra quick connectors that i had leftover from my fluval 303 canister filter (for my fish tank). it's just 2 valves that shut off the water and then disconnect in the middle of them.

are those restrictive? How much and where did you get them?

I just set up my first water cooling setup just cooling the CPU. I then got a GPU Block and in the process of adding that to the loop, I set up a T-line. I'm sure this will be a huge help in draining, and refilling.

 

[Double Jesus]

nope not restrictive (when they're wide open) since it's just like hose. you can partially close them off and they get restrictive but other than that I don't think they are (aquarium filters need flow too!)

edit: I got them at the pet store of course! they were like $20 or so. they have different sizes too, just under 1/2" and just under 3/4" i think. you'd be best to get the 3/4" ones for 1/2 tubing and 1/2" ones for 3/8". they may have others at your local pet store too go and experiment! i can get pics of them later tonight when i get home...

 

[bradyapba]

Quick connects!

in use!

worklog

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=946726&page=1&pp=20

 

[Erasmus354]

The easiest way to make your system easy to drain is to put a T-line after your pump. Off of the T you have a ball valve. When you want to drain your loop you can clamp the tubing off (or use a ball valve here as well) going to the rest of the loop after the T and open the ball valve on the drain pipe. The pump will then pump all of the water out your "drain" line. This ensures that you dont run your pump dry....as when the pump runs out of water you should have no more water in your loop

 

[Top Nurse]

Quick connects!

Just a point of info on those Colder QD's. Even though they have large barbs on the outside of the body the internal valve size is still only 1/4". So if you are willing to do that to your system it shouldn't be a problem to add small diameter waterblocks to your system to cool ram or chipsets.

 

[Aris]

i think im gunna do 2 T connections after the pump. and when i want to redo the water in them i'll put one in an empty bucket and the other into some fresh water to flush the system

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Just a point of info on those Colder QD's. Even though they have large barbs on the outside of the body the internal valve size is still only 1/4". So if you are willing to do that to your system it shouldn't be a problem to add small diameter waterblocks to your system to cool ram or chipsets.

"1/2" Hose barb: .375" flow "
FYI 1/4" would be .250..........
Know your specs please.

 

[Erasmus354]

"1/2" Hose barb: .375" flow "
FYI 1/4" would be .250..........
Know your specs please.

Not to mention a centimeter of 1/4" would have much less of an impact on flow then say that new AC northbridge block...exponentially less.

 

[Top Nurse]

The Colder QD's are 1/4" valve bodies. See the little valve in this pic:

This is one of the things I have mentioned around here and nobody seems to listen. The size of the barb has nothing to do with the "internal valve body" size. See that little tiny thing inside the valve body with a nipple on it? That is where the water goes through and it is highly restrictive. If you don't believe me then take one apart and look for yourself or go to the Colder website and pull up a CAD drawing. However, it would work fine as a drain.

 

[Top Nurse]

Not to mention a centimeter of 1/4" would have much less of an impact on flow then say that new AC northbridge block...exponentially less.

Ahh... pleasant dreams.

 

[Bio-Hazard]

I just setup a real quick test just to see just how much flow would be lost by using the Colder High Flow quick disconnects in a normal loop. This isn't exact, but close enough for who it's for.....................

I ran the test 3 times, with and without the quick disconnects in the loop and came up with an average loss of around 0,1 GPM. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. That's not really a big deal on a high flow system.

 

[Top Nurse]

So where did you put the flowmeter in that loop?

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Who the heck uses one of those stupid things. .................. Start up the pump, start the stop watch and pump for a minute then measure it out................ Just that easy.....................The wife wants her measuring cups bak and clean when I'm done though............

 

[bradyapba]

Not sure why my little connectors are being attacked...

But ill talk about nipples anyday....

anyways...

1.Who said I wanted to cool my ram or the chipset? I never planned to water cool either... and if i had wanted too, I would have, and I would not of been concerned with the flow, If I had wanted too, I would have. So why bring it up? No where in my worklog did I mention I wanted to cool those parts. In my opinion, they dont need it, my ram, and my chipset stay plenty cool just they way they are. Secondly, I couldn't afford the ram blocks anyways, those were way out of my budget. Lastly, if you were going to mention it, why didn't you make a suggestion on how to fix it? How about a connector with a bigger internal nipple with a 3/4 inch connector, that I could of put a 1/2 bard adapter on? Instead of knocking it, why not an appropriate 1/2 inch quick connect solution from you TN?

And Lastly, you need to have a better understanding of the pic. Take a closer look at the part with the barb in it. See how much bigger the opposite side is? Giving the apprearance the nipple is smaller, becuase you think the outer diameter of bigger circle is 1/2, when in fact its larger than 1/2, its 3/4.

But lets not have hear say. So I opened it up and measured. The Verdict??

Not 1/2 or 1/4. The Flow opening where this nipple is in fact....3/8.

So there ya go.

And Top nurse, im not knocking your AC stuff. I love your work log, love how pretty the AC stuff is, and I like the thinner tubing.. gives more of an apprearance of "water" if you ask me... But... i cant afford the stuff.... to each his own...

But instead of blasting my QD's.... and since you seem to know the site so well, why didn't you spend and extra minute, and find me the proper QD with a half inch nipple opening?

 

[bradyapba]

Hey I have that same bucket BH!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

LOL.........they work pretty good...................... You must shop at Wal-Mart also..............

 

[slamgoku]

LOL.........they work pretty good...................... You must shop at Wal-Mart also..............

Yea, i saw that Uniden cordless phone n first thing popped into my head was WAL MART lol

 

[Top Nurse]

Not sure why my little connectors are being attacked...

Not 1/2 or 1/4. The Flow opening where this nipple is in fact....3/8

But instead of blasting my QD's.... and since you seem to know the site so well, why didn't you spend and extra minute, and find me the proper QD with a half inch nipple opening?

I wasn't blasting your QD's in the manner you were going to use them. Just seemed like an opportunity to discuss Colder QD's. The issue is the internal water holes and how much space there is for water to flow. Colder does make bigger internal valve bodies that have very high flow indeed. However, they are a tad on the expensive side and special order so that was why I didn't mention them. Last time I looked into it they were about $100 each +/- 20%.

 

[Top Nurse]

Who the heck uses one of those stupid things. .................. Start up the pump, start the stop watch and pump for a minute then measure it out................ Just that easy.....................The wife wants her measuring cups bak and clean when I'm done though............

Sorry, but that method doesn't work correctly and I figured you would know that. So you really don't use a flowmeter. How did you determine your flow inside your system?

 

[bradyapba]

My QD's have feeling you know

Well, not gonna pay $100 (though I would imagine to upgrade a measely 1/8 of an inch, it cant cost 8 times what I paid for them....) but since I dont know for sure you wont get and argue from me..

but as Bio has showed, and with my measurement of 3/8, they pretty much give you 1/2 flow if you ask me.. the difference is too minimal to worry about.

 

[Erasmus354]

Sorry, but that method doesn't work correctly and I figured you would know that. So you really don't use a flowmeter. How did you determine your flow inside your system?

It works just as correctly as an inaccurate flow meter

 

[Bio-Hazard]

It works just as correctly as an inaccurate flow meter

That's the way I figure it anyway..............

And if I remember correctly, that's the same way Lee does it for complete system flow rates.............. Although I don't have all the fancy continers............

"Pump (connected to reservoir) > 18” Tube > Black Ice Extreme Radiator > 12” Tube > Maze3 Waterblock > 18” Tube > Graduated 5 gallon bottle."

http://www.systemcooling.com/swiftech_mcp655-07.html

But I guess TN knows more than Lee...............NOT.

 

[bradyapba]

The funny part to me is, shes going about this all wrong.

You would think she would be saying...

LOOK LOOK... that QD isn't 1/2 inch, and its not restricting flow.. look at the great cooling results those guys are getting... so if the QD work well, the AC will do!!!

I dont understand the tack shes using...

but thats just me, i shop at wal mart, i cant afford AC stuff...

But wait. I CAN!!! I have 2 of their fan grills in my external box right now

 

[Top Nurse]

The funny part to me is, shes going about this all wrong.

You would think she would be saying...

LOOK LOOK... that QD isn't 1/2 inch, and its not restricting flow.. look at the great cooling results those guys are getting... so if the QD work well, the AC will do!!!

I thought about posting that, but that would have been really OT. Besides I knew someone else would make that point for me.

 

[bradyapba]

see im helpful !

 

[Top Nurse]

That's the way I figure it anyway...

And if I remember correctly, that's the same way Lee does it for complete system flow rates.... Although I don't have all the fancy continers...

"Pump (connected to reservoir) > 18” Tube > Black Ice Extreme Radiator > 12” Tube > Maze3 Waterblock > 18” Tube > Graduated 5 gallon bottle."

http://www.systemcooling.com/swiftech_mcp655-07.html

But I guess TN knows more than Lee...............NOT.

You just keep digging a deeper and deeper hole.

You have to let the system run for a while before you do your testing. Otherwise you get skewed results as the pump doesn't pump stable at startup. Also that particular method of measuring flow is low tech and not indicative of the inside of a real cooling system. What you get with that method is the flow of a open system. So why doesn't SC check with a real flow meter that would give accurate repeatable results? I think I have heard that terminology before about accurate repeatable results somewhere on this forum before.

 

[Top Nurse]

see im helpful !

But of course! And you can't be all bad if you use AC grills.

 

[Top Nurse]

It works just as correctly as an inaccurate flow meter

You said it.

 

[bradyapba]

i love those grills.. they make the system look spiffy

and I would of looked into the AC stuff more if it was cheaper, and more readily available when I bought my stuff months ago..

 

[Top Nurse]

i love those grills.. they make the system look spiffy

and I would of looked into the AC stuff more if it was cheaper, and more readily available when I bought my stuff months ago..

Well it appears to be getting cheaper due the exchange rates and AC also is pricing their stuff more reasonable now. If you want to go overseas then it can get real inexpensive for a decent 150 Euro or more order.

BTW, I shop at Wal-Mart as well so I can afford AC stuff.