Monitoring your water cooling pumps

T

Thrust

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 20, 2006
Messages
482
I wanted to monitor the water flow of my 2 water loops but the only thing I found was a way to monitor the electric to the pump, NOT the actual water flow. I didn't want the in-line plastic spinning indicators, I wanted something more high tech. I finally came across this item and purchased 2 of them. http://cgi.ebay.com/Koolance-INS-FM17-Coolant-Flow-Meter-%26-Adapter-Board-_W0QQitemZ380106576898QQcmdZViewItem

Apparently these can hook up to your fan headers and accurately report the liters/hours via any monitoring software (like it was a fan). I intend to have it read the flow to me via Everest + my G15 keyboard.

I'll post back after I test/use these to let you know if they're worth the cash. If anyone uses/has used these feel free to post your thoughts.
 
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OK, I got the sensors but there's a minor problem. These don't come with any barbs so as-is you can't install them in your water loop. Kinda pisses me off that I have to order/buy additional parts (1/2" barbs) in order to get it working. Could you imagine buying a water block and it not having barbs to hook the hoses on?!?!?! Anyways, I found the ones I need for my 1/2" ID hoses and ordered them for $4.50 each. The barbs were delivered today, so when I get home i'll be installing them and checkin back with pics.
 
They had holes for barbs but no actual barbs? I think that's how my MCRAD-220 from Swiftech came. I had already assumed I would need barbs though and bought like 6-8 of them along with the rest of my kit. Turns out the radiator was the only one I really needed them for.

GL with the flow monitoring, seems really interesting. Let us know how it works out. :)
 
OK. I got the electronic pump sensors installed. It was pretty much a straight up install, without much of a hassle.

Packaging:
kool.jpg


Out of the box/bag:
kool1.jpg

As you can see the actual sensor does NOT come with any means to attach your water lines. (C'mon Koolance, you could easily make this a "1/2" Water Sensor Kit" or "3/8" Water Sensor Kit" by adding the appropriate barbs. You make customers spend at least another $9 for 2 barbs PLUS SHIPPING!) This still pisses me off o_O

Amplifier: (I'm sorry my camera is a P.O.S.)
kool2.jpg

Kinda hard to tell from this pic but the little green blob is a switch. It's currently set for a 1/2" or 3/8" (10-13mm) lines. If you're using 1/4" (6mm) hoses then simply flick the switch to that setting.

1/2" Barbs:
kool3.jpg

These are the barbs I ordered (that you need to purchase SEPARATELY)

Assembled Sensor:
kool4.jpg

These barbs have thumbscrew edges for easy install and uses an o-ring to seal the union.

Complete Assembly:
kool5.jpg

Pretty cut-and-dry here. 2-pin from flow sensor goes to the amplifier, 3-pin goes to a fan header on the motherboard and the molex is needed for power.

Everest settings for use with G15 keyboard:
kool7.jpg
kool7.JPG

File>Preferences>LCD to setup what you want to monitor.

I do love my G15!: (thanks Goat Eater!)
kool6.jpg

I've got 2 water loops- 1 for CPU+South Bridge and 1 for 2 Vcards +North Bridge+Voltage regulators. I've got my readout setup for CPU Temp, GPU1 & GPU2 Temp (SLI), CPU Pump, GPU Pump and CPU Clock. i've also setup Everest to alert me whenever the water goes below 1000 mL/min and if the temps get too high. (Funny since my QX6850's thermal limit is the same as the boiling temperature of water!)

Initially I was ecstatic. Although I did think it was odd that CPU Loop with CPU + South Bridge was reading less flow than my GPU's loop. Not a huge difference, but a little. Now, for some reason, the CPU loop is reading a constant 3590 (mL/min). When they both were around 2400 mL/min I did some math and figured it to be roughly 138 LPH.

Just as i was about to complain about it reading 3590 that loop finally showed a more accurate reading of 2120 mL/min. At least I know it's pumping!

The whole reason for all this was so I would know that my pumps are actually pumping. NOT that they had power to them, because it's possible my pumps could have power and not be working properly. I didn't like the in-line spinner-type flow meter because that would require me to bend down and physically look at them plus there's no alert with those. I have to say G15 + Everest + Koolance electronic flow sensors is really sweet.

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Or you could just plug the 3-pin header that comes with MCP350/355/655 into any motherboard fan header and see the RPMs that are reported. Here is the shot in Everest of my 350's RPMs:

pumprpms.jpg
 
My 655 doesn't have an RPM monitoring function.

This was pretty cool, thanks.
 
I guess I should put in the cost of this setup. The Electronic water flow sensor runs for $29.95 and the barbs are $4.50 (x2). And don't forget shipping (I ordered double since I've got 2 loops). I think the total was around $90 for everything for both loops.


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Do you see in the title of the ebay auction where it says [NO NOZZLES]? That means that it doesn't come with nozzles for the hoses...

Anyways, why do you really need to see L/hr? Your alarm can be set to go off at an RPM threshold or a temp threshold, so you've effectively paid $65 plus shipping to see the same information in different units (you're seeing the RPM of a fan propelled by the water now isntead of RPM of the pump).
 
novadude said:
Do you see in the title of the ebay auction where it says [NO NOZZLES]? That means that it doesn't come with nozzles for the hoses...

Anyways, why do you really need to see L/hr? Your alarm can be set to go off at an RPM threshold or a temp threshold, so you've effectively paid $65 plus shipping to see the same information in different units (you're seeing the RPM of a fan propelled by the water now isntead of RPM of the pump).
Click to expand...

Note: I first wrote up a nice response without any hint of aggression or impartiality, however I then figured, "screw these guys. I go to all this trouble and all they do is sh*t all over my post???" So now I'm taking this a little personal and speaking with my heart.

nice thread crap dewd. Try and understand this (which I've said already in this thread twice but I'll say for a 3rd time for absolutely feeble minds like yours). This setup monitors WATER FLOW , that is, water actually moving in my water hoses. I could care less about monitoring if the pump is getting power or if the shaft is spinning. Ever have a pump shear the impeller before???? I have. That motor was spinning just fine, but it wasn't turning the impeller and it wasn't pumping any water. You even said it yourself - "you're seeing the RPM of a fan propelled by the water now isntead of RPM of the pump" (complete with typo's) and you still don't get it! Maybe a fourth time might help!?! I w-a-n-t-e-d t-o- m-o-n-i-t-o-r a-c-t-u-a-l W-A-T-E-R F-L-O-W, n-o-t p-u-m-p R-P-M. (I even spelled it out for you.) Now go crap on someone's else's thread.

I tellya, one more Einstein that comes in here spouting off and it'll be the last "review" I do- sheesh.
 
Thrust said:
Note: I first wrote up a nice response without any hint of aggression or impartiality, however I then figured, "screw these guys. I go to all this trouble and all they do is sh*t all over my post???" So now I'm taking this a little personal and speaking with my heart.

nice thread crap dewd. Try and understand this (which I've said already in this thread twice but I'll say for a 3rd time for absolutely feeble minds like yours). This setup monitors WATER FLOW , that is, water actually moving in my water hoses. I could care less about monitoring if the pump is getting power or if the shaft is spinning. Ever have a pump shear the impeller before???? I have. That motor was spinning just fine, but it wasn't turning the impeller and it wasn't pumping any water. You even said it yourself - "you're seeing the RPM of a fan propelled by the water now isntead of RPM of the pump" (complete with typo's) and you still don't get it! Maybe a fourth time might help!?! I w-a-n-t-e-d t-o- m-o-n-i-t-o-r a-c-t-u-a-l W-A-T-E-R F-L-O-W, n-o-t p-u-m-p R-P-M. (I even spelled it out for you.) Now go crap on someone's else's thread.

I tellya, one more Einstein that comes in here spouting off and it'll be the last "review" I do- sheesh.
Click to expand...

Yes I have broken pumps, never sheared off a shaft with a tiny pump like these though; these tend to sieze. But either way: that's what the temperature monitor is for, something the same program you're using handles.

And as for threadcrapping, this whole thread was started by you to see if these are worth the money. As this is something that even you haven't done yet past bitching that the box labled as not including nozzles doesn't include any nozzles, I did it for you: at a cost of $65+ shipping most people could deal with having their system shut off if either the pump stops or the temps go over 80-90°C.
 
This looks cool. I have also been looking for something to connect to my T-balancer for water flow. I am kinda confused, does this also do water temp?
 
mejohnm said:
This looks cool. I have also been looking for something to connect to my T-balancer for water flow. I am kinda confused, does this also do water temp?
Click to expand...

No, I wish it did. (That'll probably be included in their next model. LOL) But for about $5 shipped you can buy a simple temperature monitor for an aquarium that has an LCD readout- just drop the sensor in your reservoir(s).
 
Looks pretty cool, although the use of bold for everything you write is kind of annoying.
 
On the subject of unlikely impeller-shaft snapping (or impossible, in the case of non-coupled pumps like the Laings): this would be accompanied with a massive RPM increase as the load on the motor is removed. Simply monitor the RPM cable for incredibly high RPMs as well as 0, and you've saved yourself a chunk of money and a potentially restrictive flow sensor.
 
Most water cooling components don't come with barbs because everyone uses varying tubing sizes. It wouldn't make sense for Koolance to sell various sized barbs since they may have trouble selling different versions. Selling the part without barbs gives the user the option to select the barb that fits their needs. I'd rather pay less for a part with no barbs, than buy a part and pay an extra $10 for barbs which are going to sit in a drawer.
 
monitoring the flow of water in your WCing setup is pretty much useless. what does it matter to you if it flows at 100l/hr or 1000l/hr if your temps are at its maximum?

the only thing you need to monitor is that your temps are good. you'll know immediately (and should have a overheating shut down setting with your MB) that your water cooling pump has a problem if your temps are too high.

the only reason on monitoring the flow of your water is if you're doing tests on many different water cooling parts (such as blocks) to compare the restrictiveness of them. otherwise, in a normal loop, there is no need to monitor water flow.
 
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