Quick disconnects and shutoff valves

[UmbraSprite]

I am looking for some quick disconnects and also a shutoff that can be used as a drain. I will be using the 655 as a pump and 1/2ID tubing. I want to minimize the flow resistance but am looking to make modifying/draining the system a fairly friendly procedure.

What are you guys using and where are you buying your parts? Most of what I find is not designed for 1/2 inch tubing.

Thanks in advance...

 

[dedwards]

I don't have any scientific data to back this up, but the quick couplings I've looked at seem like they would be major flow-killers. I bought a couple from Colder Products, which are very high quality, but they look restrictive so I decided not to use them.

I hope someone will chime in with an answer on the draining issue. I would like to find a way to make that process easier, too.

DE

 

[oooeric]

get T lines from DD or swiftech or any other major WC item maker.
since DD and SFT has like 1/2" ID T's.. those arent as restrictive as like lets say,,, home depot T's


after you get a T, then use a home depot drain valve thinger as it wont be inline with your main loop.

i would also after the drain, add like a 2" piece of tube and plug it with anything just incase it leaks o so slowly

 

[jmphx]

I have a 1/2" tubing system too, with an external waterbox. I use some of these Colder QD's. You'll find a little bit of info on them around these forums and others. My external waterbox was based a bit on Bio-Hazard's project, here , where you can see some pics of these QD's in action.

although these couplings take 1/2" tubing, the internal diameter is shrunked down to 3/8" to accomodate the quick-disconnect mechanism.

There's been a lot of arguments on [h] about whether or not these QD's kill the flow. In my experience, it seems just fine. Although I have not done any scientific study to see what the flow would be without the QD's or how different temps would be.

They're pricey, but VERY slick. Definetly consider them. I only bought 2 sets of these, which came to roughly $50, IIRC. I only put them on the external waterbox. On the actual PC case, I did not install any QD's, as Bio-Hazard did in his project.

(The 5-digit number on the left is the part # from usplastics.com)

60695 1/2" Polypropylene Bulkhead Panel Mount Hose Barb Shutoff - Coupling Body

60814 1/2" Polypropylene Hose Barb Shutoff - Coupling Insert

 

[UmbraSprite]

Thanks all...

Still not convince on any of the parts I have seen so far. I used to build misting systems and it was perfect because my pumps were incredibly powerful. (incredibly loud but powerful) I really want the flexibility....particularly for filling and draining.

What would the flow impact be related to the drain/fill tubing be if not locked out? The column of water seems like it would still divert some of the pressure out of the main loop. The only reason I am at all nervous is the Storm is rather restrictive. The rev 2 version made some improvements to flow rate...does anyone have experience with it?

 

[bradyapba]

I use the same system Bio did.

more here

worklog


Works great.. making emptying the system a snap... no leakage just a few drops when you disconnect.

They also have NO restriction on flow. The 3/8 diameter they have to travel through, is about 1/4 long. Not enough to effect flow. As Bio and I have both shown in tests...with this quick disconnects connected to the pump (655) still got roughly 315 gallon output...rated at 317.

SO they dont restrict the flow at all.

 

[jmphx]

I use the same system Bio did.

They also have NO restriction on flow. The 3/8 diameter they have to travel through, is about 1/4 long. Not enough to effect flow. As Bio and I have both shown in tests...with this quick disconnects connected to the pump (655) still got roughly 315 gallon output...rated at 317.

SO they dont restrict the flow at all.

Hey, that's awesome. I never saw any results of testing on the colder QD's. Thanks for clearing that up for me, once and for all (not that i was ever going to give up my CQD's!)

 

[joecop120]

be forewarned that the Innovatek and Alphacool QDs DO hamper flow. The good thing is that they do not leak, the downside is that they seem to be based on high pressure fittings, and not low pressure, high flow watercooling needs.

 

[bitbum]

Is there such a thing as a barbed tube to tube connector that can be panel mounted?

 

[jmphx]

Is there such a thing as a barbed tube to tube connector that can be panel mounted?

i have not used any myself, if i did, i would probably just end up using the Colder panel mount QD's for the added benefit of the QD functionality, despite the cost. They are slick.

a quick google search for "barbed tube connector panel mount" revealed these, which look to be along the lines of what you are asking, although the sizes look too small for most of our usual needs:
http://www.valueplastics.com/products/new_prod.asp

i didn't dig too much deeper through the google search results, so there may be something else out there