How To Drain A Custom Loop

[Jodomcfrodo]

Hey LTT,

I'm new to watercooling and was wondering how you drain a custom loop without running air through the pump. How do you go about getting the liquid out of the tubing?

 

Also, is this pump enough to run a 240 and a 360 rad along with 1 gpu and 1 cpu? Any better pumps you would recommend that use G1/4 threads?

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13148/ex-pmp-132/Alphacool_VPP655_Variable_Speed_Pump_-_HF_Top_Edition.html?tl=g30c107s1802

 

Thanks!

[xToFxREAPER]

Hey LTT,

I'm new to watercooling and was wondering how you drain a custom loop without running air through the pump. How do you go about getting the liquid out of the tubing?

 

Also, is this pump enough to run a 240 and a 360 rad along with 1 gpu and 1 cpu? Any better pumps you would recommend that use G1/4 threads?

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13148/ex-pmp-132/Alphacool_VPP655_Variable_Speed_Pump_-_HF_Top_Edition.html?tl=g30c107s1802

 

Thanks!

That pump should be good im running the same off of the h320 cpu/pump combo unit and my temps are very nice and im actually gonna add more to it when i can. as for draining i wouldnt mind some tips on this myself i since custom loops are new to me as well.. Any water cooling gurus around to chime in perhaps?

[Jodomcfrodo]

That pump should be good im running the same off of the h320 cpu/pump combo unit and my temps are very nice and im actually gonna add more to it when i can. as for draining i wouldnt mind some tips on this myself i since custom loops are new to me as well.. Any water cooling gurus around to chime in perhaps?

Random side note but you joined the forum on my birthday... But if you're running on a h320 pump, then I should be good. LOL

[xToFxREAPER]

Random side note but you joined the forum on my birthday... But if you're running on a h320 pump, then I should be good. LOL

yeah this h320 pump is surprisingly strong a small tidbit on my temps and stuff can be found here. Its post 23 that says how it turned out so you gotta scroll up a touch. should give you a pretty good idea of what your looking at for your own loop.

[cooperred]

That pump should be good im running the same off of the h320 cpu/pump combo unit and my temps are very nice and im actually gonna add more to it when i can. as for draining i wouldnt mind some tips on this myself i since custom loops are new to me as well.. Any water cooling gurus around to chime in perhaps?

 

 

Hey LTT,

I'm new to watercooling and was wondering how you drain a custom loop without running air through the pump. How do you go about getting the liquid out of the tubing?

 

Also, is this pump enough to run a 240 and a 360 rad along with 1 gpu and 1 cpu? Any better pumps you would recommend that use G1/4 threads?

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13148/ex-pmp-132/Alphacool_VPP655_Variable_Speed_Pump_-_HF_Top_Edition.html?tl=g30c107s1802

 

Thanks!

Draining wise, you have a couple of options. 

 

1. Use a QDC somewhere in your loop, preferably near the bottom.

2. Have a T connector with a valve, also near the bottom ideally. When you drain, connect a tubing leading to somewhere, open the valve, open up another port on your res, and out comes the liquid

3. The ghetto option, remove some fittings/tubing. 

[Jodomcfrodo]

Draining wise, you have a couple of options. 

 

1. Use a QDC somewhere in your loop, preferably near the bottom.

2. Have a T connector with a valve, also near the bottom ideally. When you drain, connect a tubing leading to somewhere, open the valve, open up another port on your res, and out comes the liquid

3. The ghetto option, remove some fittings/tubing. 

But won't air be going through the pump then? The T connector will get the water out of the res but not the tubes... Am I missing something?

[TheNinjaNextDor]

Just pull a tube out toward the bottom and have a bowl ready. It'll drain everything out. (Except rads, but tip the case or just pull them out and you're good)

[cooperred]

But won't air be going through the pump then? The T connector will get the water out of the res but not the tubes... Am I missing something?

You turn the pump off before all this. Also, that's why you open the fill port or another port. The incoming air will force all the fluid out of your loop. The T connector isn't anywhere near your res (or it doesn't have to be)

[Jedicake]

Damn, quick disconnects are sweet

[Lays]

Hey LTT,

I'm new to watercooling and was wondering how you drain a custom loop without running air through the pump. How do you go about getting the liquid out of the tubing?

 

Also, is this pump enough to run a 240 and a 360 rad along with 1 gpu and 1 cpu? Any better pumps you would recommend that use G1/4 threads?

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13148/ex-pmp-132/Alphacool_VPP655_Variable_Speed_Pump_-_HF_Top_Edition.html?tl=g30c107s1802

 

Thanks!

 

 

Get a drain fitting and hook it up in the bottom of your loop, if you get rads that have a drain plug you can screw it in like that.

 

 

[Leonard]

Hey LTT,

I'm new to watercooling and was wondering how you drain a custom loop without running air through the pump. How do you go about getting the liquid out of the tubing?

 

Also, is this pump enough to run a 240 and a 360 rad along with 1 gpu and 1 cpu? Any better pumps you would recommend that use G1/4 threads?

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13148/ex-pmp-132/Alphacool_VPP655_Variable_Speed_Pump_-_HF_Top_Edition.html?tl=g30c107s1802

 

Thanks!

Yes the pump is more than enough for the two radiators and 1 gpu and 1 cpu. You will also be able to add other waterblocks with that pump in the future if you so desire. When choosing a pump for you custom loop/s you must ascertain how many waterblocks, radiators and the number and type of fittings that you will be using. i.e. if you maybe using quick disconnects and mosfet waterblocks, they are quit restrictive to water flow so pump pressure is needed to counteract the restrictiveness but you also need flow rate and the higher the better. 

 

@Lays has one of the best and most commonly used ways to drain your custom water loop without removing the parts. Just follow what he says and you can find those drain fittings on frozencpu as well. I personally do not use this as when i drain my loop it is time to do servicing as well so i just remove the whole water loop, disconnect the tubes let the water drain in the sink and clean all parts at the same time, then just put back everything and refill. Time frame for that is like every six to eight months, once i did not change water or clean my loop for a year and all was good. I don't use dyes just plain distilled water with monsoon silver bullets.

 

That pump should be good im running the same off of the h320 cpu/pump combo unit and my temps are very nice and im actually gonna add more to it when i can. as for draining i wouldnt mind some tips on this myself i since custom loops are new to me as well.. Any water cooling gurus around to chime in perhaps?

[Jodomcfrodo]

Yes the pump is more than enough for the two radiators and 1 gpu and 1 cpu. You will also be able to add other waterblocks with that pump in the future if you so desire. When choosing a pump for you custom loop/s you must ascertain how many waterblocks, radiators and the number and type of fittings that you will be using. i.e. if you maybe using quick disconnects and mosfet waterblocks, they are quit restrictive to water flow so pump pressure is needed to counteract the restrictiveness but you also need flow rate and the higher the better. 

 

@Lays has one of the best and most commonly used ways to drain your custom water loop without removing the parts. Just follow what he says and you can find those drain fittings on frozencpu as well. I personally do not use this as when i drain my loop it is time to do servicing as well so i just remove the whole water loop, disconnect the tubes let the water drain in the sink and clean all parts at the same time, then just put back everything and refill. Time frame for that is like every six to eight months, once i did not change water or clean my loop for a year and all was good. I don't use dyes just plain distilled water with monsoon silver bullets.

I'm just gonna get two valves and link a small piece of tube between them. Close them both and then open them into a bucket or something. Simplest way not to mess up.

[cooperred]

I'm just gonna get two valves and link a small piece of tube between them. Close them both and then open them into a bucket or something. Simplest way not to mess up.

Most valves have female threads on both sides so you'd need 4 extra fittings.... Just get a QDC if you're going to do that.

[Jodomcfrodo]

Most valves have female threads on both sides so you'd need 4 extra fittings.... Just get a QDC if you're going to do that.

Thats what I was planning on doing with 4 fittings. I'll look into to QDC's but this seemed the easiest to me.

 

Edit: Oh they're basically the same thing lol

[Leonard]

I'm just gonna get two valves and link a small piece of tube between them. Close them both and then open them into a bucket or something. Simplest way not to mess up.

Just remember you will need fittings for the valves. It could be compressions or barbs.

[Jodomcfrodo]

Just remember you will need fittings for the valves. It could be compressions or barbs.

Now that I realize that QDC's are the same thing, I'm gonna go with those. Much simpler and cleaner looking. Thanks for your help!