Testing a WC loop

[Imabigmac]

I have never set up a Custom loop, but from what I have watched in terms of install videos people seem to anticipate leaks someone in the system often times risking components. So why risk it with water?   Why not take the approach of the construction industry and with any new pipeline they pressure test it with air, before putting fluid in at the same pressure as the liquid would be at. Rig up a pressure gauge to one end and air value on the other and level it under pressure for a day or 2. The hardware involved isn't expensive and is fairly easy to obtain. Perhaps its more work than just letting a pump run for hours without components on. 

 

Thoughts?      

 

 

I would probably just do this for if I ever constructed a WC loop. 

[Deletive]

That will break the pump. 

[Imabigmac]

That will break the pump. 

Ok so you take the pump out of the loop. 

[PuNkPoEtS]

With anything when it comes to computers I will just say take your time and as long as you do that you will be fine and as you have said you have done some research on it ans I'll say keep researching as you will never have enough knowledge about it. The reason why people test it with water is for a leak test to make sure it doesn't leak. You only have your pump and or fans powered to make sure you don't kill anything while you do this. If you do an air test it may come up ok but as soon as you use a fluid it may leak which means you have wasted time doing the air test.

@Imabigmac

[skline00]

Take the time and fill the loop with distilled water. Put paper towel under each joint and wait @8 Bithrs of run. Make sure your reservoir does not run too low. Air test makes no sense without the pump in the loop.

[Fragsa1]

I have never set up a Custom loop, but from what I have watched in terms of install videos people seem to anticipate leaks someone in the system often times risking components. So why risk it with water? 

 

If you have the PSU jumped and no components plugged in there isn't really a risk, apart from the extremely slim chance water gets to the PSU. Although you could use an alternate power source, negating this risk.

 

The only reason people place paper towels down is the convenience of cleaning up and keeping components dry for when you actually power them up.

 

I've had one of the fittings on my CPU block leak onto my GPU because I had forgotten to tighten a compression fitting. This for me is the most important area to place paper towels when testing. Although if I didn't have paper towels there nothing would have been damaged, as the GPU was not powered.

 

tl:dr Almost no risk. Just a convenience thing

[airdeano]

So why risk it with water?   Why not take the approach of the construction industry and with any new pipeline they pressure test it with air, before putting fluid in at the same pressure as the liquid would be at. Rig up a pressure gauge to one end and air value on the other and level it under pressure for a day or 2. The hardware involved isn't expensive and is fairly easy to obtain. Perhaps its more work than just letting a pump run for hours without components on. 

 

air is a thinner medium, able to be compressed and not the best to find leaks with,

other than determining you have a leak, that is about it.

 

the use of towels, non-powered system and time is a tested method. with air, you

can note a pressure drop, but will not know where the leak originates.

 

a D5 mean time is 50,000hrs (5.7yrs 24/7). so i doubt 24hr leak test is doing

any harm to the pump.

[Maxwit44]

I have never set up a Custom loop, but from what I have watched in terms of install videos people seem to anticipate leaks someone in the system often times risking components. So why risk it with water?   Why not take the approach of the construction industry and with any new pipeline they pressure test it with air, before putting fluid in at the same pressure as the liquid would be at. Rig up a pressure gauge to one end and air value on the other and level it under pressure for a day or 2. The hardware involved isn't expensive and is fairly easy to obtain. Perhaps its more work than just letting a pump run for hours without components on. 

 

Thoughts?      

 

 

I would probably just do this for if I ever constructed a WC loop. 

 

Sorry bud but the Idea is kinda flawed a little. Best way to find air leaks is to spray soapy water everywhere. I hope you can see where I'm going with that.

 

If you do a custom loop, just follow the instructions for the fittings. Most systems will never build up enough heat to pressurize a PC watercooling system.