Watercooling anxiety.

[Watashi]

I figure as time passes, and I continue to have no problems with my system, I won't be anxious. Sometimes I just have an almost unwarranted fear that my system is going to leak. Can you guys relate? What helps you deal with this? 

[The Benjamins]

4 minutes ago, Doomerson said:

I figure as time passes, and I continue to have no problems with my system, I won't be anxious. Sometimes I just have an almost unwarranted fear that my system is going to leak. Can you guys relate? What helps you deal with this? 

I only have concerns for the first day or so, or after moving my PC to a LAN or something.

 

usually after the first few hours of a leak test with no signs I am fairly confident with it.

[PrimeSonic]

Yeah. Leaks aren't typically random events unless something got corroded really bad.

 

All the leaks I had were while I first assembling the loop. And those were all just indicators of needing to tighten a fitting more.

After all the leaks were tightened, that was the end of it.

I continued the leak test for a few hours but I was already confident that the leaks were done.

 

I'll likely go through the same thing again when I do maintenance, replacing fluid, changing some fittings and tubing.

But once you're past the initial leak tests, there's really nothing to worry about.

[W-L]

2 hours ago, Doomerson said:

I figure as time passes, and I continue to have no problems with my system, I won't be anxious. Sometimes I just have an almost unwarranted fear that my system is going to leak. Can you guys relate? What helps you deal with this? 

As said once it's leak tested it's very rare for something to suddenly occur. If there is one that occurs I usually keep a bottle of 99% isopropyl on hand just incase so I can wash/rinse the fluid off the components as soon as possible. 

[Leonard]

Yes i can relate but with time it should subside.

 

I used to check my loop every day or other day to make sure there are no leaks and that the fittings were not loose, that then went to every week, then every two months and now, every six months when i do a cleaning i just check everything.  I have also moved from single wall tube to double wall tube so i am less worried not.

[Mick Naughty]

I never worry about it. I was for the first week. But after a few leak and realizing that the water wont actually do anything, I quit worrying.

[Watashi]

15 hours ago, W-L said:

As said once it's leak tested it's very rare for something to suddenly occur. If there is one that occurs I usually keep a bottle of 99% isopropyl on hand just incase so I can wash/rinse the fluid off the components as soon as possible. 

That's a good point. I feel like I'm more likely to have some sort of freak accident like me spilling a drink on my computer, than having my loop leak. 

[Watashi]

14 hours ago, Leonard said:

Yes i can relate but with time it should subside.

 

I used to check my loop every day or other day to make sure there are no leaks and that the fittings were not loose, that then went to every week, then every two months and now, every six months when i do a cleaning i just check everything.  I have also moved from single wall tube to double wall tube so i am less worried not.

Honestly that's kind of what I'm doing. I used to check it everyday too. But now I've only been checking it like every couple of days. I feel pretty confident in my fittings, I'm using EKWB's fittings. And I feel like they put a lot of time and effort into those little components alone. It's just that there are a few horror stories that stick out in my mind, that honestly scare me. Even though I know how unlikely they are

[Mick Naughty]

I've had every component in one of my rigs soaked, aside from storage. Even had water between the pins and CPU. Made it into windows and it would crash as I load up programs. Though it was a win 10 thing. Turns out the CPU doesn't like being wet. Also had the out port on my pump had the hose pop off, pointed directly at my psu. While gaming, wosrt leak I've ever had, haven't lost a single component yet. 

[Leonard]

11 hours ago, Doomerson said:

Honestly that's kind of what I'm doing. I used to check it everyday too. But now I've only been checking it like every couple of days. I feel pretty confident in my fittings, I'm using EKWB's fittings. And I feel like they put a lot of time and effort into those little components alone. It's just that there are a few horror stories that stick out in my mind, that honestly scare me. Even though I know how unlikely they are

So many people like EK's stuff, i am one of the few that does not, i find they use their own measurements and their components are like SONY back in the day, only compatible with their own and to me it is over priced like Bitspower. I prefer XSPC/PrimoChill/Monsoon. Planning to update my loop with PETG and i will go PrimoChill.

 

I have had water leak on my 660Ti on my second loop, now on my fourth but nothing happened because as i was told by the lad technician, it was deionized water an i had just put it in so it din't have time to get ionized as yet. I have found that double wall tube almost never leaks but makes it harder to get proper fitting compression fittings for the 1/2inch sized tubing.

[Watashi]

5 hours ago, Leonard said:

So many people like EK's stuff, i am one of the few that does not, i find they use their own measurements and their components are like SONY back in the day, only compatible with their own and to me it is over priced like Bitspower. I prefer XSPC/PrimoChill/Monsoon. Planning to update my loop with PETG and i will go PrimoChill.

 

I have had water leak on my 660Ti on my second loop, now on my fourth but nothing happened because as i was told by the lad technician, it was deionized water an i had just put it in so it din't have time to get ionized as yet. I have found that double wall tube almost never leaks but makes it harder to get proper fitting compression fittings for the 1/2inch sized tubing.

Why would tubes normally cause a leak? that doesn't make much sense to me. It seems like the issue is caused at the interconnects.

[Leonard]

1 hour ago, Doomerson said:

Why would tubes normally cause a leak? that doesn't make much sense to me. It seems like the issue is caused at the interconnects.

Depending on the ambient temperature, i live in the Caribbean so i have hot and then cool, the soft tube can shrink causing the compression part of the fitting to become loose which makes the coolant able to seep out if you have a strong pump. This happened to me on my first loop when i used the single wall soft tube that came with my XSPC kit and when i hand tightened the compression in December it was loose in May and it leaked on my GPU. 

 

Interconnects and Rotary can also cause leaks but it isn't the only way the leaks can happen. In hard line the leaks can also come from the shrinkage of the o-rings in the fittings which is why most of the hard line fittings now have 2 and some 3 o-rings.

[fastcar123]

I have my system exclusively air cooler for this reason. Gpu at 90c? I underclock. Watercooling is terrifying 

[AnonymousGuy]

5 hours ago, Leonard said:

So many people like EK's stuff, i am one of the few that does not, i find they use their own measurements and their components are like SONY back in the day, only compatible with their own and to me it is over priced like Bitspower. I prefer XSPC/PrimoChill/Monsoon. Planning to update my loop with PETG and i will go PrimoChill.

 

I have had water leak on my 660Ti on my second loop, now on my fourth but nothing happened because as i was told by the lad technician, it was deionized water an i had just put it in so it din't have time to get ionized as yet. I have found that double wall tube almost never leaks but makes it harder to get proper fitting compression fittings for the 1/2inch sized tubing.

XSPC is OK stuff but it's generally no better than "generic" made-in-china gear that you can get off of ebay or aliexpress.  Barrow and Bitski are two brands similar to XSPC at lower cost.

 

EK I'm neutral-to-negative on because they seem like they don't really innovate much as a company (haven't put out a new CPU waterblock in 5 years) and their response to their shitty nickel plating process was pretty bad.  

[Leonard]

3 hours ago, AnonymousGuy said:

 "generic" made-in-china

 

^^ that concept is from a western stand point and sure there are a good number of items that are generic on ebay, alibaba and other places but most of them work good and don't cost an exorbitant amount.

 

I am currently using/testing two pumps at the moment, one from BXQINLENX and Bykski, both are centrifugal and both are quiet but one, the Bykski pump is way better than the other. it is stronger and has a better build and feel to it with more features.

 

Barrow, Bykski and BXQINLENX are main companies in ASIA and some of the items look generic to us as we more know what is advertised in the west. I have used products from all three or these companies and i have to say that BARROW items lack a certain polish and quality as the other products i  am use too and i don't really like the products although they have a huge selection, Bykski and BXQINLENX are some what polished better but yeah they are not like say Monsoon products.

 

IMO, EK is a company i want nothing to do with, for a company that is  rated as top notch they handle problems/issues/mistakes poorly as you pointed out with the nickel thing. 

 

XSPC is an under rated company and i like how they focus on items that are for people on a budget.

[AnonymousGuy]

36 minutes ago, Leonard said:

 

 

XSPC is an under rated company and i like how they focus on items that are for people on a budget.

Random XSPC anecdotes:

 

Before I knew that heat exchangers existed (for heat transfer from one liquid to another), I basically was doing that by submerging XSPC radiators in water.  They ended up looking funky as hell and the outside shells rusted a bit, but they survived that for a year.  Went into storage, and then over time (~3 years) got put back in service on my servers and HTPC.

 

XSPC barbs on the other hand were kinda "meh".  Their diameter was on the small side so they didn't want to hold on to tubing very well.  Bitspower and Aquatuning "perfect seal" barbs are what I use.

 

XSPC reservoirs have been solid.  I have 3 of their D5 pump/tank reservoir combos in use and they have worked great for a great price.  EK charges I think double for the same thing.

[Watashi]

On 7/7/2017 at 9:16 AM, W-L said:

As said once it's leak tested it's very rare for something to suddenly occur. If there is one that occurs I usually keep a bottle of 99% isopropyl on hand just incase so I can wash/rinse the fluid off the components as soon as possible. 

And what is the cleaning process exactly? I know it's pretty obvious to soak the components, and but do I use anything to let them dry? Do I submerge them in iso, or just use iso to clean off the liquid? And how long before I can run a current through the board (or component) after washing with iso?

[W-L]

1 minute ago, Doomerson said:

And what is the cleaning process exactly? I know it's pretty obvious to soak the components, and but do I use anything to let them dry? Do I submerge them in iso, or just use iso to clean off the liquid? And how long before I can run a current through the board (or component) after washing with iso?

If it's just a couple of drops on the PCB you can rinse off the board with isopropyl and scrub clean any areas which have corrosion, but if it's soaked then I would take off the cooler and submerge the whole card to ensure it displaces everything possible to remove any remaining fluid that may be trapped under SMD components or such. Leave it for a couple of days to dry is a good idea to ensure nothing is left and to see if any further corrosion occurs. 

[Watashi]

3 hours ago, W-L said:

If it's just a couple of drops on the PCB you can rinse off the board with isopropyl and scrub clean any areas which have corrosion, but if it's soaked then I would take off the cooler and submerge the whole card to ensure it displaces everything possible to remove any remaining fluid that may be trapped under SMD components or such. Leave it for a couple of days to dry is a good idea to ensure nothing is left and to see if any further corrosion occurs. 

And what exactly the process of scrubbing clean areas that have corrosion? What tool would you use to scrub 

[W-L]

1 minute ago, Doomerson said:

And what exactly the process of scrubbing clean areas that have corrosion? What tool would you use to scrub 

Using some isopropyl alcohol you can scrub it using a short bristled brush or using a Q-tip to ensure nothing is left on the PCB when finished. 

[Watashi]

3 hours ago, W-L said:

Using some isopropyl alcohol you can scrub it using a short bristled brush or using a Q-tip to ensure nothing is left on the PCB when finished. 

Thanks man, I must admit you've been extremely helpful to me. And I've learned a lot from asking you questions