How frequently do you guys purge/clean your WC set ups?

[bmaverick]

Why don't loops have filters for this kind of thing?
Every commercial product that I've used (high power amplifiers, lasers) that's watercooled has a very strong filtering system to keep the coolant debris free.

A filter would be nice to trap those nasties that flake off from flux, minor corrosion, acrylic fibers, hard tap water, or internal coatings that didn't bond well in the first place.

The OEM WCing rigs use an A/C orifice tube filter. Most come in the 3/8" (9.5mm) size and filter down to 120 micros. If you have ever taken a Dell H2C water block apart the inlet has a short one sitting there. They are cheap to purchase from any autoparts store. Just take the inlet filter screen off of it and place it in your loop. Notice the flow direction too.

Here's what they look like up close. The overall length is the size of your index finger, but the filter is only half that that will be used.

 

[Zebo]

Why don't loops have filters for this kind of thing?
Every commercial product that I've used (high power amplifiers, lasers) that's watercooled has a very strong filtering system to keep the coolant debris free.

Filters do no good for microbes and/or radiator slag/flux left over from brazing process. Alternatively the filters would have to be so small they would move no water with these low powered pumps used in WC.

Fortunately most rads designed for WC are thoroughly cleaned these days unlike heater core days so it's less of a problem but microbes and algae are still an issue.

Clouded tubing is trivially cleaned with "scubbing bubbbles" so all in all it's not an issue too much.... Use DI water, use a solid oxidation inhibitor and biocide additive like Swiftech's Hydex and you should have no issue for years literally thesedays so long as one doesnt introduce crap into thier loop.

Like I said earlier I have loops closed for over 2 years and tubing is crystal clear. Unfortunatly I always have an hankering to build a new rig so my loops do get broken into and cleaned but I bet I could go much longer than 2 years. In Sum filters are impractical and not needed.

 

[Rubycon]

A filter would be nice to trap those nasties that flake off from flux, minor corrosion, acrylic fibers, hard tap water, or internal coatings that didn't bond well in the first place.

The OEM WCing rigs use an A/C orifice tube filter. Most come in the 3/8" (9.5mm) size and filter down to 120 micros. If you have ever taken a Dell H2C water block apart the inlet has a short one sitting there. They are cheap to purchase from any autoparts store. Just take the inlet filter screen off of it and place it in your loop. Notice the flow direction too.





Here's what they look like up close. The overall length is the size of your index finger, but the filter is only half that that will be used.

Very interesting and cheap! Definitely sounds decent enough to keep obvious things where they do NOT belong!

Filters do no good for microbes and/or radiator slag/flux left over from brazing process. Alternatively the filters would have to be so small they would move no water with these low powered pumps used in WC.

Fortunately most rads designed for WC are thoroughly cleaned these days unlike heater core days so it's less of a problem but microbes and algae are still an issue.

Clouded tubing is trivially cleaned with "scubbing bubbbles" so all in all it's not an issue too much.... Use DI water, use a solid oxidation inhibitor and biocide additive like Swiftech's Hydex and you should have no issue for years literally thesedays so long as one doesnt introduce crap into thier loop.

Like I said earlier I have loops closed for over 2 years and tubing is crystal clear. Unfortunatly I always have an hankering to build a new rig so my loops do get broken into and cleaned but I bet I could go much longer than 2 years. In Sum filters are impractical and not needed.

Filters actually fall into three basic categories: Mechanical, Chemical, and Biological. Using KISS, one would only want mechanical filtration. I suppose stepping things up a bit and using pH, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) could be used along with control measures to keep things in check. Way too much trouble for novice level PC cooling, right?

Water treatments will keep microbes under control. One just has to make sure these are compatible with their wetted surfaces. Stray currents should not be a problem but then again they could be and horrible corrosion can be the result.

 

[cbn]

A filter would be nice to trap those nasties that flake off from flux, minor corrosion, acrylic fibers, hard tap water, or internal coatings that didn't bond well in the first place.

The OEM WCing rigs use an A/C orifice tube filter. Most come in the 3/8" (9.5mm) size and filter down to 120 micros. If you have ever taken a Dell H2C water block apart the inlet has a short one sitting there. They are cheap to purchase from any autoparts store. Just take the inlet filter screen off of it and place it in your loop. Notice the flow direction too.

Here's what they look like up close. The overall length is the size of your index finger, but the filter is only half that that will be used.

Thanks for sharing.

Since it is 3/8" I am assuming it would work well with a DDC pump.

Of course the trade-off would be increased restriction (which might paradoxically shorten the life of the pump compared to using no filter if used in the wrong conditions).

P.S. Speaking of the life span of a pump, Does anyone know if heat contributes to DDC failure? How or why do DDC pumps fail?

 

[cbn]

Flow should not be a problem with a properly sized filter though. The flow in computer water cooling systems is minuscule!

I like this idea of using a filter myself. Trouble is I know next to nothing when it comes to water cooling.

Ideally my water cooling loop would be near silent, durable and low maintenance.

Maybe a filter ends up being less hassle, than cleaning out injector plate waterblocks every 6-8 months, if nozzles end up becoming even smaller than they are now?

 

[Rubycon]

If a pump is designed so that it unloads the motor as head pressure increases it will not fail with increased head pressure. However this should be prevented as increasing head pressure lowers flow through the system.