Cooling barbed vs. plug-in hose connectors

Hi,
I'm planning my first water-cooled system, and I'd like
people's opinions on the best / most reliable connectors to use.
Do I go for conventional barbs + hose clips, or use one of
the push-fit systems like they have on Swiftech or
Aqua-Computer gear (I have horrible visions of them popping
out & filling my case with water!)

Cheers,

Olly

 

From my little bit of messing with push-fit and standard barb types, the pushfit actually seem stronger to me. I think I'd actually trust them more. Depends on preference, I'd guess. Mines a mix of both. I had one small leak on one of the barb connections, but the push-fit style on my block haven't had a single problem.

 

I'm with ndtinker on this, however I will add, without prior experience of them (or measuring and marking how much the tube has to go in) it is easier to not push a pipe fully home in a push-fitting than it is on a barb where you can physically see how much it's inserted.

It's a little like an AGP card where you have to push it it harder than you'd expect but, as ndtinker said, once it's there, it's there (until you decide to release it).

The choice also depends on the rest of your setup, if you're aiming for high volume flow, the push fit hoses are sometimes less readily available in the larger diameters (although B&Q now have some in their plumbing section for household water pipes ).

 

Look at my gallery: www.adwhitworth.co.uk/WC - This is all 10mm Pushfit and 10mm Nylong Tubing

 

That's a great setup adwhitworth - very neat.
I'm not familiar with your block - what is it and where did you get it?
Also, which rad are you using and how quiet is the whole system?

Cheers,
Olly

 

Olly, Thanks

The block is a Little River White Water Block imported from a guy called Cathar in Australia. He did produce them himself but the demand has been so high as they have been proven to be nearly one of the best blocks in the world, that he simply is not having any spare time so is having them properly made by a company in the US.
Originally, it came with normal 1/2" barbs but I converted it to match the rest of my pushfit system. The idea behind the block is 1 inlet and 2 outlets which would usually be joined by a y-piece to bring it back to 1 but i decided to make it neater and alter the resevoir.

I am using the OCPC The Deep Rev. 2 with a 28db, 60cfm 120mm Papst Fan. It is nice and quiet but i've decided to 7v the fan to make it perfect!

 

Sorry to hi-jack for a min....

Ad,

Can you tell me what pump you're using as I'm currently looking for something small and decent to fit into my coolermaster as my current enheim 1250 is just TOO much I think....

Cheers

 

Where did you get the push fit fittings?

 

My system, which is about 4 years old, uses a combination of barbs and straight acrylic tube. The acrylic tube has no barbs at all... and holds just fine... but I use clear vinyl tubing and it's inner diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the acrylic tube.

PLUS, my system is purposly LOW PRESSURE. I want the water to cycle slowly to pick up more heat from the copper water blocks and release more in the radiator. So far, this theory works just fine.

For pictures of my system... see this thread... the 3rd post has pictures of the system the first link in the first post is actually the plans I used to machine the waterblocks I use.

Enjoy!

 

Jetset, Sorry for the delay. Been really busy.
The pump is the Hydor L20 (EX700) from Chill-Tek.

It is slightly better than the 1048.

I got the pushfit stuff from Technobots.co.uk and RS www.rswww.com

 

in adition to being available in large sizes very easily, a true enthusiast will want to ream his barbs out to a thinner wall size to allow for better flow. This cannot be done with push fit. Also, i feel un easy about using any connection system where i cannot see the retainment mechanism, this makes a quick eye check impossible.

 

Anyone know places in the U.S. for push fit connections?

abombss

 

Try Legris - These are the people who make them
www.legris.com

You are looking at the LF3000 fittings