Radiators in Parallel or Serial. [Archive]

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freeloader

03-01-2003, 10:05 PM

Could someone please tell me the difference between a parallel and serial radiator setup? How they're actually connected is what I'm looking for. A picture would be great. Thanks.

I have two identical heater cores I'd like to setup and have read that a serial connection works best, but I don't know what a serial connection is.

I'm assuming that a serial connection is the following...

From pump to rad 1, out of rad 1 to in of rad 2, out of rad 2 to waterblock, back to res and start all over again.

And a parallel is

From pump, split with a Y....into rad 1 and rad 2, out from rad 1 and out from rad 2 joined by a Y, one line now to waterblock, back to res and start all over agin.

Is this correct?

KnightElite

03-02-2003, 12:51 AM

You are indeed correct. But in fact, parallel will work better, at least in theory. Here's a pic of my radiators in parallel:
http://homepage.usask.ca/~kdh349/radbarbs1.jpg

nikhsub1

03-02-2003, 12:42 PM

Yes your descriptions of serial vs. parallel are correct. Parallel is generally considered a better way of running dual rads than serial. Less pressure drop, more time in each rad etc. Serial is usually a waste of time and yeilds not great performance.

JBELL

03-02-2003, 09:02 PM

series by far!!! only reason to go parrellel is if you got pumps at each rad..... and running big strong hoses.

which I doubt.

go with series.... and makes usre to use strong fans too - if first rad is too effiecnt than the second rad could actually reheat the water .....

freeloader

03-02-2003, 10:23 PM

Ok, just to get this straight then. I think I'm going to use the serial type of connection with these fans.

http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Bigfoot&Product_Code=2053CGCF&Category_Code=0100.40

So from my waterpump, the water will run through 1 line to the intake on the first rad, then from there the water will flow directly into the second radiator, from there it will come out of rad #2 and go directly to the cpu waterblock, back to the resovoir to start the cycle over again....correct?

BTW...I appreciate all the help and pictures. Thanks guys.

Edit: Ok, now I'm really confused...Parallel or serial....bah...

KnightElite

03-02-2003, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by JBELL
series by far!!! only reason to go parrellel is if you got pumps at each rad..... and running big strong hoses.

which I doubt.

go with series.... and makes usre to use strong fans too - if first rad is too effiecnt than the second rad could actually reheat the water .....

No. Parallel is better. The reason for this is that the water is equally hot when it enters both radiators, and therefore gets cooled better, since heat transfer varies with temperature difference. If rads are put in series, each radiator does progressively less, while in parallel, each does an equal amount of cooling. Also, there is less pressure drop, therefore less flow restriction in the system by running parallel radiators. If you can do it, considering space limitations and such, then it is a superior setup.

freeloader

03-02-2003, 10:37 PM

Oh boy...I didn't mean to start an argument...so KnightElite, I don't have to worry about space limitations as my watercooling is down in an external tower. Is my routing of the radiators correct? Would it matter if the rads are next to each other or can they be slightly separated?

The picture you showed me, you have one line going in and one out on your radiators right?

KnightElite

03-03-2003, 06:19 AM

That is correct. I just put my radiators next to each other like that because I wanted to use the same fans to pull air through both. They can be seperated.

nikhsub1

03-03-2003, 02:01 PM