Thinking of adding a drain port - help me decide where!

[iddqd]

Hey internet, I'm indecisive again, please tell me what to do!

I have a relatively simple loop built around a vertical floor-mounted Laing D5 with a res-top on it. To make my build easy to understand, I've made a few diagrams.

So, here's what it looks like currently:



(different tubing color isn't significant in any way, just made it easier to see where the tubing crosses)

I've two options I'm thinking about with a drain port:

V1


or:

V2


The physical layout of the components is actually similar to the diagram too, although the radiator can easily be flipped upside-down, so that the barbs are close to the bottom and could provide another spot where I can easily put a drain port. The main difference between V1 and V2 is that in the first one (same as it is currently), the reservoir acts as a giant T-line, while in V2 it would actually act as a return point for the water.

Anyway, which one do you think is better, V1 or V2? Or something else entirely? Also, reason(s) why?

[zalbard]

The first option seems better for me.
That way you won't have water trapped in your GPU (pump helps with that, though).
I also don't like the way fillport is involved in the second loop, might decrease performance... But not sure.

[pby5cat]

what about putting a QDC on your fill tube. Then when u want to drain, unplug the QDC and rotate the whole pump/res assembly over, dumping out the side of the case, into a bucket.

[iddqd]

the fill port has a plug, so just turning the case upside-down will work, but is extremely awkward. And I still need a drainage opening somewhere to let the air in.

[Waterlogged]

the fill port has a plug, so just turning the case upside-down will work, but is extremely awkward. And I still need a drainage opening somewhere to let the air in.

You have it...it's called removing a plug from the GPU block.

[iddqd]

for some reason, i'm starting to like the 2nd version a lot more :\...

The blocks in my loop are EK HF Supreme and EK 5870 block (neither is particularly restrictive), and i think the D5 @ speed 5 is strong enough to make the water return to the reservoir.

The main advantage in this setup is the reservoir actually acts as one, and helps me bleed a freshly filled loop much faster. The other advantage is I think it looks cleaner. What if I add a valve above the T-joint, like so?:

[theseeker]

If you are going to use a pump top, you can do it like this

Then all you do is open the drain and unscrew the top of the res and it will drain.

[iddqd]

mine's not set up like that at all. the diagrams i posted are actually a fairly accurate representation of how it looks, but here:



also, i don't want it to drain onto the floor of my case. LOL.

[Utnorris]

Just put a T port on the outlet of the pump. One of the two outlets continues to the tubing just like it is now and the other you attach a QD male fitting to it. Then using a piece of tubing with a female QD you can drain your system and then disconnect the drain essentially.

[iddqd]

that's what i wanted to do, (except a T on the intake), but now I'm thinking I want to re-arrange my loop a little to make it easier to bleed.

[theseeker]

My fault, I misread your initial post. I thought you were in design mode.

[voigts]

I also would put a T on the pump outlet, since that is the bottom-most part of your loop. As for draining, you can use the previously mentioned idea of a QD. I personally would probably use a 1/2" x 3/8" x 1/2" Pex T, and use a simple rubber vacuum hose cap on the 3/8" drain barb (any auto parts store has vacuum hose caps). When you want to drain, you just put a funnel with some tubing connected to it under the vacuum cap, then slowly open up your fillport to control how fast your fluid drains out.


PEX 1/2" x 3/8" x 1/2" tee



Vacuum Cap

[iddqd]

I think I've got the drain port figured out. Now I just want to know if there are any problems with the changed loop layout (draining the GPU block into the res, and feeding the pump from the res)... will the valve even be necessary?