Hello,
Let's begin with clarification, no, this isn't sales promotion for koolance item, rather the opposite.
Also, only the facts will be given to you about this story, i'm going to leave opinions aside, and let you judge for yourself.
Awhile ago, while checking sales and stuff in our forum sponsor FrozenCPU, i've found this neat gadget that supposed to check your flow and report it in fan RPMS, please note back then there wasn't any reference for 'adapter' required to do this in the store listing, while actually not bothered by that, the possible usage for something to warn if the flow goes to 0, if pump failes etc, was very appealing so i've shed the 20 something $'s with no doubts.
Then it was sent and arrived rather fast, thanks FZCPU, with it came 'quick install' guide, which explains this piece is directional and for proper GPM to RPM conversion, an adapter needed, surely enough this was annoying, but didn't bother me because even if it reported wrong flow, so long as it was above 0, it could function the way i've intended it for... So i've installed it, plugged it into CPU fan connector, since i've found some user review mentioning this is how he did this and it works fine, and turned the PC, the first than that happend was an astonishing sparkfest, and perhaps it ignited, but it was so surprising that i've neglected attention to little details, then huge boom and it exploded to two large pieces.
Then obviously, when i've calmed some, and checked for possible serious issues caused by this fenomena, i've approached koolance with this, i'm going to do some copy / paste from our convo, the important parts:
Hello,
Which Koolance parts do you have?
Regardless, your Koolance products are warranted for up to one year if you purchased from FrozenCPU.
Thanks,
Koolance Technical Support
On 10/25/2012 3:31 PM, Yoad wrote:
Earlier, after first putting the Koolance flow gage into the loop, i've turned the PC and the first thing that happens is huge boom, it exploaded, This was NOT warned in the tiny page that came with it
I'm going to try and find if this wrecked anything beyond repair and i'm expecting you to provide me with replacement item and if anything was damaged seriously then recompensate me for those too.
I've purchased this from the retailer FrozenCPU, which also doesn't note any warning for hazard, and how to use this thing.
-----------------------------------------------------------
The part SN FM17N, the circuit flooded by white glue substance simply exploaded and shot far from the case. There wasn't any warning about such thing in the store listing, neither with the supposebly quick install guide that came with it, While warranty probably applies, what about the mess it caused, the fact i've had to deal with coolant leaking in thc pc, and probably minor problems that it caused will be worse later, since this happend i've noticed serveral issues.
About part replacement i've sent messege to the vendor, but what's your position about this?
Koolance:
What was the pressure in the system (also, what pump are you using)? Do you have any pictures of the flow meter? What was the cable part of the flow meter plugged in to?
The RMA should be directly from us.
It's likely you didn't see a warning about an explosion
Thanks,
Koolance Technical Support
-------------
Another koolance message, they were waiting for pics:
Hello,
Still waiting on the pictures. I do see what you're saying now (I wasn't sure before), and it sounds very odd. Had someone asked if I've ever heard of anything like this, I would have said no way. The flow meter shouldn't have been connected to a CPU/motherboard fan header, unless it was through the ADT-FM03 adapter first. Even so, I don't think that would have cause an explosion.
Thanks,
Koolance Technical Support
----------------------------------------
Sent them some pics, and this is what they sent back
Hello,
Based on the pictures and video, it seems like too much current was supplied to the flow meter. As mentioned in the manual: "The flow meters should not be directly connected to high power outputs like 12VDC fan headers or similar controllers. If connected directly to a custom circuit, the intended current range is 50-100mA.".
The frequency adapter, required to multiply the flow meter impeller signal into RPMs, is optional, as without it, the flow meter can still be used as a visual flow indicator.
Unfortunately, our warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse. We do not use the same connector on the flow meter as a native fan header uses.
Thanks,
Koolance Technical Support.
-------------------
Let me note that this quote they used wasn't nearly as bold, if even mentioned in their guide, since i've checked it before installing this part. Neither was it warned this could cause any harm, beside the fact it probably won't function.
The MB was harmed, i'm not sure if the surge this caused when it exploaded and seriously heated the CPU area didn't harm any other components, since from then the PC was acting weird, thankfuly most parts are under warranty so didn't have troubles with that, aside the fact it was troublesome enough i've had to deal with it. also thankfuly this was fresh loop and so the coolant was pristine, and an isolator so it didn't fry stuff. And it was in its leaks check stage so the case was opened, so the parts that flew apart, flew away from the PC rather than staying in there and perhaps igniting other parts.
The trouble with this part is the extreme danger that it could explode and do harm beyond repair by simple misues that isn't nearly as bold as it should be, and the fact they decided to blame me for this whole thing, deeming the case as warranty void due to what they call misues.
I'm not going to determine for you who's wrong... just wanted to share this experience with Koolance, their CS and mostly the fact that stuff they sell pose serious dangers, not to mention the fact that you discover after purchasing that you get incomplete item, and that to actually use it, you're going to need to pay at least what it cost you and then some, and if you don't, oh buddy, you're in for some explosive troubles.
Another thing that's worth to metion, Taking this story to these forums is rather against what i'd usually do, i've had faulty parts before, i've even had rude CS before with other brands and didn't go to the forums with that, but such impudence, yes thats an opinion and you're welcome to disagree, was beyond what i'm willing to tolerate and let pass like that.
Thanks for caring, if you're reached this far in this post you probably care some.
JJS.
PS.
Let me, and perhaps koolance as well, know what your opinion is about this.
Bookmarks