Catastrophic Problem...

[MaXXimus]

Well I finally got everything all hooked up about an hour ago and filled up my Res and powered on the pump for small bursts and then refilled the Res... and guess what happened next? I see a puddle on the powersupply... so I quickly soak it up and then start looking at the fittings... all good... I shove some paper towels into the area where the puddle was and power the pump on... freakin PA120.3 is leaking and not from a fitting. WTF

So I called up Sidewinder where I got it from and they say wait for an RMA and they MIGHT be able to send a replacement out today but not sure... so here I sit waiting on a phone call and or email.


BOOOO HISSSSSSS

[NaeKuh]

oh bananas.

Did you puncture your radiator with a screw in too deep?

This is why you always test b4 you screw. :\

[MaXXimus]

How can you screw in too deep? The holes go all the way through. Now I just hooked up the second loop and thats leaking in 2 places.

[Waterlogged]

If you use screws that are too long, they will puncture the rad, this is what NaeKuh meant.

[MaXXimus]

I have no clue... I ordered a anodized grill and it came with long screws for mounting fan and rads and smaller ones for just fans and I used the longer ones... thats all I know.

[lennox]

why is it common to use long screws anyways? unless you have a fan with closed corners I just don't see the need. I use 1/4" on everything... or 3/8 to 1/2" for foam/shroud, or extra thick fans.

Just curious why everyone uses such huge screws

[crackbag]

did you tighten down the drain plug? i forgot to the 1st time i used a thermochill rad

[NaeKuh]

why is it common to use long screws anyways? unless you have a fan with closed corners I just don't see the need. I use 1/4" on everything... or 3/8 to 1/2" for foam/shroud, or extra thick fans.

Just curious why everyone uses such huge screws

using closed corners work better with faster rpm fans. They allow a more firm clamp which then translates to less vibration, and overall less noise.

[MaXXimus]

I just used what was given to me... if I damaged the rad with them then I guess thats my fault for not knowing. I just assumed they gave me screw for mounting so use them. I guess I should have just stuck to air... which I guess my next move is going to be draining and removing all this stuff and seeing about refund or selling it all. Really sucks after all this to be met with defeat.

[MaXXimus]

did you tighten down the drain plug? i forgot to the 1st time i used a thermochill rad

Its for sure not the drain plug... first rad is leakin (looking straight at barbs) somewhere in the right cornor area near the barbs. Second rad is leaking in the same cornor as well as the opposite cornor on the other end.

[NaeKuh]

I just used what was given to me... if I damaged the rad with them then I guess thats my fault for not knowing. I just assumed they gave me screw for mounting so use them. I guess I should have just stuck to air... which I guess my next move is going to be draining and removing all this stuff and seeing about refund or selling it all. Really sucks after all this to be met with defeat.

ummm

your giving up too easily. Also i dont think you did enough research.

The stickys on this section were made by max and other members to help people out.

They also list the proper screws to be used with each radiator. All you needed to do was visually inspect the length.

To do a drop test, you dont even need to screw the screw in. Just drop it in the fan hole and then put the fan down on your radiator and navigate so the screw goes down.

If the screw lifts up, its gonna touch a radiator tube. If not your good to screw. If the screw is too long, you can add spacers and such.

Dont give up to earily, the radiator could be bad, however you could of punctured it. Which is why i always tell people to take things slow, and if your lost, always ask.


Basically you will never get looked down on for asking noobie questions which arent on FAQ's.
We will teach and guide and then try to help you out as much as possible so it does work.

[lennox]

You should post a picture...

depending how bad you punctured the radiator. You can solder it or try some sealant. i'm sure someone on this board could recommend something

[MaXXimus]

I dont really want to give up but wth... I been taken it slower then a 90 yr old man and this is what I end up with. I been without a comp for a week now and Im just aggravated with thinking about having to drain and dissassemble the whole damn works and sit and wait more time while the parts get RMAed and then new ones get to me, then its back to square one again. Enough is enough... I just want a workign freakin comp at this point

[NaeKuh]

I dont really want to give up but wth... I been taken it slower then a 90 yr old man and this is what I end up with. I been without a comp for a week now and Im just aggravated with thinking about having to drain and dissassemble the whole damn works and sit and wait more time while the parts get RMAed and then new ones get to me, then its back to square one again. Enough is enough... I just want a workign freakin comp at this point

puncturing your radiator is not what a 90yr old would do if that is what you did.


Maxx, go outside take a deep breathe, go play some basketball, relax. Right now is not the time for you to touch your system. Your angry, fustrated, and your gonna explode.



Cool down a bit, grab a ice coffee, and try it again after we tell you what you did wrong when you post pictures!

[MaXXimus]

I have to give up... I dont have any more time or patience for this at all. And sure its out of anger right now but I need my freakin computer to be working. I figured if anything one of the blocks would leak or one of the barbs which could be easily fixed... but draining the system and then removing the rads from the roof of my case is just not something I want to do AGAIN. Then also the fact that who is to say that a barb or block wont leak once I did get new rads and tested it for 24hrs? I seriously just dont have it in me to go though this whole process... I was prepared for anything BUT the rads to leak... hell... I would have stuck with the WC if it werent for now having to dismantle and drain BOTH loops.

[NaeKuh]

yeah but the rewards for a working system is worth all the effort put into it.

Thats what im trying to say. Your only seeing the low/bad aspect of it.

[DarthBeavis]

Dude I had the same issue once . . you can get two sets of foreceps and clamp off each tube to the rad so you do not have to drain it all.

[smee]

Lol, I ALWAYS cut my screws for my rad, so that they JUST go through all of the threads, I have about a 1/4" between the screw bottom and the rad fins/pipes.
Just for my peace of mind..

[Gunslinger]

Punctured my first rad also, so you're not alone. lol, only PA 120.3 I've ever owned, now I use MCR320's just because of that incident.

They're right though, take a break, and then complete the mission soldier.

[spoony]

Don't feel bad. I just got into the water cooling thing and I just had my first incident. I decided to use 7/16" tubing over 1/2" fittings with no clamps only to have a leak that spilled water onto my mb, graphics cards, and into my ps. My ps popped and started smoking, so now I have no comp either. I am getting a pc power and cooling ps to replace the enermax galaxy 1000w. It doesn't have a fan in the top, so if I have another leak at least it might make it through. I only hope the rest of the components are ok.

[Kilyin]

so you punctured two PA120.3s.. that's an expensive lesson to learn. If you decide not to give up, I recommend buying a set of bolt cutters for trimming your screws down.

[gojirasan]

I spilled water on my motherboard twice and I damaged my brand new unused PA120.3 by dropping it on something before I even finished setting up my computer. If you really did puncture it I doubt it will be covered by warranty. But I looked into it and brass can be soldered with just plain old solder. It doesn't really need to be brazed. All you need is a propane torch and some 60/40 solder. If the holes are from screws they should be small. I don't think it will effect the performance of the radiator too much. Some people also recommended JB Weld for me which seems like it would also work and would be cheaper and easier than soldering it. I was so pissed that I just immediately ordered a new rad. So now I have two.

[HaCKs]

How can you screw in too deep? The holes go all the way through. Now I just hooked up the second loop and thats leaking in 2 places.

You're not trying to say you put a screw ALL the way through your radiator?

[[XC] NetburstXE]

That really sucks. I'm sorry.

[CedricFP]

I've fried a mobo, gfx and ram over the course of my wc "career". It's not an uncommon thing to happen. You learn over time and learn to become more meticulous. After that initial stage, and you got it down, you then relax. I recently put together my loop without bothering to test it first. I knew everything was gonna work - after a while you develop an intuition like that.