Is there any flow in my loop?
Is there any flow in my loop?
Hi everyone,
Yesterday I assembled my first watercooling open loop system. It was working well, with visible bubbles throughout, but now all the bubbles are concentrated in the reservoir. There’s not much indication that everything is functioning properly or that the water is moving as expected.
I’d really appreciate any advice on how to check if the pump is still operating correctly. I’m a bit anxious and need reassurance that it’s working fine.
You definitely want to avoid bubbles forming in your loop... air is detrimental in a watercooling setup because it acts as a poor thermal conductor compared to water, which you're aiming to cool inside the system. Of course, you still need to manage the water/radiator/air circulation, but that should be handled by the radiator and fans.
If your temperatures remain stable under load, you're in a good position. Pay attention to the outlet tube from the pump—it should vibrate noticeably. Confirm you're inspecting the outlet rather than the inlet, as it's too far downstream to sense significant pulsations from the pump within the tubing.
You definitely want to avoid bubbles forming in your loop... air reduces effectiveness since water conducts heat better than air, which is what you're aiming to remove inside the loop. Of course, you still need to manage the water/radiator/air flow, but that should be handled by the radiator and fans.
If your temperatures remain stable under load, you're in a good position. Pay attention to the outlet tube from the pump – it should vibrate noticeably. Confirm you're inspecting the outlet rather than the inlet, as the latter is too far downstream to show significant pulsation from the pump within the tubing.