DDC & ek top compatibility?

JonJ678 · 22 Aug 2009 at 17:36

Hey guys. The laing ddc has gone through various versions, and the ek x-top has gone through at least two as well. I've found the rev 1 for sale at a good price, and this would let me ditch the xspc res top which I dislike. However how do I find out if it'll fit/work without buying it and hoping for the best?

My ddc has a blue impeller but otherwise seems to be unlabelled, not sure where to start?

Jokester · 22 Aug 2009 at 17:38

Blue impeller models were known to clash with the inside of the original EK tops. It was easily fixed by removing a small raised lip on the inlet of the top.

JonJ678 · 22 Aug 2009 at 18:26

My google skills are completely failing me on this one, so I thank you.

Trying to track down a thread about this, preferably with a picture. Failing that I may just buy it and assume it's obvious where the problem lies. Cheers man

WJA96 · 22 Aug 2009 at 18:58

The EK DDC tops suffer from severe vortexing, make sure anything you buy has an anti-vortex plate, and even that probably won't stop it.

JonJ678 · 23 Aug 2009 at 00:08

Is that so? I shall have to go and discover what vortexing is and how to avoid it

You use a lower pressure pump or a more sensibly designed top. Finding things online about this is proving tricky, what are the magic words to search for?

I'm wondering if this is still an issue in a T line system, or just in a reservoir one

WJA96 · 24 Aug 2009 at 10:08

JonJ678 said:
Is that so? I shall have to go and discover what vortexing is and how to avoid it

You use a lower pressure pump or a more sensibly designed top. Finding things online about this is proving tricky, what are the magic words to search for?

I'm wondering if this is still an issue in a T line system, or just in a reservoir one

All the laing DDC res tops suffer from vortices in one way or another. EK seem obsessed with inserting a egg-beater blade into the path of the water flow to break it up. If the reservoir is absolutely full of coolant, a vortex cannot form so what I have done in the past is add a length of tube from the top of the EK reservoir so it is always filled to overflowing.

I use the XSPC ones myself. They are MUCH better in almost every way.

JonJ678 · 24 Aug 2009 at 18:17

No air => no vortex issue makes sense to me. It's not going to suck air into the loop if there's none there.

I'm inclined to agree. The xspc res top with a M20 to G1/4" adapter is basically perfection. If I could only shake the conviction that it's going to break on me one day I'd stick with it. Trying to work out how rational this is, but it does very much look like the weakest link in the loop and as such I quite want it gone.

However if removed I'm going to start giving nervous looks towards the o rings and the entire damned thing will end up soldered together, so it may be better not to start down that road.

Either way, I'm not buying the top in question so all is well. Cheers