Had to destroy my AIO due to RMA, but is it possible to use AIO rad for custom loop?

Shewie

Shewie

Shewie

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Hello folks.

Just wanted to ask you a simple question.
Due to RMA, Deepcool asked me to destroy my old AIO because I've got a replacement (had to cut off hoses to validate RMA)

however, during disassembly process, I realized that I could somehow re-use the old 280mm Radiator maybe in the future.
This is how things look when hoses are forcibly removed from AIO.
Be-Funky-collage-11.jpg


as we can see the hose fittings are not just only screwed but painted over. I'm slightly puzzled because I don't know if I can actually try to force-unscrew those hose fittings from the radiator or this will cause some damage to the structure of the radiator itself. All I wanted is to have 280mm rad with G1/4 sockets available for the future.

But I don't know if it's safe to remove it.
When I was flexing a little bit with right intake I caused bit of micro-cracks on the paint around.

Does anyone know if it's actually possible to do so or leave it as it is?
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Likely to be aluminium anyway
Wouldn't want to use it in a custom loop
Where other stuff wasn't aluminium
Possibility of galvanic corrosion
Click to expand...

Disassembled completely AIO showed me no signs of corrosion after 17months of daily use for at least 5-8h a day.
Propylene Glycol used to fill the AIO showed zero symptoms known to many from Enermax AIO's.
Almost no stains on the rather large copper cold plate that was used on my AIO.

I know the golden rule of avoiding mixing metals at all costs but I wanted to just to go DIY this time just for a little try rather than creating a long term solution.
Yet I just wanted to know whether to give it a try with removing those fittings or leave as it is.

Thanks for your insights.
 
Doubt there's g 1/4 on there if you got them off
To reuse it probably looking at leave the barbs as is and use hose clamps
Though may involve reducers/enlarges and 2 hose
Sizes depending on the diameter of the
Barbs
 
mrbell1984 said:
You could easy fit tubing over them and use hose clamps to get another working rad.
Click to expand...

is there any way to use this barbs and lead them to G1/4" on CPU block and then reroute to DDC pump? or it's just too complicated to match all different tubing diameters together?
 
There will be no threads under the barbs, if that is what you are asking.

As posted above, brazing barbs is far cheaper than threading ( and why would they use threading for an AIO ).

As for re-use, the rad will be functional - its basically a piece of metal with tubes and fins.

The barbs look like aluminium and whilst mixed metal loops will work with heavy concentrates of anti-freeze type fluids / sealed AIO, reusing that rad seems pointless.

Reusing , what is probably a rad worth less than £10, wouldn't be worth the hassle of tubing clips etc and the mixed metal issues
 
Shewie said:
is there any way to use this barbs and lead them to G1/4" on CPU block and then reroute to DDC pump? or it's just too complicated to match all different tubing diameters together?
Click to expand...

It is possible, but you would be using what i'm certain is an alumium rad and increasing the risk of galvanic corrosion damaging other parts in your loop.

By the time you've gone > tubing>reducers/adapters>g1/4 twice ( inlet/outlet ) you would be close'ish' to a new cheap rad without the risk.

I think you are try to save a penny at the cost of a pound long term.
 
Brizzles said:
It is possible, but you would be using what i'm certain is an alumium rad and increasing the risk of galvanic corrosion damaging other parts in your loop.

By the time you've gone > tubing>reducers/adapters>g1/4 twice ( inlet/outlet ) you would be close'ish' to a new cheap rad without the risk.

I think you are try to save a penny at the cost of a pound long term.
Click to expand...
oversimplification.

I don't like generally create unnecessary waste from items that I'd consider useful in some instances.
I could bin it but decided to ask this question here. It was disassembled this morning and since I have some parts for custom loop I decided to take the plunge and ask straight away the question here.
As far as I understand the hassle that I'd have to face isn't worth the potential reward.

It was worth to ask either way. I will try to remove barbs tomorrow to see if barbs were screwed or brazed together with radiator.

I have bykski CPU block with temp OLED meter which is nickel plated. Would that cause issues as vast as mixing alu with copper?


Thanks again to all for your answers.
 
Nothing wrong with asking, and i have given my reply.

Resusing a radiator against just throwing it is a great idea, but in this instance an aluminium radiator is a chance to cause issues.

Your nickel plated OLED meter is fine in your loop, as is your bykski block , just leave the recycled rad out of the loop.

The radiator is potential the issue.
 
Aluminium issues aside
Yes it's possible
But unless you have the needed bits laying around it's not likely to be cost effective
Unless it's an AIO that has 16/10mm barbs then fine
If it doesn't you are looking at putting a small length of the original tubing on with clamps /jubilee clips
Then an adapter to change it to a standard size such as 16mm/10mm
Twice
Yeah would work but won't look very good
 
I binned two AIO's the other day and now I'm wondering if I could have created some kind of janky multi-radiator AIO super-loop for free... :p
 
Presumably there'd be no issue using the rad with something like the EK aluminium kits, as that would avoid the issue of mixing metals?
 
I've cut barbs away and I want to use the tap drill bit.
However I need little extra help with finding the best one to drill the tap hole using right size.
According to google to fit G1/4 thread I need 7/32" tap drill to fit these perfectly.
Upon inspection I discovered that walls of this radiator are rather thick from inside, I can see where the barb ends and then I see the the space between, I think I will be able to succeed with this one.
However I'd like to use your knowledge in that regard to avoid using the wrong drill size while completing the task.
 
Just recycle it if it's aluminium, chuck it in your blue bag.

You're not going to get any more help if you're going against everyone's advice.
 
PiKe said:
Just recycle it if it's aluminium, chuck it in your blue bag.

You're not going to get any more help if you're going against everyone's advice.
Click to expand...
I thought I made myself clear that I will be mixing nickel and alu, there will be no copper parts in the loop whatsoever. It's a DIY project that I'm willing to complete either way just out of curiosity.
 
Shewie said:
I thought I made myself clear that I will be mixing nickel and alu, there will be no copper parts in the loop whatsoever. It's a DIY project that I'm willing to complete either way just out of curiosity.
Click to expand...

If you can afford to do it out of curiosity, go for it and don't listen to the negativity. Just heed the advice of not mixing metals, and report back your results! :)
 
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