Modding a Laing DDC 1/2" Inlet

[coolmiester]

Just finished replacing the 3/8" inlet on one a Laing DDC pump with a 1/2" barb to increase flow rate so for anyone wanting to give it a try here goes...

This will take the normal standard 6.5mm ID barb to 10mm ID

Still waiting on glue to dry properly before testing but i'll post an update later to see how much the flow has increased.

Obviously this will void the warranty of the pump so make sure your prepared to run that risk if anything were to go wrong!

First up, turn the pump onto its back and unscrew the 4 screws which hold the pump together (indicated by the red arrows)
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_1.jpg

Put the base and motor to one side as it's the top bit that needs to come under the knife or drill in this case :lol:
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_2.jpg

I was planning to use a Danger Den Hi-Flow barb but once i got the pump to bits it soon became apparent that it wouldn't work to well as the thread on the barb would be to long so i ended up chopping a 90 degree elbow (red arrow is approx where it was cut) making sure to leave the rim on which would help when gluing later.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_5.jpg

Once it was cut down i just cleaned up the ragged edge with some fine wet 'n dry.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_6.jpg

Now onto drilling the top...... i used a 12.5mm drill to go completely through the top using the inlet hole that was already there as a guide. The plastic is quite brittle so care needs to be taken not to crack the whole thing.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_8.jpg

Once the hole was drilled i used a dremel to clean off the remainder of the inlet pipe and also just to generally clean off ragged edges followed by a quick sand down for a smooth surface so the barb sat flush in the hole.......you can also chop the inlet barb completely off as this will no longer be needed ;)
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_9.jpg

The underneath should also be checked to make sure the barb doesn't protrude through as this would interfere with the motor and could stop it spinning.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_10.jpg

Once i was happy that the barb fitted in and everything was nice and true i mixed up some 2 part quick drying Araldite which would be more that strong enough to make the join completely water tight.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_11.jpg

It's then just a simple case of running a bead of glue around the hole.....dropping the barb into place which will push any access glue out and then running a bit more around to make a complete seal.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_12.jpg

Leave that to dry for an hour or so and then put the top back on......not forgetting the rubber "O" ring which seals the two half's of the pump together and its then ready for leak testing to see if its had the desired effect
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_14.jpg

Quick update...

Decided to encase the whole barb with glue just to be on the safe side which i doubt isn't necessary but seeing how this is going to be my new work PC i just wanted to eliminate all risks.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/blk_yel/ddc_15.jpg

[coolmiester]

Here's the same thing but making it look a little better aesthetically :D

The pictures speak for themselves really but i'll do a running commentary best i can between pics (and there's quite a lot of them so be warned)

Started off by demmeling out the centre section
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p2.jpg

but this time once the hole was drilled used a 9/16" UNF tap
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p3.jpg

so the Danger Den Hi-Flow barb screwed in like so!
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p4.jpg

Then filled it up with 2 part Araldite and left it to go hard..the glue that is :D
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p5.jpg

I also cut the thread from another DD barb and glued that on the out-let as well
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p6.jpg

Now for the fun part. Filled the top of the pump with 2 part body filler...
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p8.jpg

....just like icing a cake :D
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p7.jpg

Then sanded it down with ruff sand paper and filled the low spots with more filler.
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p9.jpg

Filled and sanded a couple of times then moved on to smother wet n dry paper till all the imperfections were gone
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p10.jpg

Masked the barbs off
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p11.jpg

then a couple of coats of primer followed by a light sand with 2000 grit wet n dry
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p12.jpg

After the primer, gave it 5 coats of the closest metallic blue paint i could find that matched the rest of the case and also chopped the mounting lugs off the bottom bit of the pump and gave that a few coats of aluminium paint
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p16.jpg

The colour is not an exact match but near as dammit
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p17.jpg

And finally along side a standard Laing DDC
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/dualmaster/p18.jpg

Sorry for all the pics ;)

[koola]

That's one sweet mod :D

[shizen]

Nice, looks much better than what it was before! :)

[sunnyg]

you've done it again. excellent.

[twistednet]

can i order that? :D

[DaveMac]

Still contemplating doing this, the Araldite and filler have been purchased :) just need to find a 9/16" UNF tap now.

Just to clarify: the outlet Hi-flow has the nut section cut off and slipped over the DDC barb pipe once the barb shaped section is cut off?

[coolmiester]

Still contemplating doing this, the Araldite and filler have been purchased :) just need to find a 9/16" UNF tap now.

Just to clarify: the outlet Hi-flow has the nut section cut off and slipped over the DDC barb pipe once the barb shaped section is cut off?

Spot on Dave - the outlet barb just makes it easier to attach 1/2" ID hose and obviously looks better as it matches the inlet but it's literally a hi-flow barb with the nut bit cut off and slid over the existing 3/8" barb after cutting the / \ bit off the end of that.

[Remus]

Just an idea coolmeister but I think it may be an idea to sell kits to follow your original mod? That way you make extra cash and they get everything they need in one package ;)

You could do a test run and see how they fair just for an kicks?


and cut me in on the profits.... :D

[Aphex]

the new acrylic tops for the ddc allow u to do this as well, and i think they go for £15.

[HYROGLiFiX]

The photos and explanation show a great step by step mod for the inlet of the pump, but I am also interested in doing the outlet like you have done here.

How difficult is the mod for the outlet to 1/2" like in the picture. Do you have any pictures of how you did the Outlet? or anyone have any?

[Mouseman]

Where does one get the tapping die? Having never used one, I'd assume you drill the hole slightly small, then the die does its job (ie - don't drill too big a hole cos the die will go straight through and you'll be wanting a new top!).

[coolmiester]

The photos and explanation show a great step by step mod for the inlet of the pump, but I am also interested in doing the outlet like you have done here.

How difficult is the mod for the outlet to 1/2" like in the picture. Do you have any pictures of how you did the Outlet? or anyone have any?

The outlet barb just makes it easier to attach 1/2" ID hose and obviously looks better as it matches the inlet but it's literally a hi-flow barb with the nut bit cut off and slid over the existing 3/8" barb after cutting the / \ bit off the end of that.

Spot on Mouseman

http://www.tapdie.com/html/bsp__taps.html

link just been posted in another thread:)

[pandaking]

Amazing mod. Really good guide. What more can I say.

[elfy]

sorry for bringing this back from the dead, but why the 9/16 rather than G1/4?

[coolmiester]

sorry for bringing this back from the dead, but why the 9/16 rather than G1/4?

The mod was done before DD had introduced the G1/4 barbs - would work exactly the same with G1/4

[elfy]

groovy, thanks

[coolmiester]

Just doing some number crunching with the Fuzion - TDX - 10-8MM - 3/8" - 1/2" - DDC - Petras Top - Alphacool Plexi Top etc etc and getting soaking wet in the process which i'll post results later once the numbers are crunched :S

I remember when Friday nights used to be fun :D

[elfy]

haha :) i saw a rig over on another forum and hated the fact i could identify every bit of water cooling kit in it without trying :( i miss having a life, i may have hated my 4 years at EA but at least they knew how to get drunk on fridaynight!

[MrMick]

Sweet mod coolmiester :cool: i would probably mess it up somehow LOL .