Aqua Computer LEAKSHIELD in the test – risk life insurance for custom loop water cooling

Fear of leaking water and the death of all electronics in the PC as an annoying consequence? Germany is usually seen as the land of poets and thinkers. The latter have now also made smart sealing a priority. However, without lyrics, but with all the more negative pressure. Why am I going so far now? The LEAKSHIELD from Aqua Computer is supposed to do exactly that: a leakage and tightness insurance against the daily water accidents cooling circuit. Cost point? Certainly cheaper than expected at 119.90 euros. Effect? Priceless! So with negative pressure for survival.

Admittedly, the idea of ​​leakage protection in the event of leaky hose or pipe connections, defective housings or seals, detaching components in the water cycle or other influences such as breaks, cuts, etc. is not really new. But so far it has failed because of a really practical solution for the custom loop of a PC water cooling system. In industrial pipe and hose systems, of course, pressure monitoring has also been used for ages to identify emergencies, but so far this has mostly only been a reaction (and shutdown), but no active action (and suction).

With LEAKSHIELD, Aqua Computer is now also presenting a very innovative product on the end customer market that should make full water cooling almost completely safe. LEAKSHIELD reliably prevents the escape of liquid even under maximum pump pressure and constantly detects leaks in the background, as long as everything does not fall apart at the same time. Of course, this system is also powerless against total mechanical destruction. We did two very absurd tests today to justify our euphoria. PR can tell a lot, but we’re already shooting at hoses or doing the nasty knife stabbing? OK we. But there are two extra pages and a video from Pascal (which you can also like and subscribe to).

First a little theory for a better understanding

No, it is certainly not rocket science and the physical laws behind it are well known. But the practical implementation was exactly why such a product did not yet exist. So far, anyway. The LEAKSHIELD generates a negative pressure of up to 450 mbar in the closed cooling system. If an (unwanted) leak then occurs, no more liquid escapes from the system. The opposite is true because enough air is drawn into the system to compensate for and reverse the leak!

The vacuum pump integrated in the LEAKSHIELD maintains the negative pressure and the system can then continue to be operated without any problems even in the event of minor leaks. LEAKSHIELD can even cope with larger leaks (as our pictures and the video will soon branch out). Even LEAKSHIELD can then no longer cope with only real destruction, such as completely severed hoses or hard tubes that have slipped out completely.

Although there is still a certain chance if the expansion tank has enough air reserve to completely store the absorbed water. Here, 100 ml reserve is the minimum value and the more free space remains in the reservoir, the better you ride. If you want to be on the safe side, make the container as large as possible in order to have a good compromise between sufficient fill level and intake reserve.

The LEAKSHIELD also has an integrated membrane that protects it from being sucked in by coolant. This means that a system with LEAKSHIELD can be transported normally without moisture being able to escape. When transporting the computer, LEAKSHIELD can continue to be operated via an external power bank. We’ll come to this connection in a moment. And speaking of coolant: nothing works at all with any kind of pastel liquid. Distilled water and / or clever coolant or acid-free, non-aggressive additives are the very first duty.

scope of delivery

The LEAKSHIELD has been optimized for the in-house ULTITUBE series and thus the entire system is integrated into the installation space of a normal lid of the ULTITUBE system. It is then connected to the motherboard via USB and draws all of its power this way. The matching cable to the motherboard for the internal USB connection is included. The USB-A cable for external connection to a power bank, in order to keep the system active even during transports when the PC has been switched off, is optional. The cable is also suitable for use with standard 5-volt plug-in power supplies with at least 1 ampere current (> = 5 watts).

There is also a connection cable to the pins of the power switch on the motherboard (including Y-piece) and a quick start guide / manual (also in digital form). The license for the aquasuite is also included, because although the system could also be operated like that, the full functionality is only possible in conjunction with the software. The LEAKSHIELD can then be screwed onto other containers using the optionally available universal adapter kit. This has a normal G1 / 4 “thread and costs another 19.90 euros. I will come to the assembly and the installation locations (also on the radiator).

For those who are really curious, I have attached the manual in German and English later. Here are the technical data first, before we familiarize ourselves with the functionality and areas of application of the system on the next page.