Details
Thermal Grizzly's DeltaMate Quick Disconnect Male - M in Matt Nickel is the plug half of a drip-free quick-release coupling, with a male QDC connector and a G1/4" male thread. Each QDC coupling requires one fitting with a male QDC connector and one with a female QDC connector. Its mating half in the same finish is the female coupling with a male thread or a female thread.
Properties
- Coupling
- Male QDC connector (plug half)
- Thread
- G1/4" male
- Body
- Brass, nickel-plated, matt nickel finish
- O-ring
- EPDM
- Base diameter
- 21 mm
- Weight
- 30.2 g, 32.2 g boxed
General information
DeltaMate fittings are water cooling connectors that Thermal Grizzly designed for the individual components of a custom water cooling loop. The Quick Disconnect (QDC) fittings in that range are quick-release couplings with an integrated shutoff function and a vacuum-assisted anti-leak design. Thermal Grizzly describes the result as a true zero-spill quick disconnect. The locking mechanism is push-to-connect and slide-to-release. The internal geometry of the QDCs is optimized for high flow: it minimizes flow resistance and restriction while maintaining reliable sealing. This fitting features the male connector of the pair.
Material and finish
As expected from Thermal Grizzly quality, the fittings are precisely machined from brass, a precision-machined construction chosen for durability. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It offers the advantage of being anodically compatible with other metals while being harder and more corrosion-resistant than copper. The sealing rings (O-rings) are made from EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), a highly elastic material which is resistant to ozone and UV radiation. According to the data sheet, the spring inside is stainless steel (AISI 316) and the insert is nickel-plated brass. For an elegant finish, this fitting is coated with a matt nickel finish, and it also comes in black and gloss nickel. All DeltaMate fittings share one uniform outer diameter, which ensures seamless integration of the individual components.
Why are QDCs special?
Quick disconnects are special fittings: they allow components in a water-cooling loop to be replaced quickly. Thermal Grizzly calls them a great help for content creators. When swapping a graphics card in a test setup with a custom loop, for example, the entire loop does not have to be drained. They are also frequently used by PC enthusiasts, who integrate external radiators into the loop with them. Each coupling consists of a plug half (Male) and a socket half (Female). Both halves are available in G1/4" male (M) and female (F) thread variants, for full loop compatibility.
While QDCs offer several benefits, such as the time savings mentioned above and more options for adding external radiators, they have drawbacks too. They are made up of several smaller parts that require precise machining and subsequent hand assembly, which results in higher manufacturing costs compared to regular fittings. In addition, due to their function, they can cause a slight drop in pressure, since they restrict water flow more than regular fittings do. It is therefore advisable to use only as many as the loop actually needs.
QDCs and water blocks
For quickly swapping graphics cards in water-cooled test benches, we recommend creating directional pairs from one version with a G1/4-inch male thread (M) and one with a female thread (F). This prevents accidental reversal of the flow direction, and it ensures that both valves retain the coolant when disconnected. On the water-block side, the intake takes a DeltaMate Quick Disconnect Female - M and the outtake, correspondingly, a DeltaMate Quick Disconnect Male - M (this fitting). On the tube side, the intake takes a DeltaMate Quick Disconnect Male - F and the outtake a DeltaMate Quick Disconnect Female - F. For the tube-side QDCs, a DeltaMate ST fitting (ST13 or ST16) is also required to connect the tube.
QDCs for connecting tubes
If QDCs are to be used to connect two tubes to each other, QDCs with female threads should be used on both sides of the quick-disconnect connection. That is so that standard fittings for the tubes can be mounted on the QDC ends. In the flow direction of the loop, all QDC connections should use the same plug half (male) and socket half (female) of a QDC pair. One QDC connection takes two Male - F, two Female - F, as well as four DeltaMate ST fittings (ST13 or ST16). With its male thread, this fitting belongs on the water-block side of such a setup and not between two tubes.
In the box
- 1x DeltaMate Quick Disconnect Male - M, matt nickel
Thermal Grizzly's data sheet for the DeltaMate Quick Disconnect is a PDF.
