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Product:
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AngelEye Technologies Bay-Res Revision 2 |
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Price:
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$37 (CAN) / $25 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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AngelEye Technologies
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Author:
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Mantis
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Date:
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September 9th, 2003
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The rear portion of the Bay-Res reservoir has two 1/2" NPT right angle black nylon hose barbs. The threaded
hose barbs have been securely screwed into the reservoir and the holes are sealed with waterproof silicone
for further safety. The use of right angle hose barbs does inhibit flow rates slightly and users wishing to
change these for standard hose barbs must do so carefully to prevent any cracking of the acrylic. Ideally
when dealing with inlets and outlets on a reservoir, their location should be closest to the bottom thus
allowing the maximum amount of time until a refill of liquid is needed along with eliminating the sucking
in of air which resides at the top of the reservoir. This was a minor issue with the original Bay-Res and
has since been revised for the Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 with lowered hose barb locations.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 features the new addition of a center barrier between the inlet and
outlets located at the rear. The addition of the center barrier eliminates turbulence and provides the
water a more definitive flow path within the reservoir. By forcing the water to travel further within
the reservoir, this allows for more air to escape from the water prior to reaching the outlet. The fill
cap is located at the front top right hand side of the unit and is taped with a threaded 1/4" NPT thread
which allows users to insert a compliant hose barb of their choice for various filling reasons. A small
acrylic square is attached directly below the fill cap. Once the reservoir has been filled, the small
square displaces enough to prevent any leaking when re-tightening the fill cap. This also allows for a
small amount of air to escape. According to the information sheet and AngelEye Technologies website,
any issues pertaining to the fill cap leaking when over-tightened have been addressed in the Bay-Res
Reservoir Revision 2.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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In order to test the Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2, I gathered some spare water cooling parts which
include an Eheim 1048 AC pump, distilled water, a funnel along with 10 feet of 1/2" ID tubing and 1/2"
steel hose clamps. The installation is very straightforward and all that is required is to slide the
Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 into an available bay, preferably the top for easier filling and maintenance.
The Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 was connected in a loop to the Eheim 1048 pump and distilled water was
added until the reservoir was full.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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In order to demonstrate the aesthetics of the Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2, I attached four 5mm Ultra
Bright Blue LEDs temporarily at the rear. The effect achieved is quite amazing and when paired with UV
LEDs and UV reactive water dye, the illumination should be even greater. There are several possible
modifications to be made to this unit and it will be featured in an upcoming case modification project
of mine. Once the system had been filled the cap was tightly secured and was left running for a 24-hour
period to test for leaks. I did note the overall smoother flow of water with the addition of the center
channel proving it works as advertised. Excessive tightening and loosening of the fill cap will result
in the top plastic groove slightly stripping.
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Conclusion:
The AngelEye Technologies Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 presents the excellent quality construction and
functionality found on the original Bay-Res with new and improved features. The added LED mounts provide
many possible modifications and enhance aesthetics greatly. The use of 1/2" or 3/8" nylon barbs allow
for The AngelEye Technologies Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 to be easily adapted into an existing or new
water cooling setup using today’s most popular water cooling equipment. The lack of modification required
along with the functionality and ease of use makes this product very appealing to users seeking a
reservoir based water cooling configuration. Aside from any aesthetic improvements, the AngelEye Technologies
Bay-Res Reservoir Revision 2 also brings some more performance and technical improvements such as the
center barrier and lowered rear hose barbs. There weren’t any overly negative aspects I encountered
during the review period. I would have liked to see some LEDs included in the package so users can
accomplish maximum aesthetics all in one package. Overall, I’m rating this product a
9.5 out of 10 and and would recommend this
product to users seeking a reservoir that carries a perfect balance between ease of use, performance and
aesthetics. If you have any questions regarding this review, be sure to visit the
AngelEye Technologies website for more information
or discuss them in our forums.
NOTE: Please note at the time of our review, AngelEye Technologies has recently released an UV Blue
version of the Bay-Res Revision 2.
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Pros:
- LED holders
- Ease of use
- Excellent construction
- Aesthetics and modification potential
- Outfitted with either 3/8" or 1/2" black nylon barbs
- Center barrier
- Fits conveniently into one 5.25" drive bay
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Cons:
- No LEDs included in package
- Advanced DIY type users will prefer to manufacture their own reservoir
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