Pipes & Hoses
ID vs OD
Inside Diameter
Common ID sizes in the US are 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3/4"
Inside diameter is very important for barbed connectors
Outside Diameter
Common OD sizes in the US are stuff stuff and more stuff
Wall Thickness
Wall thickness is why you will see multiple options for a certain type of hose. Hose with a thicker wall will be stiffer, have a greater bend radius, be less vulnerable to kinking, and support higher pressure.
Material
Most of the hoses available at the local hardware store are PVC or rubber. YMMV. I haven't researched the affects that glycol can have on either material.
Flexibility
Hose flexibility is a trade-off. While fairly flexible, thin walled hose can be easy to work with when you are experimenting, it is easily kinked and will rupture at a lower pressure than it's thick walled brethren. Experimenting with flexible hose on a bench may be fairly low risk, but once you nail down the coolant path in your set up, you may want to consider a more durable, stiffer, thick walled hose.
Hose Matrix
| ID | OD | Max PSI | Max Temp | Material | Link to Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 150 | 140F | PVC - Reinforced braided vinyl tubing | [Lowes] |
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 45 | 175F | PVC - Clear vinyl tubing | [Lowes] |
| 1/2" | 3/4" | PVC - Clear vinyl tubing | [Lowes] | ||
| 1/4" | 1/2" | 250 | 125F | Reinforced PVC - Reinforced braided vinyl tubing | [Lowes] |
- 1/4" = 6.35mm
- 3/8" = 9.525mm
- 1/2" = 12.7mm
- 5/8" = 15.88mm
- 3/4" = 19.05mm