Fractal Design Lumen AIO-series Manufacturing Issue Affects CPU-Temperatures: Replacements Offered

[TheLostSwede]

We have discovered an issue with our all-in-one watercooler Lumen. Following user reports of an increase in CPU temperatures, an investigation was started to determine the potential cause. Our findings conclude that the soldering material used in the aluminium radiator, as well as impurities introduced during manufacturing, may cause a reaction with the chemical composition of the cooling fluid. Over time this may lead to sediment build-up in the circulating liquid getting caught in the fins of the CPU block, causing an increase in temperatures as a result of the blockage.

Although Lumen units that are not currently causing temperature issues are safe for continued use, the experience of our users is our main priority. We have therefore decided to halt all Lumen sales globally, until we are satisfied that the quality standards we and our users expect are fully met. In order to address the issue, our teams will be working on a new version with an updated radiator and a new liquid formula, produced following revised processes and guidelines for assembly. With our currently estimated timeline, we are hoping to have new units available as replacements for Lumen owners, as well as substitutes for stock at distributors and resellers; in about six weeks. A web form for users to request a replacement can be found on our dedicated website, which also provides ongoing updates, timeline and further information. Ticket holders will also receive updates via e-mail. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.



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[MachineLearning]

Apaltek. Same OEM as MSI's gunky wonder:

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

which unit sizes? all of them ?

 

[Space Lynx]

This is why I like air, transparency is more clear

 

[TheLostSwede]

which unit sizes? all of them ?

See the source links.

 

[maxfly]

Ouch, that's going to cut into the quarterly.
Manufacturing issues aren't easy to overlook or move past. Particularly the self inflicted kind. Someone forgot to flush these things out before giving the okay to fill them.

 

[Kohl Baas]

Ouch, that's going to cut into the quarterly.
Manufacturing issues aren't easy to overlook or move past. Particularly the self inflicted kind. Someone forgot to flush these things out before giving the okay to fill them.

They wrote it's the soldering material. That's pretty hard to flush out and quite worrying if succeeds...

 

[maxfly]

They wrote it's the soldering material. That's pretty hard to flush out and quite worrying if succeeds...

Flushing rads is standard procedure prior to selling, or in this case filling them. Cleaning out the leftover solder flux critical, otherwise it causes all kinds of problems. That's why it's still suggested to flush any new rad. Sadly it's still very common to find solder flux and burnt remnants in poorly flushed new rads (Alphacool).
They also mentioned "impurities introduced during manufacturing" which was the crux of my statement. That is the unusual part. The only other impurities that I can think of that may have been allowed to get in their rads would be plastic or maybe bits of hose. Either way, Fractal will not be pleased that they are dealing with something that likely could have/should have been avoided entirely.

 

[Mussels]

Another AIO with dodgy coolant


I'm glad i went to custom water, i'll never use an AIO without a drain/fill port again.

 

[Dammeron]

Another AIO with dodgy coolant


I'm glad i went to custom water, i'll never use an AIO without a drain/fill port again.

Yep - custom loop all the way. At least I have full control over what's flowing inside and how clean the whole setup is. And let's not mention the superb cooling power with little to no noise.

 

[INSTG8R]

Another AIO with dodgy coolant


I'm glad i went to custom water, i'll never use an AIO without a drain/fill port again.

Indeed I left mine sitting half flushed after I took out the rest of my rig with an amateur move. Regardless 35% Vinegar mixed with distilled water probably sat in my rad for about a week while I waited on new parts.
When I got my new pump hooked up and all my tubing in order, because it was a DDC pump it had to run wet to so I filled the res with some more distilled water just to get the loop going. I JUST caught a large amount of well "Blue water" coming back through my return tubing. Basically being a full copper rad the vinegar at best guess caused some oxidation in the copper tubes in the Rad.
Being in full control of your fluids means I was already using a PSU jumper so having quickly pulled that I was able to drain the "Blue Crap" directly into one of the measuring cups I keep for these jobs and not completely contaminate my fluids(Tho I mean I love Blue and have literally all my lighting set to it)It was definitely NOT the kinda blue you want in a water loop...

 

[Ferrum Master]

Regardless 35% Vinegar mixed with distilled water probably sat in my rad for about a week while I waited on new parts.

If there is soldering flux, vinegar doesn't dissolve it.

First batch using acetone or Ethyl alcohol... flush it using distilled water. Then yes, vinegar really works fine for germs, it is very hard to get the 35% here as it is prohibited due to someone always ending up drinking it. I do it multiple times and then flush everything again using distilled water many times. No need to wait a week tho...

 

[INSTG8R]

If there is soldering flux, vinegar doesn't dissolve it.

First batch using acetone or Ethyl alcohol... flush it using distilled water. Then yes, vinegar really works fine for germs, it is very hard to get the 35% here as it is prohibited due to someone always ending up drinking it. I do it multiple times and then flush everything again using distilled water many times. No need to wait a week tho...

Here Isopropyl is prohibited and I do use acetone for thermal paste clean up. It was a matter of needing a new pump to actually finish the job. I don’t think I’d run acetone through soft tubing tho. this rad is over a decade old any flux is long gone this was just vinegar and distilled water sitting in the rad for a week so it was just basically copper oxidation.

 

[Ferrum Master]

It was a matter of needing a new pump to actually finish the job. I don’t think I’d run acetone through soft tubing tho.

I'm always taking apart and cleaning each component individually, so no tubes. Acetone treatment is done on new parts just taking out of the box. Just fill it in, close the ports and shake, rinse and repeat. Iso may be... but I that for I recommended ethyl as it ain't a health risk. And in my years of doing loop, there always some shit going out from new rads. But even despite that I've had some impurities still causing some growth.

I do system maintenance one in two years or when new system is build. Last time I did when I switched to a new case.