Diy Chiller

[bwilly]

anyone think of DIY chiller.

me n fren thought of doing one simple

setup when the lights come onz at nite

the water get heated quite fast.

1) simple icepack clam onto the water tube hose.

Need to check n monitor 2hrs or so. (twin icepack, rotating)

Wrap with insulation material to preserve the temperature

of icepack. The size of icepack to decide by size of tank.

Should be similar like a chiller effect.

2) Styrofoam box drill with holes near the bottom n sealed

with silicon. the water tube hose is insert into holes. using

a few icepack drape over the hose. size of box depends on

the Styrofoam box.

To prevent overchill, optimum size of icepack n Styrofoam

box is needed. (eg. different size for different tanks)

Fan can only drop temp to ard 28c, but with the icepack

maintain ard 27c should not be a problem. There should

not be drastic temperature. If from morning till late afternoon,

with fan, temperature should maintain 27c. late afternoon

with the lights (esp MH) come on, temperature easily hit 29-30c.

After photoperiod is over, and effect of the icepack method

bolek, can close shop n sleep. temperature still maintain

ard 27-28c in the night. Main concern is those with heavy

duty lights heating the tank upz.

I think the Styrofoam box method will at least last, 5hours

or so, with good insulation.

the other icepack clam method, maybe 2hours max.

[reeff]

why not get a 2nd hand bar fridge and dill holes at the side to allow tubes or pipes of tank water to pass through it? Heard of some people doing so...

[coralreef]

anyone think of DIY chiller.

me n fren thought of doing one simple

setup when the lights come onz at nite

the water get heated quite fast.

1) simple icepack clam onto the water tube hose.

Need to check n monitor 2hrs or so. (twin icepack, rotating)

Wrap with insulation material to preserve the temperature

of icepack. The size of icepack to decide by size of tank.

Should be similar like a chiller effect.

2) Styrofoam box drill with holes near the bottom n sealed

with silicon. the water tube hose is insert into holes. using

a few icepack drape over the hose. size of box depends on

the Styrofoam box.

To prevent overchill, optimum size of icepack n Styrofoam

box is needed. (eg. different size for different tanks)

Fan can only drop temp to ard 28c, but with the icepack

maintain ard 27c should not be a problem. There should

not be drastic temperature. If from morning till late afternoon,

with fan, temperature should maintain 27c. late afternoon

with the lights (esp MH) come on, temperature easily hit 29-30c.

After photoperiod is over, and effect of the icepack method

bolek, can close shop n sleep. temperature still maintain

ard 27-28c in the night. Main concern is those with heavy

duty lights heating the tank upz.

I think the Styrofoam box method will at least last, 5hours

or so, with good insulation.

the other icepack clam method, maybe 2hours max.

tried that...doesn't work too well..even for a 2 feet tank...unless you have a very big box

[magern2]

The idea of icepack - a bit too troublesome.

The idea of barfridge - sounds feasible, but when I suggested to my wife, she think I mad.

[bwilly]

no lah. because of electricity bill mah..

hehe.. also my current location can't really fit a chiller.

the living room ppl going to sauna in that case..

tik shift place then can get one..

[dodo]

The idea of barfridge - sounds feasible, but when I suggested to my wife, she think I mad.

all wives think their reefer husband is mad

wif some exception though

[magern2]

willy, I did think of using blue jelly ice packs, but I also thought of taking out a small fridge's inside and use it's cooling mechanism.

Now, do you believe I am mad?

By the way, dodo used to be my nickname in school.

[bwilly]

actually its not the money problem.

but more like space constraint.

taking out a fridge components or drilling

a hole should work same as chiller.

[berrykin]

Only AT wife totally support his AT is reefing...

You will get wat i mean when i see his avatar... ^ ^

[SpiderOne]

barfridge dun work in this country.. trust me.. i ate the flak the icepak also dun work.. i ate the flak too. my old old schematic from april -

[leeweixiang]

is a diy chiller better of fans better???

BTW i have no wife to say tt i am mad...i am just 15 yrs old...but my dada and mum say tt i only watse their money in this reef keeping stuff.... so sad....

[alvy]

guys..i've succeeded in my DIY Chiller attempt!! @#$@

I used a split unit compressor 1 HP, and a titanium heat exchanger (rated 1.5 - 1 HP), temp controller, TEV and Dryer/filter + the help of many frens here who really helped me a lot in the project (you know who you are!!!)

after days of experimenting and fidgeting, i still couldn't get the compressor system to work well with the TEV!! the system would just shutdown and not move after 1 hr of cooling!! BUT finally i've grasped the refrigeration tricks!! thanks again to the usual suspects in HVAC for their invaluable information about charging, overload protection, subcooling, super heating, pressure-temperature vs freon property..blah blah blah!! it's not tt difficult after all!!

enough of my nonsense, now for the chiller performances:

Specs:

National Split Unit Aircon Compressor, 1 HP.

Wattage: 880/960w (220/240v)

Freon: R22

Cooling Subject: 1400L of water in a 7ft tank and a 5 ft sump

Other indirect loads: not yet, haven't install any burners!! running 3 pumps, 2 external and 1 internal

flow rate of water: 4000l, hailea pump

ambient temp: 29-31 (cooler today)

temp controller: some weird temp controller that can also switch lights and dihumidifier??

target temp: 25deg

starting temp: ~28-29 deg

hystersis: 1 deg, 15 mins anti-restart time to protect compressor

rate of cooling: approx 1 hr per degree in the day time, faster at nite!

total time:count it yourself!

very very pleased!!!

no photo yet but i'll get them as soon as i finish the rack to hold the compressor and heat exchanger!

[Achilles Tang]

Well done Alvy, that must have been one hell of an engineering project! How much $$$ did you spend? Perhaps you can create a new thread and share with us your experiences!

So do you have time for me now? I got some projects for you! LOL!

[Tanzy]

NormanH,

Get the hint! We want split system type chiller so we can cool our room and tank at the same time.

[alvy]

$$$ how much??

if i'm to get a brand new 1 HP compressor system (not aircon rotary type but normal compressor type with condensor, TEV, filter/drier/receiver, 1 HP ti coil heat exchanger, someone to wield things together and charge freon.everything will fall just below 1k..very very possible!!

i'm very glad to say my compressor system was given to me by a fren and it was in top notch working condition.really appreciate the kind "GIFT"! so my total expenditure is much less than 1 k!!

i will share necessary info for those who are keen in the diy!!

[Achilles Tang]

Power consumption?

Set up another thread, alvy!

[alvy]

powerconsumption??

i tot i wrote in the specs:

i used an ammeter to record the running current for an hr (test for problems just now)...4 amp constant throughout..

power=current X voltage

P=4 X 220, or 4 X 240

so it is either 880w or 960w depending on the voltage. correct me if i'm wrong!

[robe]

Hi Alvy,

well done!! Now I'm thinking of giving up my Hailea and DIY one with maintainable cooling coils to always have a high efficiency (and pay lower electricity bill). Maybe I can also site my compressor and condenser into another area as well. Hmmmm....

[aqua_reef]

$$$ how much??

if i'm to get a brand new 1 HP compressor system (not aircon rotary type but normal compressor type with condensor, TEV, filter/drier/receiver, 1 HP ti coil heat exchanger, someone to wield things together and charge freon.everything will fall just below 1k..very very possible!!

i'm very glad to say my compressor system was given to me by a fren and it was in top notch working condition.really appreciate the kind "GIFT"! so my total expenditure is much less than 1 k!!

i will share necessary info for those who are keen in the diy!!

hey bro.. im keen in the chiller DIY but need to know a lot of stuff

1, wat is HP??

2, wats freon R22?

how do you go around doing the wiring???

hope to hear from you soon...

[Clownfish]

Well done!!!

The project is commendable... but just wondering how much it cost u?

[alvy]

oei..when you wanna do..call me..i go down with you!! i wanna know more about a/c stuff, especially from an expert like you!!!

[aqua_reef]

oei..when you wanna do..call me..i go down with you!! i wanna know more about a/c stuff, especially from an expert like you!!!

ermm.. are you refering to me?? i need to know your contact no first..

roughly below 1k is how much??

[alvy]

sorry i was talking to robe!!hehe.

yes the project can cost ard 900-1100 depending on the horsepower (HP)..and the compressor type you are getting! this include the digital temp controller, wielding of the entire set + freon (refrigerant) charging!

but there is one major drawback!! your set will not have any warranty or after sales service..anything go wrong, dun look for me!!ha! i'm not at all responsible

well i would recommend to get chillers from establish chiller manufacturer or brand as they do have aftersales!! the chiller is a very CHALLENGING and at times frustrating diy project to undertake!!

[robe]

Hi Alvy,

So how is it so far, did it ran all the way to 25 C? Your wattage is similar to the Hailea but your coil seems to be more efficient. 4A is slightly higher than the Hailea which runs on 3.8A but the extra current may come from the condenser fan as split unit fans are bigger.

Robe

[alvy]

hey man..all the way to 25 deg!! exactly 1 deg per hr for my large tank!!my livestock never felt so cool ever since i shifted tank!

i set the hyst temp to 2deg with 15 min of delay in compressor startup to prevent accidental restart of the system due to power outage!

oh yes the fan is HUGE!!!and the fins are sweeettt....