anyone build a chiller w/ fridge-warmer

[BOSTONBAKEDBEAN]

seen em on the web and creigs list for as low as 20, 30new they chill like a fridge. or warm you basicaly set the temperature to 75deg ect. and it holds that temp.. im gona try cause its cheap just wondering if anyones used one. i had to laff though target has a digital one. its the pink hello kitty model but i dont care as long as it works.

 

[BOSTONBAKEDBEAN]

sigh ill have to pain.. http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...054330-5236609?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B00009LZPG

 

[BOSTONBAKEDBEAN]

paint paint oops

 

[NateHanson]

I'm not sure it'll be effective. They're thermoelectric, and that technology isn't very powerful. There's an enormous emount of heat capacity in our tanks, and you need a powerful heater/chiller to do anything to 100 gallons of water.

At the price though, maybe it's worth a try.

How big are the tanks that people on RC are using these on?

 

[Reef55]

Those use a peltier to heat or cool. One side gets hot, the other cold. Which is which depends on which direction the current flows. They are often used to cool computer chips that are being overclocked.

Here is one already set for a fish tank:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CW1111

"can cool 10 gallons of water 6-8F below ambient air temperature", and uses 50 watts at 12volts.

I can't find the current draw on the Hello Kitty you linked to, but I think with the work involved in trying to make it work (salt water proof, controllable, etc), it might not be worth it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mloebl]

I tried to do this about 6mos ago with one that's a bit more stylish as well as has an LCD thermostat. However it's completely sealed so had to pick where to drill the holes for the in/out... I picked logically where I wouldn't have run the cables, however the manufacturer had different ideas. I ended up drilling right thru a ribbon cable and wasted $100 I have a second one at work and it actually looses it's effectiveness over time as the fan wears out (not easy to replace.) It used to keep my soda around 40F, now it strugges to keep it in the 50s.

I have seen projects where people have taken mini-fridges for chilling by running the lines into a bucket of water in the fridge (some even do freezer as well), and then coil it around the inside for maximum surface area.

-Mike

 

[BOSTONBAKEDBEAN]

the freezer with pip coils where i got the idea. the hello kitty was a joke exsample of it..
if i can find something a lil more quality that may last.. might work.. thanks for the feed back.

"How big are the tanks that people on RC are using these on?" whats RC?

 

[revkev6]

rc=reefcentral

 

[NateHanson]

Somehow I read that people had tried this over at Reef Central (another reef forum), but maybe i made that up in my mind, because clearly you didn't write it.

There are larger deep freezers of this type made for boats and RVs, etc. but even those aren't really that powerful. They mostly rely on excellent insulation, so the relatively weak chiller can keep up.

My barely-educated opinion on the issue is that it's not practical to chill a tank over 30 or so gallons with this technology. I could be wrong, but that's my impression.

 

[BOSTONBAKEDBEAN]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/dyiprojects/

thats another list of diy seems ligit but they recomend submerging the tubeing/ coils in water filling the unit full of water alows for more stable heat transfer.
i still may just try if people are selling em cheap ill grab one just to try hook up on a fri watch my temp ect.

 

[NateHanson]

Thanks for the link Bean.

I found this project for a DIY chiller made from a dehumidifier, and IMO that's the best DIY chiller idea I've seen. http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dy...rium&zu=http://www.guarriello.net/chiller.htm
Looks a lot more powerful and practical than any of the dorm fridge or Window AC chillers I've seen.

I'm going to file that one away with my GOM ecotype tank ideas. A cheap chiller would be key for that project.

 

[mloebl]

Thanks for the link Bean.

I found this project for a DIY chiller made from a dehumidifier, and IMO that's the best DIY chiller idea I've seen. http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dy...rium&zu=http://www.guarriello.net/chiller.htm
Looks a lot more powerful and practical than any of the dorm fridge or Window AC chillers I've seen.

I'm going to file that one away with my GOM ecotype tank ideas. A cheap chiller would be key for that project.

That's a pretty interesting idea, never thought of a dehumdifier. The titanium enhancement was a great idea, increased it's efficiency quite a bit. I had been looking into beer stil coils, but they are all stainless steel or copper (at least the vendors I had found.)

-Mike

 

[BOSTONBAKEDBEAN]

ahhh so much work though.. mind you im workin with basicaly the space under my tank with filters refugiem ect.. even if it last a year.. cross you fingers for me .. it will be a dream if it works. just set the temp n walk away..

that site i saw had some good ideas i especialy like one i cooked up in my head.. but they did it in a very advanced way.. they built a halide hood that moved over the tank over the day, creating light cycles to match seasones ect.. HARDCORE.. this comeing from the guy who has a poland springs jug as a refugium hahaha