any reviews on ac unit chiller conversions?

[newade]

hi guys, i am looking at a 1/2 hp " custom " chiller on ebay, and i am reading a review that it is a 80 dollar window unit converted to a chiller,, is this possible? i figure someone here must have tried this,,
thanks

 

[kgross]

Yes it can be done and if done correctly works very well. I don't think a 1/2hp chiller though would be equivalent to a 5500but chiller(AC) Don't know if this is correct, but I found a site that said 2,545 BTU = 1hp, so a 1/2 HP chiller would need a 12000 but AC unit to start with.

Kim

 

[newade]

are there any concers you know about? i am thinking to try one,, they say they are rated as a 1/2 hp chiller for around 450 bucks,, and the oonly complaint was that it was an ac conversion,, anyone have drawings, or details?

 

[A.T.T.R]

as long as it used a titanium heat exchanger on the wetside all should be fine

 

[kgross]

I don't think there is much difference between the compressor on a "chiller" and a window AC unit. they function the same and do the same job. As long as the heat exchanger is made well and it has the correct valving it will work fine, it just might not look as nice as a real "chiller"

 

[MeuserReef]

Got a link to this here "AC Conversion Chiller"?

 

[newade]

i just searched chiller on ebay,, it wont give a name brand,, just says chiller

 

[newade]

is this a link, dunno

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHILLER-REEF-FI...ViewItem?hash=item150304578616&_trkparms=39:1|66%3A4|65%3A7|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

#
The Heat Exchanger is made of 6061T6 Marine Grade Aluminum with PVC shell
#
This chiller is specifically made for salt water reef tanks
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No copper touches the Salt Water
#
Min Flow rate is 500 GPH the MAX is 2000 GPH
#
Up to 400 Gallon Fish Tank

 

[A.T.T.R]

aluminum dont think it will last in saltwater

marine grade dosnt mean jack.. just ask my dive knife

look for one with titanium and you have no need to worry

 

[alpine]

The heast exchanger they use in there chillers will corrode.If they had a ti heat exchanger it would be a great buy.Just for reference,a 12k btu ac would be equal to a 1hp chiller.

To bad it doesnt also state that the aluminum doesnt touch the saltwater.

 

[newade]

does the line,, aluminum heat exchanger with pvc sleeve mean only the pvc touches the water???

 

[alpine]

The water flows thru the pvc tube,where the aluminum tubing resides filled with freon.The water is cooled down by the cold aluminum tube.It should be fairly easy to change the aluminum tube for titanium tubing.

 

[alpine]

Heres a thread that shows how to make a heat exchanger.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1098122

 

[EnderG60]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13667387#post13667387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kgross
Yes it can be done and if done correctly works very well. I don't think a 1/2hp chiller though would be equivalent to a 5500but chiller(AC) Don't know if this is correct, but I found a site that said 2,545 BTU = 1hp, so a 1/2 HP chiller would need a 12000 but AC unit to start with.

Kim

your website is wrong. 12,000 btu = 1 ton = 1hp

 

[MeuserReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13680559#post13680559 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EnderG60
your website is wrong. 12,000 btu = 1 ton = 1hp

Are you sure about this? I was always under the impression that:

1HP = 2545 BTU/h.
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h

 

[alpine]

Uummm like I stated above,12k btu is equal to 1hp.