Everything is installed and it works great. My A/C friend is coming back to check the freon presures. As you stated I did need to reduce the flow of water through the chiller so that the system wouldn't get thremal overload. Another benefit to the systems operation was replacing the air conditioners cover, which must of helped with the air movement because once the cover was replaced the air conditioner performed much better (fewer thermal overloads). I'm maintaining the water temp now between 77.2 - 77.6 degrees, the chiller runs for 15 min and is off for 17 min. and all of the equipment is in my garage where the temp is 90+ degrees. Thanks
My Chiller Setup **Lots of pictures**
- Thread starter ReefRelated
- Start date
Hey there rob, I have a question. I finnaly got my unit together and fired it up today. I am very disappointed in the temperature come out of the tube is it possible I have done something wrong? The temperature coming out of the tube seems to be the same as going in. I do not have a very percise thermometer only the a/c type with the probe. I charged the system to 100 psi on the low side (suction) The a/c unit appears to function ok the temperature of the line into the feels cool and the one exiting feels slightly warmer. The high side is warm to hot I do not know how to accurately check those temperatures. My basement is around 72 deg. which is where the whole unit is. I played with the flow to the tube and at first it was too fast and the compressor was definately getting to hot. Now all that seems ok but it just doesnt seem to be pulling the temp in the tank down. The tank was at 79 deg. when I fired it up and remained there for 5 hours when I decided to give it a break. Please if you have any thoughts I would appreciate them. Thanks Rod
I will assume you installed the metering device in the liquid line just before it goes into the evaporator coil. 100 psi sounds abit high. I would shoot for about 80-85 psig. on the low side. slow down the water flow until until the suction line going back to the compressor starts to sweat. get those 2 things right and you have a good start. there will not be a large difference in water temp going in and out of the evaporator barrel but if you put your and in the tank water for a minute and then put it in front of the cool water . you will feel a change then .
AcroSteve
Make my Funk a P-Funk
I just completed a MAJOR re-plumbing and overhaul of my system. I now have a 180 and my 90 running on my common sump and chiller.
I have finally seperated out the chiller drain so that I can measure my actual flow through the chiller. In the past, the chiller output was returned to the tank with the return water. I have no way of knowing or measuring it.
Anyway I re-read the thread and noticed Tony stated he was running "about" 1000 gph through his heat exchanger. And was using a 6000 btu ac unit.
My unit is only 5200 btu. But I can only get about 240 gpm though mine and maintain my superheat at about 9. I slightly overcharged my unit and the suction pressure is 82, which is a little higher than Ralph cecomended.
Is this typical? Given a direct reduction for the difference in the btu value, I should still be able to handle over 800 gph right?
Does it really matter? Probably not(as I should still be able to kepp my water cool), but I was just curious mainly because I do not yet have my additional MH lights on the new 180.
Thanks
I have finally seperated out the chiller drain so that I can measure my actual flow through the chiller. In the past, the chiller output was returned to the tank with the return water. I have no way of knowing or measuring it.
Anyway I re-read the thread and noticed Tony stated he was running "about" 1000 gph through his heat exchanger. And was using a 6000 btu ac unit.
My unit is only 5200 btu. But I can only get about 240 gpm though mine and maintain my superheat at about 9. I slightly overcharged my unit and the suction pressure is 82, which is a little higher than Ralph cecomended.
Is this typical? Given a direct reduction for the difference in the btu value, I should still be able to handle over 800 gph right?
Does it really matter? Probably not(as I should still be able to kepp my water cool), but I was just curious mainly because I do not yet have my additional MH lights on the new 180.
Thanks
My friend and I were walking through a stroe and they had 5,000 and 6,000 BTU A/c on sale. I looked at my friend and said "chiller?". She wasn't sure if that could happen.
And now I see otherwise here...
How far away is the chiller which is outdoors away from the tank. Where do you have this outdoor a/c unit--in the backyard on a perch cooling off the backyard?
How long would your coil have to be for a 125 tank?
Would this chiller require a sump to use?
Thanks
And now I see otherwise here...
How far away is the chiller which is outdoors away from the tank. Where do you have this outdoor a/c unit--in the backyard on a perch cooling off the backyard?
How long would your coil have to be for a 125 tank?
Would this chiller require a sump to use?
Thanks
AcroSteve
Make my Funk a P-Funk
I checked it this am and I am getting about a 6 degre drop. ambient temp was about 58. 24 degrees cooler than last night.
No sump required if you run it on a closed loop.
My sump room is about 40' from my tank and the ac unit is outside the house beside my heatpump. Under my overhang on the protected side of my house. I have no other enclosure around it. There is about 15' of copper tubing between the chiller barrell and the ac unit. I removed the fan blade for the evaporator section of the ac unit.
I would think that the coil pictured in the initial post of this thread would be more than enough for your 125.
No sump required if you run it on a closed loop.
My sump room is about 40' from my tank and the ac unit is outside the house beside my heatpump. Under my overhang on the protected side of my house. I have no other enclosure around it. There is about 15' of copper tubing between the chiller barrell and the ac unit. I removed the fan blade for the evaporator section of the ac unit.
I would think that the coil pictured in the initial post of this thread would be more than enough for your 125.
npaden
New member
How do you guys know that the coils are 3 times larger than the coils on the regular chillers?
The coil on this drop in aqualogic chiller is for sure more than 1 or 2 coils:
The dimensions of the exchange unit of 10"X10"X28" for the 1/2 hp size does seem larger than the difference between the size of the drop in 1/2 hp aqualogic unit at 19"LX16"WX13"H vs. the inline unit which is 24"LX16"WX13"H. That would seem to mean that the exchanger would be 5"WX16"L but that doesn't mean that the coil inside would be that much smaller.
Anyone had the coils out of the exchangers to actually know?
Why are the exchangers on the S&W site rated so low if they are 3 times larger than a aqualogic unit of the same size?
http://www.sw-wilson.com/prod04.htm
I'm trying to figure out if I bought a used chiller like these and needed to upgrade the compressor how much larger of a compressor could I run on the same exchanger. I think the exchanger on chiller I'm buying is a 1/2 hp one from the SW site. How inefficient would that be if I ended up throwing a 1 Ton condenser on it?
Thanks in advance.
Nathan
The coil on this drop in aqualogic chiller is for sure more than 1 or 2 coils:
The dimensions of the exchange unit of 10"X10"X28" for the 1/2 hp size does seem larger than the difference between the size of the drop in 1/2 hp aqualogic unit at 19"LX16"WX13"H vs. the inline unit which is 24"LX16"WX13"H. That would seem to mean that the exchanger would be 5"WX16"L but that doesn't mean that the coil inside would be that much smaller.
Anyone had the coils out of the exchangers to actually know?
Why are the exchangers on the S&W site rated so low if they are 3 times larger than a aqualogic unit of the same size?
http://www.sw-wilson.com/prod04.htm
I'm trying to figure out if I bought a used chiller like these and needed to upgrade the compressor how much larger of a compressor could I run on the same exchanger. I think the exchanger on chiller I'm buying is a 1/2 hp one from the SW site. How inefficient would that be if I ended up throwing a 1 Ton condenser on it?
Thanks in advance.
Nathan
yeah gibson you could but with the efficiency these things seem to operate at I simply don't care . not to sound like a jerk we are just crazy happy with the performance of the units we have built. you are right about finding out the temp and condensor size. I have ran a 10,000 btu condenser and compressor with a 1/2 ton chiller barrell. It runs awesome.
linda grubbs
New member
Hi , My husband is very interested in building one of your DIY chillers. He thinks it is well done. WE are new to the hobby. Our first tank is 300 gal. including sump. We are running an Iwaki 20 RT for the calcium reactor, Sequence Barracuda 2 HP for the closed loop, Sequence 1 HP for the sump, and Iwaki MD 55 RLT for the protein skimmer. Our lights are four 165 VHO actinics and three 400 watt MH. With the pumps and MH lights running the water is overheating. We are running big fans right now to help cool down.
I was wondering if you had the time if would reccomed what size ac unit and make me a list of the parts that he would need to build a unit like yours. He is an electrician and also has a friend who does ac. WE live in south Alabama. He thought we could wait until summer to deal with getting a chiller. He had not thought about the pumps putting off so much heat. He would very much appreciate any help or advice you could give him. There is so much to learn about this hobby and there isn't anyone close to us that has a tank. The nearest LFS is 1 1/2 hrs. from our home so any help or advice is hard to come by. I do a lot of reading on RC.
He does't like the computer work much so he asked me to email you. Thanks for you time. Linda
I was wondering if you had the time if would reccomed what size ac unit and make me a list of the parts that he would need to build a unit like yours. He is an electrician and also has a friend who does ac. WE live in south Alabama. He thought we could wait until summer to deal with getting a chiller. He had not thought about the pumps putting off so much heat. He would very much appreciate any help or advice you could give him. There is so much to learn about this hobby and there isn't anyone close to us that has a tank. The nearest LFS is 1 1/2 hrs. from our home so any help or advice is hard to come by. I do a lot of reading on RC.
He does't like the computer work much so he asked me to email you. Thanks for you time. Linda
Jdaddy3boys
New member
The parts list is in the first couple of pages of this thread.
the designers and installers of this chiller will no longer be posting in this thread . we do appreciate rc for hosting this long productive thread. I have never had a call back on a chiller I have built yet. well tony called because his wasn't working so he dug the dead rat stopping the fan from spinning out.
if you still have questions feel free to pm me or e-mail me
if you still have questions feel free to pm me or e-mail me
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