Running a fridge as a chiller?

Pomme · 04-28-2004, 10:23 AM

Running a fridge as a chiller?

Ive been thinking of the summer months and the heat on the tank.

just speaking out loud here guys but i have just had a thought, how about having a air pump running in a fridge and then pumping the air from the fridge into the sump where it would cool the water. but be controller by a probe and monitor in the water?

i know it sounds stupid but if it works a tiny bit ans stops the tank water changing to much over the few hot days in the summer then brilliant

Andrew

Meric · 04-28-2004, 11:56 AM

Depending on the overall tank size. There's not a lot of surface area for the cool air to come in contact with the warm water. To pump enough air to cool a decent sized tank would require the fridge to run all the time which they are not designed to do, and would put stress on the internal enviroment inside your fridge. You would risk your fridge getting warm and having a lot of bad food.

Find an old fridge. tear it apart. Get the cooling coils and the compressor out of it. Put the compressor in a closed room and put the cooling coils in your sump. Make sure the coils are not leaking. Compressor oil will kill everything.

There are some DIY projects that try to use fridges, but I think they are for Nano tanks.

However for $1000.00 you can get this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...811010334&rd=1

It might be a bit overkill, but I'm sure your home owners accosiation won't mind.

**Poseidon** · 04-28-2004, 01:25 PM

Meric that is a GREAT IDEA!!!

I would say you have so much invested already Pomme... Just get a real chiller and not risk it...

Pomme · 04-28-2004, 02:52 PM

yeah would do but shipping may be a bit expensive to get over here

yeah mike, i think i will do as it will cost me £700 for a chiller, but the cost of all the acros i would loose would be devistating

Valclore · 04-30-2004, 11:15 PM

Would you really want to put aluminum coils from an old fridge in a saltwater sump????

NOT!!!

Haven't tried this but looks good...

tonyb · 05-17-2004, 04:03 AM

how about just running a pump that pushes h20 through a hose that is coiled up in the fridge.. so its cooling as it goes through the tubing...

Pomme · 05-17-2004, 06:08 AM

ita better to have a bucket with water as for temperature change is better with water-water, then air-water, is that makes sense.

04-28-2004, 10:23 AM	#1
Pomme Council Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cornwall/Southampton, England Posts: 319	Running a fridge as a chiller? Running a fridge as a chiller? Ive been thinking of the summer months and the heat on the tank. just speaking out loud here guys but i have just had a thought, how about having a air pump running in a fridge and then pumping the air from the fridge into the sump where it would cool the water. but be controller by a probe and monitor in the water? i know it sounds stupid but if it works a tiny bit ans stops the tank water changing to much over the few hot days in the summer then brilliant Andrew

04-28-2004, 11:56 AM	#2
Meric Citizen Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 208	Sounds Inefficient... Depending on the overall tank size. There's not a lot of surface area for the cool air to come in contact with the warm water. To pump enough air to cool a decent sized tank would require the fridge to run all the time which they are not designed to do, and would put stress on the internal enviroment inside your fridge. You would risk your fridge getting warm and having a lot of bad food. Find an old fridge. tear it apart. Get the cooling coils and the compressor out of it. Put the compressor in a closed room and put the cooling coils in your sump. Make sure the coils are not leaking. Compressor oil will kill everything. There are some DIY projects that try to use fridges, but I think they are for Nano tanks. However for $1000.00 you can get this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...811010334&rd=1 It might be a bit overkill, but I'm sure your home owners accosiation won't mind. Last edited by Meric; 04-28-2004 at 12:00 PM.

04-28-2004, 01:25 PM	#3
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,235	Meric that is a GREAT IDEA!!! I would say you have so much invested already Pomme... Just get a real chiller and not risk it... __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

04-30-2004, 11:15 PM	#5
Valclore Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 43	Would you really want to put aluminum coils from an old fridge in a saltwater sump???? NOT!!! Haven't tried this but looks good... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Valclore; 04-30-2004 at 11:23 PM. Reason: Found pic of fridge chiller

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04-28-2004, 02:52 PM	#4
Pomme Council Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cornwall/Southampton, England Posts: 319	yeah would do but shipping may be a bit expensive to get over here yeah mike, i think i will do as it will cost me £700 for a chiller, but the cost of all the acros i would loose would be devistating

05-17-2004, 04:03 AM	#6
tonyb Just Moved In Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 36	how about just running a pump that pushes h20 through a hose that is coiled up in the fridge.. so its cooling as it goes through the tubing...

05-17-2004, 06:08 AM	#7
Pomme Council Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cornwall/Southampton, England Posts: 319	ita better to have a bucket with water as for temperature change is better with water-water, then air-water, is that makes sense.

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