Sub-zero water chiller

[I.nfraR.ed]

Hello,

 

I have the opportunity to get a Hailea-clone water-chiller for a relatively low price (that compared to a unit from the store).

I'm wondering if anyone of you tried the following:

 

I want to disconnect stock temperature probe and connect an external one which always measures ambient/room temp, so I can fool the chiller that it never reaches the target temp (lowest that can be set is 4C I think).

By doing this the chiller should never sswitch off its compressor and work on full power non-stop, but I'm not sure what temperatures I could expect, so I'm asking if someone tried this with a similar water chiller.

 

Thanks!

[Calathea]

Hey Infra Temps is completely dependent on compressor size and gas. What you want is the biggest possible pretty much, I think best Hailea shipped with no more than ½ HP compressors and r134a. So in best case I'd say down to -20 maybe -25 but it will take a while to cool down a lot of water to that.

 

Still, I'd buy it

[I.nfraR.ed]

-20 is fine enough and pretty much what I'd expect.

Gas is exactly R134a, don't know about the compressor.

It's the 750W model, D-D Aquarium Solutions DC750.

 

So you think my idea would work?

[Calathea]

Yea sure this idea has been used by chiller guys for a long time, converting window ac units to very powerful water chillers. However they usually have much more powerful rotary comps. There are a lot of builds in XS old chiller section, I'm surprised you've missed it?

 

Reading here http://www.overclock.net/t/1412175/d-d-dc750-chiller seems that the model you are loking at are massively overspeced and actually only 1/4 HP. Depending on what you have to pay for it, might not be worth it. I think it won't reach -20 at all with such small comp. Not with any kind of decent load at least.

[I.nfraR.ed]

Hmm, so it's actually not between the Hailea 500 and 1500, but rather between 300 and 500 Hailea.

I know the AC units conversion ofcourse, but it's too big and I liked the idea to mod this one.

I wanted to use it mainly with VGAs and SS on the cpu, cause I have only one phase-change unit.

That's rather disappointing.

[Calathea]

I know. Never heard of such a small chiller (low watt) but hey if you get it for a decent price I would try it out. Cause I completely agree with AC units being too big. Maybe someone else can give you a better estimate how it would perform.

[I.nfraR.ed]

It's about 215 euro, so I'm not sure if it's worth it.

If it was 1/2HP I'd dfinitely buy it.

The retail unit seems really overpriced...

Edited April 23, 2014 by I.nfraR.ed

[nachtfalke]

if you look for heavy bench unit ..the compressor / condenser and refrigerant( R134a have a low performance ..for what you need) is the problem, the water pump also( need MAGNETIC PUMP) , becouse the pc designed for water is not perform very well at lower temps.

recently i build myseelf a strong chiller and GPU SS with rotary´s compressors( both with R507A)! , for exemple my Chiller loop is with the evaporator builded in reservoir ..that offer a better boost compared with HX plate ..that all chiller/ss builders use today.

HX plate is restrictive over -30* water temp, liquid into HX cover small amount of water ..and that make it unstable at load temp..etc..

i waiting suction line from BartX and i can braze hole unit an ready to go:D http://forum.lab501.ro/showthread.php?p=362036#post362036

Edited April 23, 2014 by nachtfalke

[Calathea]

It's about 215 euro, so I'm not sure if it's worth it.

If it was 1/2HP I'd dfinitely buy it.

The retail unit seems really overpriced...

 

215 euro is definitely not worth it. If it would be the Hailea 500 then maybe..

[BenchBros]

I use Hailea 500 for pretesting...

Haswell + 290X in Heaven and I cannot go under 13,6°C water temp and of course chiller will not shut down.

So I dont think you need to mod it. Just get the system running and set 4°C and it will never stop