outdoor chiller ?

[jhale]

If protected from rain would a chiller with a digital controller
be able to sit outside and operate without freezing in the winter?

I'm thinking of placing my 1/2 hp Red Sea chiller on the balcony.

I could make a water proof enclosure with a vent for it.

One other thought, to keep the pipes from freezing I was planning on running it in the winter. Will the water get too cold running through the chiller in the middle of winter?

thanks,

- J

 

[bad coffee]

I bet you could skip the electric and just use a bucket of salt water. just have the piping from the tank run through the bucket. if the bucket is filled with salt water, it won't freeze.

then hook your temp control up to a smallish pump that kicks on when the tank needs to be cooled.

you'd have to also set it to kick on once every few hours so the lines won't go anerobic.

I think you'd have to email red sea. I don't think there's any freezable parts inside the chiller. So go for it. you could probably leave it out there year round.

B

 

[jhale]

Yes, I want to leave it in place and not have to worry about it.

I would run it off a dedicated pump as a closed loop to the chiller.

Red sea does not make the chiller any more, I'm not sure if they will have the info,
but I will give them a call and see what they say.

I forgot my other big question, in the heat of the summer how will the chiller
be effected operating outside in the 100 degree days?

 

[bad coffee]

just like an ac. it will work harder, but will work.

when pushing air through the coils to cool them, it will be pushing 100deg air

 

[mmike1992]

the problem with running a chiller outside is you get what they call liquid slugging back to the compressor which could damage the compressor once the temp goes below about 45 degrees at the unit this could happen i would advise against it
i just saw the other question about the summer it will be fine

 

[Tonyscoots84]

hey J talk to Nick nyfireman his chiller is outside, he made an enclosure for it to protect it from the cold and rain/snow.... he has no problems with it and it works great

 

[Wes]

mmike how do air handlers avoid this liquid slugging problem in the winter? I know here at work we have refrigerated warehouses and the compressors on the roof run all year round.

Now that i think of it, the compressor four our A/C at home is on the roof and we run it all year around because heat from the floors underneath make the temperature rise in our condo. Our home in the winter gets hot like it's summertime lol

 

[mmike1992]

they use what are called fan cycle controllers that shut down the condensor fans they are also commercial compressors which are designed for severe conditions

mmike how do air handlers avoid this liquid slugging problem in the winter? I know here at work we have refrigerated warehouses and the compressors on the roof run all year round.

 

[jhale]

just like an ac. it will work harder, but will work.

when pushing air through the coils to cool them, it will be pushing 100deg air

so making a reflector to shade the unit would help a bit, and maybe having some fans kick on when the temps go above 85-90 would help also.

I guess it's similar to running a window A/C unit right? Those compressors sit outside.

thanks for the advice guys, please keep it coming...

 

[jhale]

the problem with running a chiller outside is you get what they call liquid slugging back to the compressor which could damage the compressor once the temp goes below about 45 degrees at the unit this could happen i would advise against it
i just saw the other question about the summer it will be fine

so draining the chiller in the winter would be the best bet? and not running it at all?

 

[mmike1992]

so draining the chiller in the winter would be the best bet? and not running it at all?

there are ways around it if you need to run it all year round with cycling controls and making sure the supply and return lines dont freeze. as for units working at really low temps it is possible but very likely to shorten the life of the compressor.

 

[herman]

See if you can get a hold of a member called Irisservice. His tank was a sweet setup. Most of his setup is located on his balcony including chillers battery banks etc.

His tank thread: Irisservice 125 Reef

Unfortunately the pics are mostly not working anymore......

 

[jhale]

actually I had a brain freeze, the unit would be unplugged in the cold winter with the water just circulating through it so the pipes are ok. with the unit off will everything be ok?

that was my concern, that the cold would not effect the digital controller or compressor parts.

 

[herman]

Unit should be off. Water should be drained. You can keep the piping intact by adding a bypass and a series of ball valves. Get one of those rubbermaid cabinets for your balcony to house the chiller and shield it from the elements.

 

[nyfireman3097]

J I have mine outside and it runs all year round. I built a enclosure around it. Works like a charm. Its fully enclosed with a grating on the side for ventimg when its running. It also has a small piece of plastic in front to see what the temp is reading on it. I have it hooked up to a Medusa controller. Swing on by SI one day and visit me and Tony and check it out

 

[KathyC]

Due to the heat level in my home office (where my tanks are) I still have both of my chillers running and will be stuck with them til I get a second zone going down here...

...but why are you looking to move your chiller to the balcony in the winter if you don't need to run it?? (aside from the fact that it's in your fireplace..lol)
What size pump would you need to move the water from your tank to the chiller and back AND maintain the pressure the chiller requires in the event that you had to turn it on?
Did I miss the reason for moving it outdoors?:scratchch
If part of the issue is the heat the chiller puts out while running... what about making a vent duct w/a fan that comes on using a thermostatic doohickey when it's running? That's my plan for next summer once i find out the proper names of all those parts...lol

 

[roncgizmo]

actually I had a brain freeze, the unit would be unplugged in the cold winter with the water just circulating through it so the pipes are ok. with the unit off will everything be ok?

that was my concern, that the cold would not effect the digital controller or compressor parts.

You don't need running water...but you need to get ALL the water out of it.The compressor will be fine. (think A/C unit)
I assume you're doing this just to store it?

I'm not sure how the controller would work in that kind of temp..if you look in the manual it should give you an operating temp that might give you an idea.

 

[jhale]

...but why are you looking to move your chiller to the balcony in the winter if you don't need to run it?? (aside from the fact that it's in your fireplace..lol)

I want to keep it on the balcony all the time.

What size pump would you need to move the water from your tank to the chiller and back AND maintain the pressure the chiller requires in the event that you had to turn it on?

I'm not sure, but I have a few pumps I can use.

Did I miss the reason for moving it outdoors?

yes, I did not say

If part of the issue is the heat the chiller puts out while running... what about making a vent duct w/a fan that comes on using a thermostatic doohickey when it's running?

It's all about the huge amount of heat the chiller puts out.
I have no place to vent the duct, it would be easier to run the 1" spaflex to the chiller and back, than try to hide a huge vent line.


You don't need running water...but you need to get ALL the water out of it.The compressor will be fine. (think A/C unit)
I assume you're doing this just to store it?

Yes, just for the winter months when it would not be on. It will live on the balcony though.

 

[jhale]

J I have mine outside and it runs all year round. I built a enclosure around it. Works like a charm. Its fully enclosed with a grating on the side for ventimg when its running. It also has a small piece of plastic in front to see what the temp is reading on it. I have it hooked up to a Medusa controller. Swing on by SI one day and visit me and Tony and check it out

Nick , thanks for the offer, if I can find the time I will.

How long has your chiller been outside for?

 

[cali_reef]

My chiller is outside, I disconnect the chiller when outside air temp goes below freezing on a regular basis.