Waterchiller out of 1 of these things...

[VeryProudOfYa]

My dad just came home and told me that he just found one of his warehouses to be filled with those water chiller/dispensers... You know, the ones they put in cofferooms, and breakrooms in buisness's... Anyway, he says that they all work, and wants to know If I have any use for em, for a Chiller...

The things got a Evap, Condensor, Compressor... I think tha one of em has a 1/4 HP Compressor on it... Is that good?

Anyways, I wanna know if this thing will work just as good for a chiller?
Also... What kinda Freon should I use...? I heard that R-22 is not good for first-timers... And I dont feel like dying yet... ;)

So... Any other stuff with the same cooling potential... Also, If I start a thread here, will you guys help me out with the stuff that goes into Chillers... I know the basics of them... But not sure where to go when re-fillin freons, and changin oil, and ish like that... Thanks mate, be mighty appreciated... :toast:

[echow87]

i remember someone used a water chiller dispenser units, and it gave them like -25c temps - no load

[VeryProudOfYa]

thnkx

[lalPOOO]

If it has a 1/4 compressor it should make quite a nice chiller. R22 is actually pretty safe as far as gasses go, its not poisonous or explosive. It is however illegal to release into the atmosphere because it will destroy the ozone, so be gentle with it. Btw you might want to do a bit of reading up on phase change before you embark on this project, I noticed you called gases "freons" when freon is just one type of gas...
If you read through some of the other projects here you will find the answers to "But not sure where to go when re-fillin freons, and changin oil, and ish like that... " and your other questions. :)

[VeryProudOfYa]

Haha... Yeah thanks... I feel quite embarassed... lol... naaw, I admit it, I am a newbie to chillers... But Im gonna try... I usually get the hang of about everything I try, so wish me luck... And I am gonna start this danged project... I will read some more guides... If I even have to refill anything... As long as I keep everything intact, then theres no need for re-filling gases, right? Thnx

[unixxx]

As long as you don't rupture a line you shouldn't have to worry about charging unless you want better refrigerant :)

[lalPOOO]

Just be very carefuly if you have to bend any tubes, avoid it at all costs.

[saratoga]

1/4 HP on a watercooler? Thats a lucky find, most of the ones I've seen are 1/20th or at best 1/12. 1/4 is huge for something like that.

[ashapirox]

Well not in lab units. They have 5 hp units.............makes a nice jackhamming noise.....................

But then agian lab units are either put to work for non stop a week or more or used to cool the big air or hydrogen compressors. The best you ever need is 1/2 HP. Anyhting larger is only needed for large or large area cooling setups usually in lab or indusrial machinery cooling.

[VeryProudOfYa]

Sorry... I just got back to all fo yall... X-Mas time, its a mess around here...

Anyways, thanks for the replies... I dont plan on recharging... I will be very carefull... I have a nice machine shop... I got tools for everything that would be needed on this project... I can weld, braze, anything... So I have the basic knowledge like I said before... But when it comes to recharhin and stuff... I am screwed... So hopefully, I wont run into that problem....

If I do rupture a line, and R22 starts leakin into the air... Dont light a flame? Or is it not flammable... lol... Any tips or hints anyone wants to share before I get started... Also, for the reservoir for the evap to sit in... Should acryllic work fine... or copper?

Thanks a ton guys... peace

[lalPOOO]

If the freon escapes try not to stay in the room with it, and try to ventilate it. Open a window, maybe turn on a fan. Its not poisonous or flamable. Might be a good idea to read up on freon if you're so worried about it. The material you'd want to make the res out of would depend on how cold your chiller is going to get..

[VeryProudOfYa]

Yea... I aint worried about it as much as I just dont feel like dying yet, ya know. Most people like yo stay alive, lol... And since I had no idea of the effects of R22 I thought Id as the pros on stuff like this... Anyways... I will try not to rapture any lines or :banana::banana::banana::banana:... So I think I will make my reservoir outta copper... but Im not sure... Id like to do it in acryllic, because I have a hefty supply of it in my shop... And the right stuff to bend/glue it together nice and neat... what temperature does acryllic crack at... anyone know?

Also, whats a good waterblock and pump for this project... Thanks for all the help guys... Peace