Help Me Build my first Water Chiller

[GAMER512]

I've decided to build a Water Chiller. Currently I have a basic water cooling set up here are the specs.

DangerDen Maz4-1 GPU & CPU water blocks
20FT of ClearFlex60 1/2 ID tubing
Hydor L30 Pump
5 gallon ice chest res
DD Double Heatercore

5200 BTU window A/C unit

I can leave the A/C running 24/7 right?
What kind of temps can I expect with a 5200 BTU chiller? -15?
Here's a PIC of what I have set up now.

[GAMER512]

Here close up of the WB's

[GAMER512]

Here's the A/C unit

[Çhrist0ph]

who knows what kind of temps you'll get, it depends on a lot of factors.....but dont forget to INSULATE, INSULATE, then INSULTATE some more.

[kommando]

Originally posted by Çhrist0ph
who knows what kind of temps you'll get, it depends on a lot of factors.....but dont forget to INSULATE, INSULATE, then INSULTATE some more.

Amen!


I can leave the A/C running 24/7 right
Yes but you might see and increase in your power bill.

[GAMER512]

Originally posted by kommando

Yes but you might see and increase in your power bill.

I don't mind an extra $40 a year.
How often will have to have service done on the unit if I run it 24/7?

[afireinside]

You will more than likely need to get a piercing valve and let a bit of refrigerant out so you dont kill the compressor. Its overcharged for waterchiller use.

[gouda96]

With my 5200 btu maytag I got -35c with no load, and about -11c when I put an 80w pelt from an mcw50-t in the loop. I am going to get it on a vid card as soon as my 9800p and nf7 come back from Hell-Fire.

I haven't released any refrigerant yet, but the temps are worse than I thought they would be, so I will be tuning the charge to get the temps better. My insulation could use some touching up aswell.

[GAMER512]

Originally posted by afireinside
You will more than likely need to get a piercing valve and let a bit of refrigerant out so you dont kill the compressor. Its overcharged for waterchiller use.
Well could I just leave it on the coolest setting? I'm not exaclty sure what you mean.

[GAMER512]

What kind of tool can I use to bend the copper pipes?

Should I leave the A/C unit on the cooldest setting or midrange?

[gouda96]

Coldest setting would be best, but the compressor would still be overcharged.

You can buy a 3 in 1 pipe bender at home depot, but it is still tough to use on those ac units because the piping is in such a small area, and you can't realy get the tool in there. I bent about 75% of it with my hands and about 25% with the tool.

Is it safe to just install a piercing valve and just release the refrigerant? Do you need any permit or certification to do this? Where exactly would you install the piercing valve in these window ac units?

[afireinside]

Peircing valve would probley go on the suction line. It wouldent seal forever so you would have to take it off but I douno how you would close the hole...
Venting refrigerant is illigal in the US. Your garage/shed is your friend here ;)

And you want to bypass the thermostat on the thing. Take the thermostat wires and connect them. At least I think thats the two :p: Its been a while since I did it...

[GAMER512]

Originally posted by gouda96
Coldest setting would be best, but the compressor would still be overcharged.

You can buy a 3 in 1 pipe bender at home depot, but it is still tough to use on those ac units because the piping is in such a small area, and you can't realy get the tool in there. I bent about 75% of it with my hands and about 25% with the tool.

Was it pretty easy to bend the pipes by hand?

[GAMER512]

one more question.The pipe coming from the compressor to the evaporator gets a good layer of ice over it, will this damage any thing?

[xxORBxx]

Found your thread. :D Good luck man.

[gouda96]

Originally posted by GAMER512
one more question.The pipe coming from the compressor to the evaporator gets a good layer of ice over it, will this damage any thing?

No, but you want to insulate the hell out of that.

Bending the pipes wasn't that bad, just take it realy realy slowly. Try to not put too much stress on the same part of the pipes.

I just moved the thermostat out of the way, so the ac unit always runs, but connecting them would be more professional.

I am most deffinately going to have to let out some of the refrigerant. I was hoping for temps close to -20c, but only have -10.5c with just the pump and pelt running. Although, just about the entire vid card gets soaked in wanter (testing area that I need to insulate on a dead 9700 with out insulation on the back) and I need to do a better job of instulating my mcw50-t. I put a layer of seal string, and 2 layers of armaflex, but water still condenses on the outside. I think I am going to have to switch to the spray insulation because the armaflex sealstring combo isn't getting it done.

[GAMER512]

Originally posted by xxORBxx
Found your thread. :D Good luck man.
small internet :lol:


Well 50% Anti-Freeze be good enough for anti-corrosion? I'll have Aluminum, copper and probably some other metal.

[gouda96]

I had about 25% methanol, and some prestone antifreeze.

[GAMER512]

Originally posted by gouda96
I had about 25% methanol, and some prestone antifreeze.
Wow that was a quick reply for this board. LOL I have some Prestone Antifreeze sitting in my room. Doesn't methanol serve as lowering the freezing point of water? Where did you get it?

[gouda96]

Yeah, that is what I used it for. I bought it at home depot, but it was called S-L-X Denatured Alcohol, in the paint section.

[GAMER512]

I got it setup and got the liquid down to -22c but the liquid is too thick and the pump won't pump it through :( its 60/40 anti freeze and Distilled water. I guess its just too high of a consentration.

[blinky]

get a bigger pump!!!

[dward3]

Use some denatured alcohol instead of the distilled water.
Lets see some more internal snapshots for your rig :slobber:

[gouda96]

No, used denatured alcohol instead of the anti freeze. Like glycol or whatever it is, it gets thick at cold temps. Just use h20, methanol, and prestone anti freeze. My eheim 1060 can pump that at -20c like it was h20 at 20c.

[oc_nightmare]

my eheim 1048 pumps -37C antifreeze at -35C like 20C water:)

http://ocnightmare.no.sapo.pt/PIC00090.jpg

[gouda96]

There are many different kinds of anti freeze, and obviously you are using a different one...care to share with the rest of us which one you are using :D

[GAMER512]

Yeah its a better idea to use denatured alcohol I'll go buy some.

[GAMER512]

Originally posted by oc_nightmare
my eheim 1048 pumps -37C antifreeze at -35C like 20C water:)

http://ocnightmare.no.sapo.pt/PIC00090.jpg
I noticed that you don't have top on your water chiller res, do you run like that 24/7?

Doesn't it evaporate that way?

[UnderWare1213]

Harmful fumes?

[oc_nightmare]

that was just a beta version.... ive added neoprene istead of foam to insulate the reservatoir and the top..... the hoses are also insulated..... when i can ill take some pics;)