Quick question about condensor

[Utnorris]

I have a quick question about using an a/c for a chiller. I want to use one to build a chiller to lower water temps below ambient but not to the dew point so I can avoid condensation issues. Here are my questions;

1 - Do I still need to cool the condenser (hot side) of the a/c or can I go without any fans on it? If I do, can I use a couple of 120mm fans?

2 - Is the motor that the original a/c fans are attached too used for anything other than the fans? In other words, can it be removed entirely?

3 - If I want the thermostat to monitor water temps so I can set it to keep the water at a certain temp, i.e. 65F, can I modify the existing thermostat to use an external temp sensor like a Bitspower G 1/4in. Temperature Sensor Stop Fitting? If so, any links on how to do that? If not, any suggestions?

4 - Does it matter if the evaporator is standing up or laying down?

Thank you for the answers.

Utnorris

[Xeon th MG Pony]

I think you need to learn a bit more about htese systems befor doing any thing, as in learn I mean understand not memorising.

Q1 = Yes no cooling = A/C go boom! whether literaly or electricaly one thing is certan it will die a misserable death

Q2 Yes it is used for cooling the condensor, a very critical operation!

Q3 You needn't mod it at all so long as it can pick up the temp of the water.

Q4 YES.

To understand the answeres do your research! Start here: http://www.refrigerationbasics.com/1024x768/rb1.htm

[Utnorris]

I think you need to learn a bit more about htese systems befor doing any thing, as in learn I mean understand not memorising.

Q1 = Yes no cooling = A/C go boom! whether literaly or electricaly one thing is certan it will die a misserable death

Q2 Yes it is used for cooling the condensor, a very critical operation!

Q3 You needn't mod it at all so long as it can pick up the temp of the water.

Q4 YES.

To understand the answeres do your research! Start here: http://www.refrigerationbasics.com/1024x768/rb1.htm

I actually have done quite a bit of reading here, but I will check out the link. I kinda thought that I would need to cool the condenser, but since I wasn't going that cool, I wasn't sure. As far as cooling the condenser, since the motor for the original fan was used for that, can I not just use a couple of San Ace fans to cool it or do I really need something that powerful to cool the condenser? I have looked at a lot of the build logs on here and it seems to go both ways and I wasn't sure if there were pros and cons to both. Thanks for the answers and the link. I will do some more reading and hopefully find some more answers.

Utnorris

[Xeon th MG Pony]

The fan needed depends on the energy you put into the evap, if there is little load then condensor fan power can be reduced as well, how ever as load goes up so must the fan power. Short of siting there with a high side gauge and watching the pressur to turn the fan up and down best to keep it stock till you know what sort of loading the system has. If you really wanted to go all out hard core get a pressure transducer and link it to a speed controler so it keeps it at a fixed pressure (IE Temp) automaticaly! that way under low loads fan will be nice and quiet till it is needed.

[Utnorris]

The fan needed depends on the energy you put into the evap, if there is little load then condenser fan power can be reduced as well, how ever as load goes up so must the fan power. Short of siting there with a high side gauge and watching the pressure to turn the fan up and down best to keep it stock till you know what sort of loading the system has. If you really wanted to go all out hard core get a pressure transducer and link it to a speed controller so it keeps it at a fixed pressure (IE Temp) automaticaly! that way under low loads fan will be nice and quiet till it is needed.

Ok,
I will take a look at that.

So I got the a/c pulled apart, just to look at it. I ran it without the evaporator fan just to see if it would get frosty and it did. The nice thing about this a/c is that it actually has an external temp probe, so I may be able to use that. Just letting it run a few minutes and the compressor gets pretty warm, I am assuming this is normal, however, should I plan on sticking a fan on it also?

Thanks for answering my questions,
Utnorris

[Utnorris]

Yeah, that's what I figured. I am actually almost done with this project. I just need to finish the wiring since I got a new temp probe thermostat. I am pretty much done with the case, just need to sound insulate it and add the vent hol in the rear for the exhaust.