$200 Cooling unit suggestions for chilled liquid setup

[HeXploiT]

I'm in the market for a sub-$200 cooling unit I can use for my first chilled liquid setup. I'm hoping to find or build a self contained unit that is no larger than a computer tower as I want to use this on my primary rig.
I'm new when it comes to refrigeration so currently my horizons are very broad and I'm hoping this thread can help me nail down just what it is I'm looking for.
Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Utnorris]

Convert a window AC to a chiller. A window AC will run you under a $100, the cooler will run you less than $20 and a thermostat to control it will run under $65. It will be slightly bigger than a case, but it is a cheap way of doing it.

[my-demise]

Okay, so a cheap(ish) window AC unit, chiller and a thermostat? Are there any recommended specs to be looking out for with the AC unit? Or are they all generally the same inside?

[Utnorris]

5000+ BTU rated AC is all you need.

[Sam__]

5000+ BTU rated AC is all you need.

but the more btu the merrier :beer:

[my-demise]

Good to hear! I will have to pop into Kmart or BigW tonight to see if they have any cheap AC units available for me to play with
Thanks for the info guys!

[Boogerlad]

hmm, is it possible to change the aluminum evaporator to a heatercore of similar size or a pc rad of similar size to avoid galvanic corrosion? maybe instead of waterflowing through it, you could just put the radiator down there with no fans?

EDIT: probably not worth the hassle to cut pipe, connect, resolder, recharge, leak test and fix.

[my-demise]

I am looking over some ebay austions at the moment to see if I can score a bargan on an A/C unit.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-AIKAE-3-5...|39:1|240:1318
Looking at this, the description says HITACHI Compressor 12000BTU/H - 3.5kw would that do.

I am aiming at getting sub-zero water temps with this btw.

[Utnorris]

Yes. Anything over 5000 BTU will do, however as stated before the higher the better. The problem you will run into is at a certain point the window AC will go from being 110v to 220v, so then you would have to make sure you have an outlet for that.

[my-demise]

Yes. Anything over 5000 BTU will do, however as stated before the higher the better. The problem you will run into is at a certain point the window AC will go from being 110v to 220v, so then you would have to make sure you have an outlet for that.

Hey thanks for that last bit of info!

Am I able to get some sort of voltage converter assuming I don't have a 220v outlet in my house? *note I am not actually sure what voltage the outlets are in my new apartment as of yet.

[Boogerlad]

wait, so you make a case/res for the evaporator and your coolant goes inside the res correct?

[Sam__]

wait, so you make a case/res for the evaporator and your coolant goes inside the res correct?

yup, people usually use cool boxes, i did and it worked great!

[Boogerlad]

so the evaporator in an ac looks like a radiator, and the condenser also looks like a radiator, right? How do i tell the difference between them? Is it just by touch and see which one is cold/hot?