Chiller running cost survey

[CP]

Hey guys, thinking of getting a chiller for my 4-feet tank due to the recent heat wave. I would like to get some input from those of you that has a chiller running on a 4-feet tank. Please indicate the brand, horse power, set temperature, and the increase in electricity bill after installing the chiller. Thanks. []

[sherchoo]

I do have a 1/2 HP chiller for my 4ft. The increase in electricity bill is not obvious in the sense that my bill fluctuate quite a bit making it very diffucult to gauge the consumption. But what I can tell you is, it's definately cheaper than you aircon consumption or maybe cheaper than you water heater consumption.

Let's do a quick example:
Assuming a household of 4 members that takes 2 baths a day with their instant water heater for 15mins each bath. Comparing to a chiller for 4ft tank that on average runs about 4 hours a day to cool the tank to about 26 deg C. (1hp=0.743kW)

Water heater - 3kW X 15mins X 4 persons X 2 baths/day = 6kWh/day

1/2 hp chiller - 0.3175kW X 4hours = 1.486kWh/day

[CP]

Hi, thanks for the reply. May I know the brand of the chiller you are using and if a half-hp chiller is commonly used for a 4-feeter. Thanks.

[sherchoo]

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On 6/8/2003 9:56:34 AM

Hi, thanks for the reply. May I know the brand of the chiller you are using and if a half-hp chiller is commonly used for a 4-feeter. Thanks.
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I'm using a Teco RA240 chiller

[Plantbrain]

Thermoelectric chillers are the best way to go for tanks in the 300liters and less range.
They cost far less than the compressor chillers, don't use freon and are more efficicent.

That's a no brainer. Cheaper, cost less to run, smaller, more efficient, better environmentally. And they are quiet!
Compressor Chillers are noisy.

Coolworks can pull down a 200liter tank by 12F or 7C for 160$ US, they have others for larger tanks that run about 250-360$ US that can pull the temp down further.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[CoryDorus]

I like the Thermoelectric chillers. This is what we need in hobby !

[juggler]

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On 6/8/2003 3:00:08 AM

I do have a 1/2 HP chiller for my 4ft. The increase in electricity bill is not obvious in the sense that my bill fluctuate quite a bit making it very diffucult to gauge the consumption. But what I can tell you is, it's definately cheaper than you aircon consumption or maybe cheaper than you water heater consumption.

Let's do a quick example:
Assuming a household of 4 members that takes 2 baths a day with their instant water heater for 15mins each bath. Comparing to a chiller for 4ft tank that on average runs about 4 hours a day to cool the tank to about 26 deg C. (1hp=0.743kW)

Water heater - 3kW X 15mins X 4 persons X 2 baths/day = 6kWh/day

1/2 hp chiller - 0.3175kW X 4hours = 1.486kWh/day
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Sherwin: your 4ft tank requires total of 4 hrs chiller time to keep it at 26C? That's not expensive which is about $0.22 per day (at $0.15 per kWh).

[joestoys]

hi sherwin..... long time no hear.

can that chiller support 5 ft tank??? how much is it? my tank.... still sitting there. empty. everything is there leow except the plant. busy .... gor another kid....

deck

[kitkat]

where can i get this Thermoelectric chillers? any specific brand and model to look out for?

[CP]

Heh, I am sure there are a lot more people out there with a chiller. Can I have some more advice before I do the purchase. Am I right that running a half-hp chiller for a 4-feet tank cost only about $0.22 per day?
Thanks.

[gchoo]

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On 6/9/2003 12:01:05 AM

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On 6/8/2003 9:56:34 AM

Hi, thanks for the reply. May I know the brand of the chiller you are using and if a half-hp chiller is commonly used for a 4-feeter. Thanks.
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I'm using a Teco RA240 chiller
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Sherwin, you not using MH light for your tank rite?

[pink]

just some comments, with my experience using Teco RA240. Teco provides the capacity of their chillers in terms of tank capacity and number of degrees of temperature pulldown.

a) I am not sure if there are commonly agreed standard tank sizes out there, or whether everyone is using "standard" tank sizes, so perhaps the question "Can a particular chiller (of particular hp) is suitable for a X-footer" might not be the appropriate question to ask. Perhaps it would be better to refer to tank capacity as that would be more accurate? For example, my tank is 42"x15"x12", definitely not standard size by any means.

b) the other issue on whether a chiller is suitable for a particular sized tank also depends on how low you want to pull the temperature down to.

So perhaps in the quest for the correct chiller, the actual capacity of the tank and the number of degrees pulldown desired should be determined first, before looking at which chiller is suitable.

My two cents.

[Plantbrain]

If you only need say an 8C pull down for a 200 liter tank, the little CoolWorks unit is super and super cheap, quiet, small. Thing weighs less than a kilo.

See www.DrsFosterSmith.com web site. They sell the tiny one and then have a heat/chill combo for 200 and 300 liter tanks with more substantial pull down.

Someone has to be selling these over there. Ask the Reef folks.

Regards,
Tom Barr