Chiller in cabinet

[Peter Mok]

I am planning to set up a 3 or 4 ft planted tank in a cabinet with only the front of the tank opened for viewing. Is it OK to put the chiller inside the cabinet below the tank? The cabinet won't be in an air-con room. However, there is no direct sunlight. Are louvred doors sufficient for air ventilation for the chiller?

Cheers

[Heuer]

What i read on the manual, you need at least 8" of space at the back (where the hot air blows out). as for the front, 6" of space. This is just a guide line. Unless the back for your cabinet is "unblock", with louvred doors, putting the chiller inside is ok. but i put my out side. just in case.

[bclee]

Hot air might accumulate in the cabinet and affect the efficiency. Maybe you might want to consider installing a fan to circulate the air in/out of the cabinet.

BC

[vinz]

One option is to remote the chiller like it's an air-con compressor. Go talk to System and Control Engineering (aka Bioplast), they've been doing this for their clients (their other buisness is air-con). Their contact details are on the LFS list.

[joe]

You could possibly have a grill on the side of the cabinet and have a fan or 2 to draw out the hot air. Possible??

[Peter Mok]

Wow! I thought I could just tuck the chiller in the cabinet and with a louvre door it would be alright.

From advice from bros, seems that there is no easy way out except installing fans or putting it outside the cabinet.

Anyway, thank you for all the advice.

[vinz]

Even if you place it outside the cabinet, make sure the room is well ventilated. Else the hot air will accumulate and you'll end up living in a sauna.