USB powered drink cooler to chill nano tanks

[eviltrain]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
i came across some gadget website and saw this USB powered drink cooler/warmer. I will be getting the product and see how it goes to modify it for nano chilling.
Wish me luck

[vinz]

Good luck... could you post the link, so other members can have a look at the gadget and maybe have a go at it?

[eviltrain]

Here's the link as requested. http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/04/u...verages-happy/

[nickLee]

Take a look at this, I'm quite sure its way more efficient
http://arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228620

[Crystal Red Shrimp]

basically i felt that it dont works as it has the same concept as the drink warmer.i have used the drink warmer before and it doesnt keep my drink warm let alone using it as a cooler to cool down the water.

[eviltrain]

If the material containing the drink is not a good heat conductor, the warmer may not be effective. More over, my idea is to have direct contact with the water ( maybe an aluminum foil to protect further ). Haha, don't pour cold water on me. Its just an idea, concept wise haha.

[vinz]

EvilTrain,

Just do it and let us know what results you get. I'm sure people would want to know. My initial concern is the power consumption.

I had thought you would put a metal cup on it and a small pump inside... basically make it like a mini-sump. Put a beer can insulator sleeve upside down on the cup, so that the bottom of the cup still contacts the cooler. At the bottom of the sleeve cut two holes for the pipes.

[eviltrain]

I got the mini fridge unit from cash converter at $15 last week but I have got no time to play with it yet. It comes with AC and DC input and for warming and cooling. Quite worth the buy. Will be taking out the TEM from the unit and transfer to a Lock Lock container look alike which i bought @ $2.05. Will be updating as soon as i start playing more into it.

[vinz]

What happened to the the USB powered drink cooler experiment?

[eviltrain]

I had done my research and feels that that way( using USB power ) is not sufficent enough to cool the amount of water i wanted to cool. So i went to search some other ways.

[goody992828]

Hey Eviltrain

Don't stop man, keep it up, anxious to know the result. Do keep us posted.

Cheers. Upzz for your experiment

[felix_fx2]

eviltrain bro.
the one at engaget site i had used it before back when i was working retail.
works well with can drinks, not mugs.

you bought the cash converters white color one?

[eviltrain]

this is the mini fridge i got from cash converter.

[eviltrain]

I bought another mini chiller from the cash converter last evening. Its rated 55W ie to say. 55W x 24 x 7 x 4 = 36.96kW. it will cost me $7.38 to run it 24/7. In the close environment ( door close ) the temperature can drop to 13 degree C. Now the problem is which kind of DIY shall i go with.

1. TEM on a unused HOF.

for this DIY, i need to cut a hole behind the HOF just nice to fit in the TEM. Then silicon a cold fin ( aluminum heat sink ) on the inside of the HOF. Next, i will be addind some Thermal Take Thermal gel and spread evenly on to the back of the cold fin. The cold side of the TEM will be slot into the hole which i cut on the back of the HOF. Again, apply the thermal gel on the hot side of the TEM ( facing outside ) and add on a CPU heat sink with fan.

Schematic : Cold Fin -> Thermal gel -> TEM -> Thermal Gel -> CPU Heat Sink With Fan.

something like this


( there is aready this design out there just that i added a cold fin for more surface area for the water to pass thru )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

OR

2. Drill 2 holes ( inlet outlet ) onto the mini fridge itself.

get a container (just nice to fit into the mini firdge) and a long tube ( plastic / any metal beside copper, around 10 meters long ) to coil and place in the container. both ends of the tube out from the 2 hole i have drilled. Get a mini canister filter ( maybe a Eden 501 ) to push the filtered water into the chiller.

I might as well build both design and compare the results.

Keep your comment / idea / suggestion comming.

Sponcers are welcome too

[sheng]

You bought the mini fridge from bedok cash converter ?
Is it brand new?
Is there any more left?
Thanks

I got the mini fridge unit from cash converter at $15 last week but I have got no time to play with it yet. It comes with AC and DC input and for warming and cooling. Quite worth the buy. Will be taking out the TEM from the unit and transfer to a Lock Lock container look alike which i bought @ $2.05. Will be updating as soon as i start playing more into it.

[eviltrain]

hi sheng, from what i know there's still 2 left. one is with radio another one normal. the one with radio is 25 and the normal one is 15

[goody992828]

Hi Eviltrain

Do you need to add in a thermometer as well? I presume you need one to ensure that it cut off the power if your water temperature reached the desire temperature.

[sheng]

Thanks for the information

hi sheng, from what i know there's still 2 left. one is with radio another one normal. the one with radio is 25 and the normal one is 15

[eviltrain]

Hi Eviltrain

Do you need to add in a thermometer as well? I presume you need one to ensure that it cut off the power if your water temperature reached the desire temperature.

yes. i need a device to monitor the temperature. will be going to SLT to do some shopping.

[goody992828]

Does this mini chiller has a compressor inside? By the way what is teh size of this mini fridge? Just curious and sorry for firing so many bullets....