DIY Chiller

[unclerobin]

I thought Fridge is Not Meant to be OFF at all. If a mini fridge works like the
Normal ones then i dun think additional fan required. Just that u need to do
PM (Preventive Maintanance) like check Coolant gas pressure ( this maybe nid expert to check for you) , clean fin and suck out dirt on the compressor area for better air circulation.

Anyone know Temp. best for Planted tank ?
Generally speaking of course.

hihi bro,
agree with you that fridge are meant to work 24x7 and will cut off only it reach its temp of the fridge set by the user.
instead of using the fridge thermostats i had a timer to adjust to run 2 hours and stop for 15 mins during lighting period,
when light off from midnight to 4.00pm the next day my timer will be set at 2 hours and rest 30mins, no fan needed and maintenance are easy.

[unclerobin]

hihi bro/sis
just a update of my diy chiller using a mini fridge.
bought this fridge on 11 sept 2008 ( haha 911)

been many month, the fridge still working fine and trouble free cooling my 3 footer tank ,not a small 1ft cube or a 1.2 ft cube tank ( click on the hyperlink to view pic) oso i can use it to store my other drinks.
temp at this time (2230hrs) of the night are 26.2 with 6x39watts T5 with 2 dc fan blowing out

my equipment
fridge

my 3 footer

my planted tank

comment and enquires welcome

sorry got to go will not write much, wife not feeling well.

[limz_777]

cooling the drinks , storing food , and chill the tank water at the same time , now this is better then a conventional chiller , good job

[unclerobin]

cooling the drinks , storing food , and chill the tank water at the same time , now this is better then a conventional chiller , good job

thank bro,
cheers

[tco]

Wow..practical and nice setup...thumb Up.

[unclerobin]

Wow..practical and nice setup...thumb Up.

Thank bro, the chiller still going good since day 1

[dexter]

hi all.

i found a akira mini cooler that states that it can cool 20 degrees below ambient temp.. power consumption 48w only...
http://www.myakira.com/singapore/Pro...3&CatId=,7,131

above is the link to the product.. can anyone advise if i can use the above to cool a 2ft tank? my target is only to hit 24.5-25 ...

Have read through the threads, some said using mini fridge will consume more power and thus higher elec bill.... but as what bro robin mentioned, he saw a decrease in elec bill. When i use to stay in hostel in uni, we only have to pay $80 per 6 months for elec to have a mini fridge in room... so i think power consumption for a fridge is quite low to on 24x7 right? therefore cheaper than a normal aquarium chiller?

Would chaning a mini fridge to a chiller for tanks or use MC-789 mini chiller plus a good fan be more effective and cheaper in terms of elec bill? pls advise. thankyou all

[unclerobin]

hi all.

i found a akira mini cooler that states that it can cool 20 degrees below ambient temp.. power consumption 48w only...
http://www.myakira.com/singapore/Pro...3&CatId=,7,131

above is the link to the product.. can anyone advise if i can use the above to cool a 2ft tank? my target is only to hit 24.5-25 ...

Have read through the threads, some said using mini fridge will consume more power and thus higher elec bill.... but as what bro robin mentioned, he saw a decrease in elec bill. When i use to stay in hostel in uni, we only have to pay $80 per 6 months for elec to have a mini fridge in room... so i think power consumption for a fridge is quite low to on 24x7 right? therefore cheaper than a normal aquarium chiller?

Would chaning a mini fridge to a chiller for tanks or use MC-789 mini chiller plus a good fan be more effective and cheaper in terms of elec bill? pls advise. thankyou all

hi dexter.
imho the mini cooler you mentioned are not suitable to diying it into a mini chiller cause it does not come with a freezer compartment.

[wllm33]

anybody with experience of this mini 789 chiller ability to cool a 2 ft tank since it is a peltier principle based and how many degrees will it bring down to?
thanks.

[dexter]

hi dexter.
imho the mini cooler you mentioned are not suitable to diying it into a mini chiller cause it does not come with a freezer compartment.

wow, need freezer compartment ar... >.<

anybody with experience of this mini 789 chiller ability to cool a 2 ft tank since it is a peltier principle based and how many degrees will it bring down to?
thanks.

would like to know this too...is 789 possible to cool 2ft tank to 25-26 if room temp is 29?

[sengwoon]

I have a Panasonic NR-A5ED mini refrigerator, can this be converted as a cooler for 2ft tank?

[unclerobin]

I have a Panasonic NR-A5ED mini refrigerator, can this be converted as a cooler for 2ft tank?

hi bro.
i would say Yes provided there is a freezer compartment in the fridge
btw what is the wattage of your fridge.

[konvikt]

hello i am new to this site.. i am planning to diy chiller myself...i will buy a cube fridge in few hours(hopefully second hand) anyone interested to help me out throughout the project....( i am not so familiar with the drilling part..it says that we should see for the coils before drilling..confused)mine is a 120 cm tank

[johnlim]

hi robin ,
current i am using TEM peltier 12V 5A to DIY chiller the temp is good about 23'c ,by got a problem the wiring is too hot so how to slove this problem ...

[Shadow]

Yous wire cant support the current flowing through, use bigger wire

[unclerobin]

bought a mini samsung fridge at $20.00 from ebay. just finish drilling the hole and pipe fitting.
running on an empty (just fill with water only) 4ftx1.5ftx1.5ft empty tank using a jebo power head to circulate the water form the tank to the mini fridge (don't know the waterflow rate)
will update tomorrow morning of the outcome.
any brother interested on my diy project are most welcome for discussion
or joint project over at my place.

temperature taken now ;2200hrs = 30c

Dear friends and supporters of my DIY chiller thread,

Due to some other commitment and the breakdown of the chiller (mini fridge) i had decom this tank.

Lastly thanks to all bros who have been following my threads and giving advise on planted.

Regards
Unclerobin aka Robin Tan

[eddy planer]

Hi Robin

Do you like me to assist to resurrected your chiller?

[unclerobin]

Hi Robin

Do you like me to assist to resurrected your chiller?

Hi Eddy,
Thanks, but i have already decom and disposed away the fridge.

Regards
Robin

[nlh4ever]

why?? it isnt really that effective compare to a chiller huh?

[felix_fx2]

No wonder you said tank decom.
Anyway, Good that you only downsize and not quit hobby.