Chiller causing fire??!

montrealreef · 05/05/2007, 11:15 PM

Hi All,

I recently purchased a pacific coast chiller for my 90 gallon SPS tank.

A fellow reefer came by today and told me that the pacific coast chillers are notorious for causing fires !! I've googled it and have not found any reports of this.

Has anyone had any personal experience with these chillers? I don't want to cause a fire !!!

Thanks a lot for your input

xenon · 05/05/2007, 11:40 PM

Interesting.

I just ordered a PCI CL-600 1/4hp chiller for my 90g.

montrealreef · 05/05/2007, 11:47 PM

Yeah, he scared the hell out of me. I've been running the chiller for 2 weeks, it does get warm behind the unit, but if you keep it in a well ventilated area (as per manual) I don't see how this could start a fire.

I hope he was just misinformed.

30reef · 05/06/2007, 12:29 AM

Does the Pacific Coast chiller have a UL rating? I bought a Current USA chiller from MD and returned it a few days later because it wasn't UL rated. The staff at MD didn't argue one bit and even gave a credit for return shipping. I turned around and bought an Arctica, which does have the UL rating. I would have gotten an Aqua-logic if they weren't 800 freekin dollars.

I cut a hole in the wall and put the back of the chiller partially in the garage to vent the exhaust . Keeps the room about 10 degrees cooler.

Good luck with yours.

montrealreef · 05/06/2007, 12:34 AM

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a ul rating?

thanks

30reef · 05/06/2007, 02:01 AM

Underwriters Laboratories.

xenon · 05/06/2007, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by montrealreef
Excuse my ignorance, but what is a ul rating?

thanks

It's a REALLY expensive certification.

db_triggerfish · 05/06/2007, 09:18 AM

Here is one with pics.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...iller+and+fire

hndakd · 05/06/2007, 09:26 AM

i have one running on a 60 gallon lobster tank and its on almost constantly. It gets hot but not fire hot. Its also in a completely open area, and on a gfi.

montrealreef · 05/12/2007, 07:37 AM

Thanks guys for your replies.

The chiller in the pictures is a JBJ chiller which is almost twice the price of my PCI chiller.....scarry !!

DarG · 05/12/2007, 07:58 AM

Compressors get hot when the run, real hot so it's no wonder they kick of alot of heat but one would not expect a chiller to catch fire. Don;t normally thing of things with compressores like AC units, refrigerators and freezers catching fire. There really isnt much to them. But stranger things have happened. Still, I think there would be more risk of an electrical outlet catching fire with us having our SW tanks around so many outlets and power strips and that chiller fires are a rarity in relation.

montrealreef · 05/12/2007, 09:24 AM

point well taken DarG

05/05/2007, 11:15 PM	#1
montrealreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 217	Chiller causing fire??! Hi All, I recently purchased a pacific coast chiller for my 90 gallon SPS tank. A fellow reefer came by today and told me that the pacific coast chillers are notorious for causing fires !! I've googled it and have not found any reports of this. Has anyone had any personal experience with these chillers? I don't want to cause a fire !!! Thanks a lot for your input

05/06/2007, 09:18 AM	#8
db_triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,127	Here is one with pics. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...iller+and+fire __________________ FMAS - Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member . Current Tank Info: AGA 75g RR 6 x 54w T5 overdriven (510w) with 2 x Icecap 660, DAS EX-1 Skimmer, OR 2500, Reefkeeper II

05/05/2007, 11:40 PM	#2
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Interesting. I just ordered a PCI CL-600 1/4hp chiller for my 90g.

05/05/2007, 11:47 PM	#3
montrealreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 217	Yeah, he scared the hell out of me. I've been running the chiller for 2 weeks, it does get warm behind the unit, but if you keep it in a well ventilated area (as per manual) I don't see how this could start a fire. I hope he was just misinformed.

05/06/2007, 12:29 AM	#4
30reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,401	Does the Pacific Coast chiller have a UL rating? I bought a Current USA chiller from MD and returned it a few days later because it wasn't UL rated. The staff at MD didn't argue one bit and even gave a credit for return shipping. I turned around and bought an Arctica, which does have the UL rating. I would have gotten an Aqua-logic if they weren't 800 freekin dollars. I cut a hole in the wall and put the back of the chiller partially in the garage to vent the exhaust . Keeps the room about 10 degrees cooler. Good luck with yours.

05/06/2007, 12:34 AM	#5
montrealreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 217	Excuse my ignorance, but what is a ul rating? thanks

05/06/2007, 02:01 AM	#6
30reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,401	Underwriters Laboratories.

05/06/2007, 09:26 AM	#9
hndakd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 313	i have one running on a 60 gallon lobster tank and its on almost constantly. It gets hot but not fire hot. Its also in a completely open area, and on a gfi.

05/12/2007, 07:37 AM	#10
montrealreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 217	Thanks guys for your replies. The chiller in the pictures is a JBJ chiller which is almost twice the price of my PCI chiller.....scarry !!

05/12/2007, 07:58 AM	#11
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Compressors get hot when the run, real hot so it's no wonder they kick of alot of heat but one would not expect a chiller to catch fire. Don;t normally thing of things with compressores like AC units, refrigerators and freezers catching fire. There really isnt much to them. But stranger things have happened. Still, I think there would be more risk of an electrical outlet catching fire with us having our SW tanks around so many outlets and power strips and that chiller fires are a rarity in relation.

05/12/2007, 09:24 AM	#12
montrealreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 217	point well taken DarG