Chiller Help Please

jmarko · 01/26/2012, 02:57 PM

Hi All, I am putting my reef system back together after about 6 months were it has not been running at all and I set everything up and reinstalled all the gear and filled with fresh water just to test everything. all worked great til i went to check the chiller.

Its an inline model if that matters. I do not see a brand on it. but I got it with tank it was about a year old at that time and i used for about a year so has about two years use on it I would say but may be 3-5 years old.

So I got water flowing through it then i plugged it in. It started up and ran for about a minute and then it kicks off the breaker. at first I thought it was the GFCI oulet acting up but I ran it a ext. cord off a different 20 amp circuit (in fact tried two diff ones)with not much on it and it still pops the breaker each time. it either runs for like a minute then does it or just does it as soon as its powered up. When it is running it seems like its working well but I dont know how to tell really with only a minute or less at a time its not like its getting a chance to do any cooling

Any idea's where I should start in trying to solve this over the weekend? Does it sound like something solvable or am I looking at replacement? anyone had similar issues with one that sat for a while?

It is housed outside but has its own doghouse like cover and is under the eve so it does not get hit by the weather if that plays in at all.

Thanks Jeff

sirreal63 · 01/26/2012, 03:11 PM

It sounds like the compressor is trying to start and not, thus kicking the breaker. These units aren't really that much different than a fridge or a/c unit. You could try taking it to someone who repairs refrigerators or even better still, set the tank up so that you don't need a chiller. They are huge electrical draw and with some planning, you won't need one.

01/26/2012, 02:57 PM	#1
jmarko Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tampa Florida Area Posts: 184	Chiller Help Please Hi All, I am putting my reef system back together after about 6 months were it has not been running at all and I set everything up and reinstalled all the gear and filled with fresh water just to test everything. all worked great til i went to check the chiller. Its an inline model if that matters. I do not see a brand on it. but I got it with tank it was about a year old at that time and i used for about a year so has about two years use on it I would say but may be 3-5 years old. So I got water flowing through it then i plugged it in. It started up and ran for about a minute and then it kicks off the breaker. at first I thought it was the GFCI oulet acting up but I ran it a ext. cord off a different 20 amp circuit (in fact tried two diff ones)with not much on it and it still pops the breaker each time. it either runs for like a minute then does it or just does it as soon as its powered up. When it is running it seems like its working well but I dont know how to tell really with only a minute or less at a time its not like its getting a chance to do any cooling Any idea's where I should start in trying to solve this over the weekend? Does it sound like something solvable or am I looking at replacement? anyone had similar issues with one that sat for a while? It is housed outside but has its own doghouse like cover and is under the eve so it does not get hit by the weather if that plays in at all. Thanks Jeff

01/26/2012, 03:11 PM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	It sounds like the compressor is trying to start and not, thus kicking the breaker. These units aren't really that much different than a fridge or a/c unit. You could try taking it to someone who repairs refrigerators or even better still, set the tank up so that you don't need a chiller. They are huge electrical draw and with some planning, you won't need one. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.