Plumbing my New 1/2 HP Pacific Coast Chiller

Bemmer · 04/11/2007, 02:55 PM

Hi all,
I have a thread on Reef Discussion going on my 450g+ system. However, I thought I would ask this specific question on the Equipment forum....

What is the best way to set up my new chiller so I can "vent" the exhaust air off the chiller? One of two option for placement of the chiller are:
1) fish room near the tanks and the pumps i.e. little head pressure for the Barracuda pump

2) closet two rooms away from fish room. 7' vertical to and from chiller and 15' horizontal across the ceiling. Using the Barracuda pump.

How do I vent the air from the chiller? Do I box in the chiller and drill a large vent hole and suck the air out of the box to the outside?

Thanks for your input.

invincible569 · 04/11/2007, 03:34 PM

Rebecca, I just purchased this chiller recently and had some issues. I would plumb it with flex pvc. I used hard at first and if you read through the last pages of my thread you can see why. I had a barracuda tied into the chiller and it was not enough flow. Overall, the issue has been fixed.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1033086

DarG · 04/11/2007, 03:43 PM

Rebecca ... whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that the cooler the ambient temperature of the area/room where you place the chiller, the more efficiently the chiller will run (this can make a BIG difference). So, make sure it is vented properly to evacuate the heat that it gives off in doing it's job. Make sure that nothing blocks the intake side of the chiller so that air flows freely into it. Make sure that your pump can supply flow within the flow range of the chiller. Also, you can use fans to help remove the exhaust heat of the chiller or to help supply air to the intake side.

Bemmer · 04/11/2007, 03:58 PM

Thank you both for your prompt responses.

Invincible, I will read your thread this evening. Any advice from someone that has done this is appreciated.

DarG,
What do you mean by " the intake side of the chiller"? Are you referring to the air vents on all the sides of the chiller? Thanks for clearing that up for me.

DarG · 04/11/2007, 04:06 PM

Depending on your chiller, the aluminum fins will either be exposed or covered by a filter or vented panel. The fan inside the chiller is located behind this and pulls in air through it and blows it out the back of the chiller. The air exhausting out the back of the chiller is warm because it has cooled the parts of the chiller that get hot. So, clearly it needs to pull in cool air in order to do it's job. So, you dont want anything in front of this area ("front" of the chiller) blocking airflow.

DarG · 04/11/2007, 04:10 PM

Just to clarify further, some chillers vent the hot air out of vents on the sides AND out the back of the chiller. Some only vent out the back. So the vents you mention on the sides of the chiller probably help the chiller vent the hot air. It is the aluminum fins that I am referring to that the fan draws air into and that shouldnt be blocked by any objects. That is the "front" of the chiller. Obviously, you dont want to block the hot air from exiting the chiller either.

04/11/2007, 02:55 PM	#1
Bemmer Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 681	Plumbing my New 1/2 HP Pacific Coast Chiller Hi all, I have a thread on Reef Discussion going on my 450g+ system. However, I thought I would ask this specific question on the Equipment forum.... What is the best way to set up my new chiller so I can "vent" the exhaust air off the chiller? One of two option for placement of the chiller are: 1) fish room near the tanks and the pumps i.e. little head pressure for the Barracuda pump 2) closet two rooms away from fish room. 7' vertical to and from chiller and 15' horizontal across the ceiling. Using the Barracuda pump. How do I vent the air from the chiller? Do I box in the chiller and drill a large vent hole and suck the air out of the box to the outside? Thanks for your input. __________________ Rebecca

04/11/2007, 03:58 PM	#4
Bemmer Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 681	Thank you both for your prompt responses. Invincible, I will read your thread this evening. Any advice from someone that has done this is appreciated. DarG, What do you mean by " the intake side of the chiller"? Are you referring to the air vents on all the sides of the chiller? Thanks for clearing that up for me. __________________ Rebecca

04/11/2007, 03:34 PM	#2
invincible569 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5,715	Rebecca, I just purchased this chiller recently and had some issues. I would plumb it with flex pvc. I used hard at first and if you read through the last pages of my thread you can see why. I had a barracuda tied into the chiller and it was not enough flow. Overall, the issue has been fixed. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1033086

04/11/2007, 03:43 PM	#3
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Rebecca ... whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that the cooler the ambient temperature of the area/room where you place the chiller, the more efficiently the chiller will run (this can make a BIG difference). So, make sure it is vented properly to evacuate the heat that it gives off in doing it's job. Make sure that nothing blocks the intake side of the chiller so that air flows freely into it. Make sure that your pump can supply flow within the flow range of the chiller. Also, you can use fans to help remove the exhaust heat of the chiller or to help supply air to the intake side.

04/11/2007, 04:06 PM	#5
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Depending on your chiller, the aluminum fins will either be exposed or covered by a filter or vented panel. The fan inside the chiller is located behind this and pulls in air through it and blows it out the back of the chiller. The air exhausting out the back of the chiller is warm because it has cooled the parts of the chiller that get hot. So, clearly it needs to pull in cool air in order to do it's job. So, you dont want anything in front of this area ("front" of the chiller) blocking airflow.

04/11/2007, 04:10 PM	#6
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Just to clarify further, some chillers vent the hot air out of vents on the sides AND out the back of the chiller. Some only vent out the back. So the vents you mention on the sides of the chiller probably help the chiller vent the hot air. It is the aluminum fins that I am referring to that the fan draws air into and that shouldnt be blocked by any objects. That is the "front" of the chiller. Obviously, you dont want to block the hot air from exiting the chiller either.