Chiller has stopped Chilling

xabo · 05/18/2013, 06:58 AM

My Pacific Coast CL-1000 chiller has stopped cooling the tank. I have it set for 79 degrees but it will only cool to 81-82. It's putting out heat as the room heats up but the water does not cool down. Low on Freon?

Vinny Kreyling · 05/18/2013, 07:22 AM

Sounds like it.

slief · 05/18/2013, 09:38 AM

Is the fan running? If it is, it could be the thermal overlead switch which should be easy to replace. I've had chillers last 10+ years and never need to be charged. They don't normally develop leaks unless it's induced.

If the fan is not turing on, that will cause it to overheat and shut down prematurely. Root cause for the fan not turning on could be a capacitor which is also easy to replace.

First thing I would do is remove the covers from the unit. Check the fan and determine where the power cord goes on the chiller. There should be a little box someplace on the unit where the wires are routed to. Open that up and see what components are in there. If the fan isn't spining, located the capacitor and try to find a new one. You can likely find one at a refridgerator parts supply or repair place. Same goes with the thermal overload switch.

Worst case, you should be able to contact most any refridgerator repair service to troubleshoot it further.

In the mean time, I would suggest getting some fans and set them up so they are blowing across the surface of the water. That will help to cool your tank in the interim.

One last thing and this may seem like a stupid question but have you verified that there is water flow coming out of the chiller return line?

xabo · 05/18/2013, 02:26 PM

Think I found the problem:

slief · 05/18/2013, 02:56 PM

Damn, I've been keeping a chiller in my garage for 16 years now and never had one look that bad! Yea, that would certainly do it! At least it should be a simple issue!

slief · 05/18/2013, 03:48 PM

Depending on how warm your tank is, I would suggest only dropping it 2 degrees a day. You mentioned 82* and you normally keep it at 78. I'd set it to 80 today and 78 tomorrow so you dont drop it 4-5* at once. I have no issues with my tank running at 80.5 so you might even keep it at 80 and save a bit on power.

xabo · 05/18/2013, 03:56 PM

Yeah that's 10-15 years of build up. Tank is normally 78-79 degrees until the 3 400 watt halides come on. Haven't turned the central air on in the house as of yet. Slief...will follow your suggestion..........thanks.

05/18/2013, 06:58 AM	#1
xabo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wash. D.C. Posts: 637	Chiller has stopped Chilling My Pacific Coast CL-1000 chiller has stopped cooling the tank. I have it set for 79 degrees but it will only cool to 81-82. It's putting out heat as the room heats up but the water does not cool down. Low on Freon?

05/18/2013, 09:38 AM	#3
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Is the fan running? If it is, it could be the thermal overlead switch which should be easy to replace. I've had chillers last 10+ years and never need to be charged. They don't normally develop leaks unless it's induced. If the fan is not turing on, that will cause it to overheat and shut down prematurely. Root cause for the fan not turning on could be a capacitor which is also easy to replace. First thing I would do is remove the covers from the unit. Check the fan and determine where the power cord goes on the chiller. There should be a little box someplace on the unit where the wires are routed to. Open that up and see what components are in there. If the fan isn't spining, located the capacitor and try to find a new one. You can likely find one at a refridgerator parts supply or repair place. Same goes with the thermal overload switch. Worst case, you should be able to contact most any refridgerator repair service to troubleshoot it further. In the mean time, I would suggest getting some fans and set them up so they are blowing across the surface of the water. That will help to cool your tank in the interim. One last thing and this may seem like a stupid question but have you verified that there is water flow coming out of the chiller return line? __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 05/18/2013 at 10:07 AM.

05/18/2013, 02:56 PM	#5
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Damn, I've been keeping a chiller in my garage for 16 years now and never had one look that bad! Yea, that would certainly do it! At least it should be a simple issue! __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

05/18/2013, 03:48 PM	#6
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Depending on how warm your tank is, I would suggest only dropping it 2 degrees a day. You mentioned 82* and you normally keep it at 78. I'd set it to 80 today and 78 tomorrow so you dont drop it 4-5* at once. I have no issues with my tank running at 80.5 so you might even keep it at 80 and save a bit on power. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

05/18/2013, 07:22 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Sounds like it.

05/18/2013, 02:26 PM	#4
xabo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wash. D.C. Posts: 637	Think I found the problem:

05/18/2013, 03:56 PM	#7
xabo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wash. D.C. Posts: 637	Yeah that's 10-15 years of build up. Tank is normally 78-79 degrees until the 3 400 watt halides come on. Haven't turned the central air on in the house as of yet. Slief...will follow your suggestion..........thanks.