Arctica 1/3 HP Chiller Question

Jyetman · 08/19/2017, 10:40 AM

I hear people cut holes in the wall and put the rear of the chiller outside to vent. Is this ok in Phoenix, AZ when it gets as hot as 122 F degrees? When the manual states MAX operating temp 95 F is that referring to the air going in from the front?

ggenung · 08/19/2017, 11:12 AM

Most all refrigerating condensers (the part that is hot) are undersized and rated to handle outside air at 95 degrees max. Out in the desert some condensers are double sized to remove the heat from the home at outside temps above 100. I put mine completely outside in the shade, here in California. I guess it's a question of efficiency. Your chiller will work best being inside and cooled by your household A.C. But the household A.c. Will have to run longer and harder. When I complained of Chiller costs, I was told to try using fans. I don't run my chiller anymore. Fans are cheap to run. Make sure you cool your tank with them first, and only use the chiller when fans are not enough. Removing the heat from their tank to the outdoors is ideal, but when it's so hot outside it does not work very well. Stresses out the unit too.

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jda · 08/19/2017, 11:16 AM

If you have to put it outside, make sure that it is in the shade. I had one outside in Missouri, but 106 to 108 was as hot as it got... no problems.

Fans when the lights come on (not when the tank starts to get hot), will do a whole lot of good. Blow some across the top of the tank and also the sump.

Some folks make hood for the chiller and run a 6" air duct outside and keep the chiller inside.

Jyetman · 08/19/2017, 02:14 PM

I have five many sized fans on my tank blowing across the water and that isn't working enough to keep the tank below 82 F degrees. So along with fans the chiller kicks on at 82 brings it down to 80 degrees. My tank is 80 Gallon acrylic with acrylic top built in I figure that's the reason it runs so hot.

ggenung · 08/19/2017, 09:13 PM

I use the cheap 20" box fans over the top and outside the sump. What really helps is having a fan blow air from the A.C. Vent, at the tank.

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08/19/2017, 10:40 AM	#1
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	Arctica 1/3 HP Chiller Question I hear people cut holes in the wall and put the rear of the chiller outside to vent. Is this ok in Phoenix, AZ when it gets as hot as 122 F degrees? When the manual states MAX operating temp 95 F is that referring to the air going in from the front?

08/19/2017, 11:12 AM	#2
ggenung Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 28	Most all refrigerating condensers (the part that is hot) are undersized and rated to handle outside air at 95 degrees max. Out in the desert some condensers are double sized to remove the heat from the home at outside temps above 100. I put mine completely outside in the shade, here in California. I guess it's a question of efficiency. Your chiller will work best being inside and cooled by your household A.C. But the household A.c. Will have to run longer and harder. When I complained of Chiller costs, I was told to try using fans. I don't run my chiller anymore. Fans are cheap to run. Make sure you cool your tank with them first, and only use the chiller when fans are not enough. Removing the heat from their tank to the outdoors is ideal, but when it's so hot outside it does not work very well. Stresses out the unit too. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

08/19/2017, 11:16 AM	#3
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	If you have to put it outside, make sure that it is in the shade. I had one outside in Missouri, but 106 to 108 was as hot as it got... no problems. Fans when the lights come on (not when the tank starts to get hot), will do a whole lot of good. Blow some across the top of the tank and also the sump. Some folks make hood for the chiller and run a 6" air duct outside and keep the chiller inside.

08/19/2017, 02:14 PM	#4
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	I have five many sized fans on my tank blowing across the water and that isn't working enough to keep the tank below 82 F degrees. So along with fans the chiller kicks on at 82 brings it down to 80 degrees. My tank is 80 Gallon acrylic with acrylic top built in I figure that's the reason it runs so hot.

08/19/2017, 09:13 PM	#5
ggenung Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 28	I use the cheap 20" box fans over the top and outside the sump. What really helps is having a fan blow air from the A.C. Vent, at the tank. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk