A/C to Chiller conversion

[markdm]

cool, i have been using washer fluid for awhile now, a 50/50 mix WF/distiled water and about 5% waterweter in my water system. Is the prestone de-icer an additive or is it the washer fluid.

Here are the pics. current temps are:

EVAP: 65.7F
Ambient: 79.5F
Compressor: 79.0F
Condenser: 77.4F

Any ideas on how far to go, i don't want to let to much out ot the system.

[markdm]

hope i haven't went to far, im starting to show signs of icing up on the lines.

[Drewmeister]

Wow that propane charge ftg looks great..thanks for posting. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to see how low you can get it now without the fan just for reference then maybe go back and tweak the charge some more. That's pretty good for an almost 80F room.

[markdm]

heh, i was just thinking the same thing, i'll turn off the fan and see what i can get on the temps.

[markdm]

Picked up a few extra things today as well:

The temps are looking pretty good for 15 min and already its 2 degrees lower then the first time i tested it.

Not to bad for an ameture,

Looks like 11.1F/-11.6C on the evap is as low as its getting out in the open, i thru a towel over it now to see if it will go lower.

[markdm]

Any luck on breaking the 3GHz bench stable?

[Drewmeister]

Originally Posted by markdm

cool, i have been using washer fluid for awhile now, a 50/50 mix WF/distiled water and about 5% waterweter in my water system. Is the prestone de-icer an additive or is it the washer fluid.

I'm currently using Prestone De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid..straight up. It is good to -34F(-37c). I'm testing it as we speak...right now my reservoir is at -30c and this stuff is still very fluid. I will definitely recommend this for stock a/c chillers down to at least -36c. It has far better thermal properties than ethanol. Under -40c I would probably go with straight methanol. When I drained the reservoir to change the fluid I noticed alot of debris with some of it being tiny slivers of Aluminium from the evaporator. This grit will clog a micro channel water block over time so a FILTER IS A MUST!

[Drewmeister]

Originally Posted by markdm

Any luck on breaking the 3GHz bench stable?

I'm getting this reservoir nice and cold while I'm testing the Prestone Washer Fluid. It's at -30c now so I'm getting ready to boot up NITRO for a run at it.

[markdm]

Good advice, i'll remember to install my filter when the time comes.

Well after 1 hour the temps now are at 7.5F/-13.6C on th evap after putting a towel over it, and room temp has droped to 78.3F/25.7C.

I'm going to let it run about 30 mins more, but it looks like the 7.5F is all this 5100BTU unit will do for now.

Good Luck on the boot up

[Drewmeister]

Your room temp is still a little warm. When my room is at 75-76F my reservoir only goes to around -22c to -24c (full cpu/nb load) tops and -26c idle. When the room is at 70-72F I can get -28c to -34c loaded and almost -40c idle. So room temp has a pretty big impact on those temps. I think you're doing good. You should hit -20c with a room temp under 75F the way you have it setup now.

[markdm]

Originally Posted by Drewmeister

Your room temp is still a little warm. When my room is at 75-76F my reservoir only goes to around -22c to -24c (full cpu/nb load) tops and -26c idle. When the room is at 70-72F I can get -28c to -34c loaded and almost -40c idle. So room temp has a pretty big impact on those temps. I think you're doing good. You should hit -20c with a room temp under 75F the way you have it setup now.

Good deal! I kind off figured that my room temp was holding me back.
Latest temp now is: Evap @ 6.8F/-14.1C and Room @ 78.1F/25.6C

[Drewmeister]

I'm not going to even attempt booting it now b/c while I was waiting for the temps to get lower with the pc off..the cold has migrated to the mosfets, chokes, capacitors and memory sockets. This is a BIG NO NO and is something I will have to add to the guide. DO NOT PUMP CHILLED LIQUID THROUGH THE BLOCKS WITHOUT THE PC ON! Unclock your CPU some before you shutdown each time so you can boot at lower temps. With no load or fans running the cold migrates to all the surrounding components and the result is condensation. Better safe than sorry. I will have to let a couple of fans run on this for awhile before I boot.

[markdm]

Oh man, its a good thing you found it befor you hit the power switch

Guess i have been lucky, i can hit -14C on my pelt with the system off, and no spread thru the rest of the mobo, but then again, i did an over kill on the insulation too...

Well after 2 hours, i ended up with 6.4F on the evap. Over all i think thats pretty good for this little unit, and i know it will be even better when my room temps are lower, and its insulated and in its cooler

[Drewmeister]

Yeah....I had to run the pump to circulate the washer fluid for the test and forgot about the effect that extreme cold has on the mobo. I know I wouldn't have booted it but for a second I was like WTF! That was smart. I will be emphasizing this point in the guide b/c even if one has thoroughly inspected their board and it looks good to boot there will more than likely be some residual moisture hinding under something somewhere just waiting to short the board. It is best just to put a fan on it and call it a night...which is what I'm gonna do now. Talk to you tomorrow.

[markdm]

Originally Posted by Drewmeister

Yeah....I had to run the pump to circulate the washer fluid for the test and forgot about the effect that extreme cold has on the mobo. I know I wouldn't have booted it but for a second I was like WTF! That was smart. I will be emphasizing this point in the guide b/c even if it looks dry it can be the condensation you don't see that wipes out your board.

At least all is well then, BTW how was the new coolant holding up?

How much of it did you have to use?

[Drewmeister]

Originally Posted by markdm

At least all is well then, BTW how was the new coolant holding up?

How much of it did you have to use?

The new coolant is incredible. It's at -30c and the flow is just as strong as it was when I first started at ambient. I'll run a quick flow test before I shut it down. My res holds about 3 gallons. I stuck a Mag 3 in there for a prime pump and to take up a little volume. It takes about 5-10min to get below 0c from +22c and another 20min to get below -20c loaded in a 75F room. If you want faster pull down I recommend reducing your volume as much as possible with some suitable filler in your res. 1-2 gallons would be good although more doesn't seem to hurt temps just pulldown time.

[markdm]

Ah ok, well i think im going to head off till later. thanks for the help and advice, i think i'll pick up some of the de-icer as well and try that.

BTW, where did you get the blue hoses your using. I found red ones at menards that can go down to -50C. but whit my blue mod theme, i would rather use blue hose.

[Drewmeister]

Originally Posted by markdm

Ah ok, well i think im going to head off till later. thanks for the help and advice, i think i'll pick up some of the de-icer as well and try that.

BTW, where did you get the blue hoses your using. I found red ones at menards that can go down to -50C. but whit my blue mod theme, i would rather use blue hose.

We had some scrap laying around at work so I was able to get it free. It is from Parker http://www.parker.com/hpd/products/s...sp?catdesc=801 1/2" Push-lok 801-1. It is good to -40c and has worked just fine with ethanol for about 3 months now. http://www.parker.com/hpd/services/c...sp?mediumid=95 I would recommend Tygon but if you need blue try Parker or Areoquip. http://www.aeroquip.com/

EDIT: It's late and we're both tired ....All that pretty hose will have to be insulated anyways so the color doesn't matter. You can spray paint the pipe insulation if you want that plumbing bling bling.

[Drewmeister]

UPDATE: My system(complete cooling loop) flows 4GPM at 22c and 3.3GPM at -30c w/Prestone De-Icer Washer Fluid.

[markdm]

Originally Posted by Drewmeister

UPDATE: My system(complete cooling loop) flows 4GPM at 22c and 3.3GPM at -30c w/Prestone De-Icer Washer Fluid.

Nice flow rates

Here are some pics. I have been a busy man tonight.
More comming in a few mins.