Project Snow flake

[flocko]

Yep, you are correct. System will not be below 0c. Ok, then no need for me to panic

[Teyber]

Originally Posted by flocko

I have a shot at getting the last two (only need one) bottles of -25 prestone deicer at local auto parts store. It's getting warm here quickly and will soon be gone

Question : my chiller res. has some sort of plastic (see earlier post photo's) lid and I'm concerned that deicer will "eat" it . Also, Zearex (spelling) has alcohol in it and that could be a prob. too.

Any thoughts??

Additional Comment:




Well, well well. Thanks for the chime in . Have seen your work here on the forum and have studied it intently!!! I was (am) impressed.

That great case work caught my eye

[boshuter]

Instead of the deicer, try to pick up some of the anti-freeze they use in the drinking water systems of rv's. It's good to around -40c and has additives to prevent anything nasty from forming, you can just run it straight and it's VERY cheap at any hardware store.

The deicer for windshields will work, but it has detergents in it that you really don't want in there.

[Jarrow]

Originally Posted by boshuter

The deicer for windshields will work, but it has detergents in it that you really don't want in there.

It also evaporates like crazy!

[Drewmeister]

The detergents that are in the de-icer washer fluids are very small and do not cause bubbles or any problems at all. I have been running the same PEAK de-icer for 4yrs now and never had a problem.. everything remains spotless... even the tubing is still crystal clear. You just have to make sure the de-icer does not contain anything that coats the windshield like Rain-X. The main reason to try and avoid de-icer though is because of the 30-40% methanol content which is toxic.. in de-icer solution it is not very flammable if at all.

So for this particular sub-ambient chiller using r12/r134a and no freeze protection I recommend the 70% distilled water + 30% Zerex(green) + a bottle or two of HydrX or PT_Nuke. Boshuter mentioned the RV anti-freeze, I've never used it but certainly sounds like it would work too... maybe mix it with distilled to attain -20c protection. For chillers that operate below 0c... although the anti-freeze mix I mentioned is rated down to -20c.. it would be too thick to pump at any decent flowrate at that temp. Once temps get below 0c you really should think about using de-icer or a mixture with it. Of course if you have a very strong pump then you can get away with more anti-freeze.

Jarrow: Your reservoir needs to be sealed better to reduce the evaporation of the methanol and to help prevent oxidation and biological growths from forming.

12vdc PSU: To determine the proper psu to use just add up your load and double it. You might want to use two psu's for redundancy. I'm guessing those fans are .41A ea? You should be ok with a 3.3A for the condenser fans(on speed reducer) and a 2A for the rear fans. http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=475&main=1

[Jarrow]

Originally Posted by Drewmeister

Jarrow: Your reservoir needs to be sealed better to reduce the evaporation of the methanol and to help prevent oxidation and biological growths from forming.

Thanks Drewmeister

Yes I do! Also I noticed the flow did go down when I switched from deicer to antifreeze.

[Drewmeister]

The unit will only need one power cord and everything else taps into the power inside the unit. If you have room then use a small juntion box to make all the terminations. I recommend the two power supplies incase one fails you'll still have airfow to allow the unit to run. You can wire the psu's/fans to cycle with the compressor off the thermostat.

Here are the psu's to get:
http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16918+PS
http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=15548+PS

Just a combination of molex plugs and adapters.
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/akakcaadfor4.html
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/femoco.html

[flocko]

ty Drew

Psu/s , molex/s, tygon, sleeving material, pt nuke, fan guards and some other B/S items just ordered. Ordered mag7 yesterday and temp switch last thursday . Think I'm done (ya,right) .

Ok, Whew!! neighbors gonna think my wifes got a thing with UPS man next week Right now I calculate about four deliveries next week and that"s if I have'nt forgotten one!!

Additional Comment:

Don't get to slap happy boyz and girls. When the pony express gets here next week I plan on mock fabbing every single piece up , cutting and drilling every last hole/ slot. Reinforcing the case floor with alum slats. Cuttting the last side case door. THEN!! take it all back apart and clean , prime and paint . Put it all back togeather and start the never ending, tedious wiring feascoe. I'd wrather drive a gas truck into hell than wire this thing.

[Drewmeister]

Let's see what you got!!!

[flocko]

Well, all parts are here!!! Some teaser photo's as I had to work at my real job today and did nothing tword snow flake. The Mag 700 pump, temp switcher and power supplies I found on line . Well actually links from Drew.

The rest of the "stuff" came from Drew himself and there are some mundane pieces like Armaflex and some other bits and pieces not in photo's.

It has taken a ton of time and searching to gather all this stuff but it was well worth the wait.

Drew did a FANTASTIC!! job communicating and doing all the pre fab work in the photo's and a stellar job packing and shipping. All came fast and in one piece

[Reflexive]

Wow nice shroud work.
Hand bent? Looks very well done.

[flocko]

No, not hand bent. Drew has a metal break and did the work. Sweet aint it!!

He even hand tapped the holes for the fans.

Just so everyone gets the right idea. All the work was done by Drew and I have 67 P.M.s with him alone to prove what a PITA this was to him but he stuck with me. TY Drew!!!!!

[Reflexive]

Nicely done indeed.
Well, back to work.
That condenser's not bad, looks like one I've seen on ebay lately, we coupled it within a 8cc LG rotary, two stage with r123, r22, r23 and worked a nice -60C for low wattage usage. Condenser's got very nice capacity.

[Jarrow]

Drew is the best!!!

I can't wait till you fire it up!!

Hmmm... should I say "chill it down"?

[flocko]

Tried to get some work done on the Flake today. About 5 hours work in the photo's you see below. Some good things but mostly bad. First off , there is no way to fit fan controller in front panel side by side with temp switcher. May be stick it in the operable side panel. Then the biggie. There is no way in hell that chiller? res. is going to fit with all the other piping and insulation that's yet to be done. Don't know what to do now!!

Let this be a lesson to noob's. Buy parts first then lay them out with plenty of room and THEN!! make your case.
The temp switcher cleared the top of condenser by 1/16" Broke onr fan frame on condenser cause gorilla boy here tighten screw to much.

Lastly, I'm not sure if I should use this freakin thing to cool my computer cpu or grab a couple of and have some burgers and Dog's on it









Super blurry top photo shows clearence on temp switch to condenser top . Sorry pics suck so bad. Will do better next time. Very tired!!

[flocko]

Kind makes u wanna grill some thing

Were's the Kingsford and lighter fluid !!!

[Reflexive]

Cutting it close!
Make a new res then, something that takes up the side and allows you to keep what you have. Plate HX can also just be used inline, but I'm sure your after that reservoir style.
Also, have you picked up a thermostat or something for the system to sit in the reservoir?

As for making a new res, home depot sells thin copper sheet, but a metal supplier can get you some 18 or 20 (even 22) gauge copper sheet. Easily folded and molded, and then just braze or heavy silver solder the corners and edges.

[flocko]

Ya, Ya, Make my own res. Gonna have to now.Man that bites . No I don't have thermometer for res. yet but Amazon has them cheap and going the res. route cause this chiller is not going on a benching machine so I don't want it to look like a murder victum in the E.R. !!

[Reflexive]

Make sure you get a proper one.
I suggest a PID and SSR.

[Drewmeister]

Looking good flocko!

The thermostat will be providing you the chilled liquid temp so not sure why you would need a thermometer. You can check the accurarcy of the t-stat with ice water.

Lol... 1/16" clearance, now you know why I made that shroud so tight. There is zero clearance between fans to keep shroud dimensions as small as possible. Before I forget, I think you might have to put a piece of 1/8" x 2" foam tape to seal the top of fins with the shroud.

What happened to all the room?

edit: Don't forget that you can always locate the rear fans to the outside if necessary.