how to keeping rez cool

AeroKing said:

I haven't built a multi-res chiller. The idea is from a similar project that could easily be adapted. The original was a chest freezer adapted as a single res chiller.

I'll give a quick run down and if somebody actually wants to go build one, I'll help you through it:

The chest freezer is partially filled with glycol (non-toxic marine antifreeze), or a large container filled with glycol is placed in the freezer.

Stainless steel tubing is ran through the wall and sealed. This is coiled into a heat exchanger and submerged in the glycol. For a multi-res, you would use multiple coils.

Each res would have it's own pump and coil and an ETC (electronic temperature controller), which can read the temp in each res and turn on/off the pump as necessary for cooling. The freezer (chiller) would run constantly.

If you only have a couple small reservoirs, it may be more economical to just go buy a couple chillers, but small chillers won't handle big res's under HID lighting in tight boxes. A small freezer should hold up to about anything you can throw at it...

Anybody wanna try it?

Click to expand...

seem like the fridge would put a dent in your power bill, let alone the rest of the grow op

Howdy All, I just started my first grow in 33 yrs. Decided to go hydro, ebb&flow. 2 Deep bus pans w/ 20gal Brute tote rez. Starting with just bag seeds and 250W HPS in a spare bedroom. Thinking of moving it all to the basement if I can get the humidity right.

I was checking out some nice BIG Coleman type coolers at the local general store. The cost is just a bit more than your average rez tote, sometimes a lot more, but still cheaper than a chiller set-up. My thought is, I would think an insulated cooler would be very stable temp-wise, using "chill paks" or frozen water bottles, etc.
Most good coolers have the nice built-in drain, and you could plumb it with PVC for hose/cord access through the top or side ... lots of possibles...
I'll be trying one soon, I reckon. High summer temps have a way of creeping past the central-air and warming any water above ground here in the middle of Corn County, USA.
I'll report back as soon as I have something to report.

Git 'er Grown!
Peace,
Rick

LoudBlunts said:

seem like the fridge would put a dent in your power bill, let alone the rest of the grow op

Click to expand...

So would running several chillers for several reservoirs. You could dial in the temp to be just cold enough for your environment to save on the power.
So long as you've got it dialed in, you're going to use the same power(1 watt = 3.41 BTU/hour) to move the heat, regardless of the means.

Reservoirs external to the grow area are always preferred to electric chillers. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...