Mini Fridge as Chiller....

[!v@n]

So I was bored at work and the hamster started turning the wheel. I thought about using my old mini fridge as a chiller. Then I googled it and some guy had plans for it. Basically you drill the side of the mini fridge, run the tubing through it, coil it up inside, and run water through it with a pump. Has anyone on here done it? I mentioned it to Vinny and he suggested putting the coil inside a container with cold water in it constantly to act as a heat transfer. Like having the coil inside of a block of ice. I may just make this my project for this weekend. I have most of the components already. And it would be a good place to keep some beers in to have handy while i'm working on the tank

Here's a link to the plans I saw

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/dyi...donchiller.htm

[Techknowledgy]

It works. There have been lots of posts here about it. If you do do it, make a new thread on the DIY forum with pics. Interested to see how it would work, and how you regulate the temperature so it only goes on when the tank gets hot and doesn't turn your fish into Chilly Willys.

[stawn]

Let us know how it turns out!
...how will you regulate the temp?

[!v@n]

It seems like it would always be on and therefore making the heater regulate the temp.

[Techknowledgy]

Nope, you need an electronic thermostat that would ONLY turn on the pump through the fridge when the temp hits 82ish.

[!v@n]

where can I get one of those? an electronic thermostat that can turn the pump on and off?

[dukenukem]

I've read threads regarding this, and I have a few observations after researching this myself. You need to realize that the compressors on these fridges are incredibly small, and are seemingly inefficient. Think of it as how long a room temperature fridge takes to cool down (several hours, at best). Also realize it is only cooling a small amount of air within the cube. Next, I like to think of the mere size of an actual chiller. Even a 1/15th hp chiller has a decent size to it. Comparing that size of compressor to say the back of my fullsize refrigerator, it stands up to a pretty close size in my opinion. There are also other issues regarding run times on the compressor, such as I know my refrigerator runs only a few minutes per hour. To cool the water at all would take a massive amount of energy. Water can pull something like 80% more energy away from a source (Don't quote me on that, I'll see if I can get the exact figure).

All in all, I wish you well with your project! I hope you don't take my post as demeaning, but rather as useful guidance. I would love to see someone work something like this out, so I could use a beer fridge/combo chiller

[!v@n]

Thanks for the info dukenukem. As I was driving home from work I started thinking and I though maybe I could cut the heater off one of the units that has a heater and seperate temperature probe. doesn't the probe turn the heater on when the water gets below the designated temp? wouldn't it work if I put a plug on the heater end and if would sned power to is when the temp water to the set temp. This is a theory, I dunno if it would work. Am I overthinking it?

[Techknowledgy]

Fry's.

[Technoviking]

As I understand it the cooling unit in a refridgerator does not run 24/7. It just runs enough to keep the fridge cold enough, a couple minutes an hour as stated above. I think you are under the impression that it will keep cooling 24/7 which would cost a fortune in energy bills.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Techknowledgy]

The small fridge would not have to run 24/7 either. It would only run when the temp hits the desired kick of temp. There are DIYs on the net everywhere for this one.

Here is one.

One made from a dehumidifier here.

General tips here.

Why this is an urban myth here.

Even a video here.

[!v@n]

cool, that dude on youtube has what vinny mentioned about the water container inside with the coil running through it. I wonder if I put radiator fuild it would work better??

[Techknowledgy]

Might. I am not sure I would want to chance having my water running through it though. If it leaked (into the saltwater tube) your tank is doomed. Interesting idea though.

[!v@n]

I don't think it would leak into the water unless the line broke or something

[Techknowledgy]

...or something. Stick to plain H2O. There is this guy Murphy, and his law is a pain.