Help with Chiller
 

I've got a Pacific Coast CL-650 1/4 hp chiller. It's done a great job keeping my 180G tank at the right temperature for the most part. Even on some of the really hot days it kept the temperature around 80 which was fine. Now, even that it's not that hot out lately, the chiller struggles to keep the temperature below 83. Any ideas what I'm looking at here?

Hmmm.... change in flow through the chiller or past the coil? Any pumps added recently that might be adding heat?

Nope.

How old is the chiller. Maybe needs to be recharged. Might have a leaky seal.

Doug

Maybe it needs all the accumlated dust and stuff blown out of it. Just take the covers off and blow it out with compressed air and you should see a big differance. :)

It tries to lower the temperature for about a half hour and since it isn't really getting anywhere it almost seems to shut down for a while until it's ready to start again. You can actually hear it click off.

how long is it shut down for?

Steve

chiller
 

Listen to this quote!
It does have a air cleaner, take off the front cover and remove and clean the filter, if the unit was working OK before that is probably all it needs. Also check the pump feeding the chiller ,if the flow has dropped the unit will struggle to keep up.
Hope that helps.....

Thanks guys. I'll check the filter tomorrow. I checked it about a month ago and I've got a fan blowing in front of it to try and cool it down too.

Steve - It shuts down as if it's reached it's appropriate temperature and it's usually not for that long. Under 15 minutes anyhow.

If I needed to take it somewhere to get looked at where would you suggest?

what settings are you using?

Steve

I have it kick off when it reaches 75 and kick on when it reaches 78.

not sure if it's over worked, but mine is now doing the same thing!

I ended up removing the front panel and placing a fan in front of it. It still doesn't keep the temp at 78 with the lights on but when they're out it's pretty good. It's been bloody hot out lately though with little wind to circulate.

Just discovered that the internal fan isn't spinning, so that will be the cause of my problem. I'll try to cool the condenser with a house fan until I can replace the internal fan. Not sure if I can find a part locally or not.....

I had the same thing happen to me actually. I just had to oil it with WD40 and then start spinning it manually before it started spinning itself again. It took a few tries but it eventually started again.

remind me to slap you next time I see you:mrgreen: throw that can of WD40 out... no good can come of that.. I have some good spray that actually lubricates call me when you have to do it again.

Steve

I just started squeeking again this morning actually.

I was just doing some reading about this over on Reeffrontiers. They suggest using some sort of oil rather than WD40 as it will just evaporate.


Heres the link

I kinda thought that myself but the high pitch squealing was too much to take so I just did a quick fix with WD40. That was about 4 months ago, maybe more, and I haven't heard anything since until today.

Just an FYI, a new fan/motor is $45 + s/h

That's not too bad. Can you get one in town or do you have to order it?

I have to order it from the manufacturer

Did they give you an idea how long it will take? Isn't that still under warranty for you?

Just asked them how long, waiting to hear. No, I'm out of warranty, it's been almost 2 years since I bought it

did you take it to reliable parts or someplace in town and see if they had anything that would work? is there a PN or manufacture name on it and the info as in voltage amps ect?

Steve

WD40 has no lubracation properties in it, it was originaly designed to displace water and dry parts. I have a silicone lube you can borrow, just stop by and grab it.

Steve

No, kinda disabled with the split and stuff :)

????:neutral: