using an aquarium pump and a flat bottomed high rimmed pan , I turned my lab fridge into a viable chiller. I have $140, 3.3 cubic ft hisense fridge from Walmart. it has a small freezer compartment in the top. that is where the pump and the pan full of isopropyl alcohol are stored and makes direct contact with the coils that provide the cooling to the internals of the fridge.
on the top there are three holes drilled. 2x1/2-in holes to accommodate an in and out flow tubes. and a 1 and 3/4-in hole, to accommodate the power outlet plug.
The hole saw created a nice channel for the plug in the insulation. The insulation was wrapped with parafilm and put back in the original hole.
IR says -5c. I’m currently running a sox on it. And I’m sure it’s warming it up. I’m sure it would stay lower if I was just running just a roto off of it. which is what I’m going to do next. I’ll let you know
Nice set up! Swap to a PG/water blend instead of IPA imo, IPA works but why add something potentially flammable when you can get away with a nonflammable coolant.
Using flammable coolants in chillers is a big pet peeve of mine, just adds an unnecessary complication and another thing that might catch fire/kill you.
My 2c
Yeah, it’s ok, it’ll get down to almost -30c if I let it run for 2 hours, then under load it will get up to 0c
It by no means replaces dry ice at all, but it’s like a controlled substance around me so I have to do without. So this helps a bunch with my little 6# recovery.
Around my parts shit flows like water lol and everywhere that sells it knows what your doing and will gladly sell you more haha
One guy sold me 150lbs, makes a joke about knowing what I’m doing, then starts talking to me about going to highschool with my dad lol small town DI dealers
Lol, that’s what I’m used to, it was in every grocery store when I lived in Colorado.
I can only go to a florist now and get side eye and buy it at 2 bucks a pound, or drive to the ghetto and get it from a welding supply place. And I’m not too keen on that.
I go to the florist every once in awhile lol. But they started asking too many questions.
I gotta go to Waterville (like 20 minutes) to get it and the guys there always ask questions or joke around but I just tell them its for science experiments. I mean its totally legal around here anyhow so…
buy yourself some carhartts a hickory shirt and that welding supply will never blink an eye. just tell them you got some tight tolerance bearings to install.
Make sure to burn some holes in the shirt and pants for added camouflage.
