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Post by mllrkllr88 on Mar 7, 2018 12:09:10 GMT -5
I am starting a project which I have wanted to do for years. The idea is to take a window AC unit, and dunk the condenser (cold radiator) in a cooler of water, then run the loop through the water. I have been keeping my eye on used window AC units for a while and this weekend one popped up in my neighborhood for $35.
10k BTU window AC with 1HP compressor 
Time to rip and tear!! I had to disassemble most of it to free up the condenser.
There is only one tricky part to this whole project. The thermal sensor will stop the compressor from running 24/7, this is obviously bad since it needs to run constantly. Here is what I did to trick it:
-Find the thermal sensor, mine was right in front of the condenser -My thermal sensor was a little devices called a thermistor, which changes resistance with temperature. -I cut the thermistor, read the resistance at ambient and then warmed it up to 110f and read resistance again. The 55f ambient resistance was 11k ish and 110F resistance was 6.8k ohm. -In place of the cut thermistor, I soldered on equivalent 6.8k of resistors to force the AC unit into thinking it is 110f degrees
Here is what it looks like after just 5 minutes running 24/7 
That's all for now...next up I need to drop it in a bucket of water and run the loop through it. I am obviously going to need some anti-freeze of some sort and likely a submersible pump since the large reviver will be located under the bench rig.
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Post by Shadyreaper on Mar 7, 2018 14:47:54 GMT -5
that is something Vinster knows all about LOL |
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Post by Vinster on Mar 7, 2018 15:15:50 GMT -5
yep, water is no good... use windshield washer fluid... get the -45C stuff and you'll be good to go  here was my build, the link jumps to page 2; warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/104/using-unit-cool-water-loop?page=2PC on, but not loaded I could manage -25, loaded would rise to -15 to -10 depending on the CPU and OC. Use a submersible pond pump. any external pump would condense internally and could be an issue. I'm using a 655 pump and popped it open and filled it with non-conductive grease. if I had to get a new pump, it would be submersible. I don't have it up and running right now, I moved last Aug and haven't had a chance to build it back up. I'm hoping to get the unit back up and running this summer if $$$ lines up. Vin EDIT: you'll also want to have it outside, the heat that comes from the rear rad after a while is nuts. |
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Post by Mr.Scott on Mar 7, 2018 15:37:05 GMT -5
Those are about the same temps I get.  |
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Post by Macsbeach98 on Mar 7, 2018 16:25:07 GMT -5
Nice I would like how see how it turns out David
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Post by mllrkllr88 on Mar 8, 2018 21:42:15 GMT -5
yep, water is no good... use windshield washer fluid... get the -45C stuff and you'll be good to go here was my build, the link jumps to page 2; warp9-systems.proboards.com/thread/104/using-unit-cool-water-loop?page=2PC on, but not loaded I could manage -25, loaded would rise to -15 to -10 depending on the CPU and OC. Use a submersible pond pump. any external pump would condense internally and could be an issue. I'm using a 655 pump and popped it open and filled it with non-conductive grease. if I had to get a new pump, it would be submersible. I don't have it up and running right now, I moved last Aug and haven't had a chance to build it back up. I'm hoping to get the unit back up and running this summer if $$$ lines up. Vin EDIT: you'll also want to have it outside, the heat that comes from the rear rad after a while is nuts. Awesome!! Thanks so much for the great info. I already ran into the pump problem since the rad res is a few feet below bench, I have alot to learn when it comes to this setup. Thanks for the nice comments guys , ill keep you posted with my results and progress. |
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Post by Vinster on Mar 9, 2018 0:45:46 GMT -5
you'll need a larger pump. look for one that can do 2-3m (6-9ft) lift. that should get it up over the tank, then back up to the tank from the block.
if you get in to larger pumps than that, the outlets are larger (3/4"-1") and then you'll have to adapt it down. but then I'm not sure what that'll do to the pump.
also see if you can get a pump with an adjustable inlet, sometimes slowing the flow gets you a better transfer.
Vin
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