Chiller Problem - Help!

[KathyC]

I have a Pacific Coast CL650 1/4 hp chiller on my 120.
Finally had turned it on yesterday due to the high humidity = high temp in my basement and it did a great job leveling off the tank. Came home late last night to find it was off and the fuse was blown.

Couldn't replace the fuse until tonight. It started right up and again the temp in the tank was good..it ran fine for about 3 hours.

Now - again - it has a blown fuse!

I can't keep chilling & warming my fish here..argh...

Any thoughts on what might be wrong? Thxs!
The correct 10A/250V fuse is being used. The chiller is the ONLY thing plugged into the circuit and the breaker isn't tripping.
:help:

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Sounds like a faulty chiller,Maybe try plugging it in directly into the wall?Anything else sucking juice down there?

 

[KathyC]

It is the only thing on the circuit it is on..and yes it's plugged into the wall.
I bought this from a VERY reputable MR member and he'd had no problems with it and the fuse that blew last night was the original fuse from when he bought the unit new.

 

[BL007]

I have exact same problem ,The cause is chiller over heat. I put additional fan infront of chiller to help cool down the compressor and it's work

 

[OctaviousMonk]

Try contacting Kieth at http://cooltanks.com/ Maybe he can give you advice. He really knows his stuff.

 

[cali_reef]

Pacific Coast Import chillers are known to blow fuses, you need to use a "slow blow" fuse in them to prevent them blowing easily.

 

[KathyC]

Not having success finding slow blow fuses - anyone know of a source? I've been to Radio Shack & Ace Hardware.

I added a fan blowing into the front of the chiller, and a larger one to draw the air away from the rear of the chiller..the fuses are still blowing..

I will write to Keith at cool tanks also - thsx for the suggestion.
Any other ideas?

 

[Irisservice]

if its taking 3 hours to cool tank , the chiller is to small or defective.

 

[KathyC]

The chiller is rated for up to a 180g at 10 degrees, my tank is a 120g. It didn't take 3 hours to cool the tank, it was 3 hours before the fuse blew the first time.

 

[Pedro]

The last time i owned of them chillers i had the same issue. It turned out to be a faulty fan inside that kept blowing the fuse. I ended up returning it and getting a JBJ. That was of course my case, im not sure if it's the same with you.

If it keeps blowing the fuse, you will need to get it repaired. Unless of course you want to run through a million fuses.

Try calling up the manufacturer and see if you can work something out with them.

 

[KathyC]

Thanks Pedro.
I have the front cover off the chiller and will watch the fan inside to see if it is operating all the time the chiller is chilling.

I also just changed the intake pump to a mag drive 9.5 & also slightly changed it's location inside of my sump. I'm wondering if the pump was sucking in too much air (and not enough flow to meet the chillers minimum requirement) from my other equipment that empites water/air into that sump chamber. No idea how much of a difference that might make..but I'm grabbing at straws here and don't want my fish to get sick.

 

[Pedro]

When i had the issue they tried telling me that i didn't have enough flow, that's when i bought the mag18. After i found out it was faulty i went back to a mag 9.5 without issues. You just need to know your head loss. What pump were you running before. It is a good idea to keep the flow within the requirements.

Keep an eye out on it see if it jams up, that will certainly cause it to overload and blow the fuse. Just hope it's not something like the compressor.

Keep us updated.

 

[KathyC]

It blew again...
Head 3 1/2 foot vertical..4 ft horizontal.
Should I try the mag 12?..not sure if I can fit that one into my sump...

 

[Irisservice]

whats room tempature?

 

[loismustdie]

Typical issue with Pacific Coast and Aquamedic chillers is that they are ineffective when the ambient temperature of the location they are placed is over 85 degrees. It will run, but won't cool and typically burn the fuses. The problem here is that it is a Pacific Coast chiller. Buy Tradewind. They function at much higher temperatures and if something goes wrong with them, go to local appliance stores to fix. Pacific Coast chillers need to be shipped to be fixed. You get what you pay for.

 

[KathyC]

Thnx Chris...The chiller says it won't operate over 95 degrees, it's warm in here right now, but not that warm...and your info regarding 85 degrees is probably even more correct..knowing you

I may have found at least part of the issue..the new receptical that it was plugged into is one of those GFCI ones. I didn't know they function as a surge protector. The website for P.C. says it should not be plugged into an extension cord or a surge protector.

Now it's plugged into a regular old wall outlet that it's sharing with my ATO that draws very little current, and so far it has come on and off a couple of times without blowing the fuse... (knock wood).

I bought the chiller from our dear friend in Rockaway and HE had no problems at all with it..too bad you hadn't told him to buy a Tradewinds back then...I figure if it was good enough for him, it should be good enough for me ..lol

 

[loismustdie]

hmmmm... no matter how hot it got in that closet, that chiller always performed for him. Judging by his electric bill, not as efficiently as he hoped, but it worked, no doubt. I wonder if the GFCI had anything to do with it, but wouldn't the GFCI prevent the blown fuses? Hell if I know. Sounds like you're on to something either way. Like I said, it always worked for him.

 

[KathyC]

The GFCI doesn't seem to be it either. It lasted for a longer period of time plugged into a wall socket. It went off again at 7:45, changed the fuse..and just went off again.
I'm not even going to bother changing the fuse.

I got a call back from the guy who fixes chillers (before it went off at 7:45) and he said it probably isn't the GFCI (as did Pedro)..he thinks it's the temp in the room.

Just going to let the tank warm slowly back up. I'll do what I can with fans to keep the room cooler. An AC isn't an option without tearing out the one window in here.
My Royal Gramma is dying right now..doubt that it is realted..