LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

Jason Wright wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 thanks for the explanation, i whilst im sure i could knock something up like that its too much trouble for my limited time, rather just buy a 3000 or 5000 unit and stick to my tube heater under the laser, im not concerend about the plastic tub freezing so long as the water in the tube doesnt

if you plan for a chiller, just some percents of anti-freeze in the water will solve your winter problems. i saw people saying that you should not be doing it, but in my own experience it works flawlessly, and this is a lot easier than to setup a contraption to heat the tube during long winter nights only (solution that could and would probably fail at the worst time)

Yeah, if your temps don't drop too far below freezing you should be good, I went with the birdbath heater because I had it on hand, and I don't have to worry about condensation.

sebastien laforet wrote: Tue May 26, 2020

Jason Wright wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 thanks for the explanation, i whilst im sure i could knock something up like that its too much trouble for my limited time, rather just buy a 3000 or 5000 unit and stick to my tube heater under the laser, im not concerend about the plastic tub freezing so long as the water in the tube doesnt

if you plan for a chiller, just some percents of anti-freeze in the water will solve your winter problems. i saw people saying that you should not be doing it, but in my own experience it works flawlessly, and this is a lot easier than to setup a contraption to heat the tube during long winter nights only (solution that could and would probably fail at the worst time)

good to know, i think i read that the antifreeze could potentially damage the seals or suchlike in the system, pretty sure Russ Sadler mentioned it in a video of his

We drop into the 15F range here in Kansas City, I ran a 100% RV antifreeze solution for a few months last fall until I had the heater in place. No problems. I've also heard some bad things about antifreeze, but most of them have been from those with the 150W+ machines. Some antifreeze still in the tube from the manufacturer just tipped the scales for me.

Dave Vigness wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 We drop into the 15F range here in Kansas City, I ran a 100% RV antifreeze solution for a few months last fall until I had the heater in place. No problems. I've also heard some bad things about antifreeze, but most of them have been from those with the 150W+ machines. Some antifreeze still in the tube from the manufacturer just tipped the scales for me.

ok thank you

Mini fridge chiller update.

It works... a little too well. Had my fridge turned down pretty low knowing that as soon as i fired up the laser, it and the submersible pump would start heating the water back up. But...

I have the water lines going out the back... about an inch below the freezer coils... so I slushed the lines out the back. They didn't freeze solid as the WP lit up when I turned the pump on, but the temp display just never came down off of ambient, so I had pressure just no flow.

Unplugged the fridge and left the pump on. Plugged the heater in direct and shook my head. Abut thirty minutes later I heard the slush plug give way and the temps immediately dropped... and I turned the fridge a notch or two warmer when I plugged it back in.

The one ray of sunshine in this. I was able to use a separate temp probe in the nice cold water to test my two temp controlled relays for cold weather switching. They tripped just where they were supposed to!