LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

I just ordered my Ebay 50 watt laser. I also ordered a chiller. Not the radiator kind. A CW 5000. I live in south central Texas. When I want to use the laser (it's just for fun, I don't have a business) do I turn it on and wait for it to cool the water, or do I have to leave it on, keeping the water cool all the time? Or, is it a on demand type of water cooler?
My laser will be sitting unused for long periods of time, so the ambient temperature will warm up the water.

Thank you for your responses. I think this is my first post! My laser should be here in a week.

RP

The 5000 and 5200 models are like a a/c unit with freon [or the modern version] and will idle until cooling is called for [programmable]. They must circulate enough water to sample I suppose. Ambient temp will not be warm enough to be a problem.

I set my chiller up so it runs on the same power strip as the laser. Just start them both up at the same time. The chiller will take a second to "boot up" and then regulate the temperature as needed. I usually let the chiller run for at least a minute from the point the laser last fires before shutting the chiller off. This makes sure your tube is cooled down enough after use.

FYI, most chillers come programmed to run in a somewhat useless mode that cools based on a variance of the actual temperature in the room. That is bad because it is inconsistent and varies as the temperature varies in the room. You need to make sure it is set up to maintain a specific temperature (18 degrees C is good) within a variance factor (+/- 1 degree). Your chiller should come with a manual but it can be hard to read. Do a search on Youtube for CW5000 chiller setup or settings or similar. There are good videos that will walk you through the steps.

So, during extended periods of non use, I can turn the laser and chiller on and immediately cut and it will keep the tube cool, even though the water will be warm due to ambient temps? The laser will be in an unairconditioned room in the shop (unless I'm out there!)

Thanks again for your response.

RP

The max temp for my EFR tube is 104F. Down under my laser the cooling water usually stays below 80F unless it's really been cooking outside. I would first invest in a good digital thermometer to check your out flow from the laser and your coolant bath thep. You can get a good dual digital aquarium gauge on Amazon for $12. Just have to watch what you get, C vs F.

Best practice would be to turn the chiller on first before you power anything up and get in the habit of doing so. I can give you a neat trick to make sure you are getting the return temp when you are setting it up.