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Temp control of fish tank
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2494		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  goodevans [ Dec 4th, '07, 19:41 ]
Post subject:  Temp control of fish tank
Hi Guys
New member building a system. Keep forgetting how to post something. Hope this works.
B have a temp controller for $10 which with the help of Funku has been modified so that it measures water temp rather than air. I will try an include some images? The controller is sold to replace old style air cond temp sensors and runs on AA batteries. It is fairly fragile but has LCD screen and has been in service working fine for about 2wks. Keep LCD out of the sun and away from heat.


When covers are removed you will find a thermocouple sensor inside near an air vent. Carefully cut this off with side cutters leaving some wire and solder on the Printed Circuit Board(PCB). Solder wires onto the thermocouple (I used 1.5m of hd speaker wire). I then inserted this into a glass test tube, pushing some styrene foam behind it and then filled with AP silastic. Obviously you now need to solder the wires back onto the PCB and this needs to be done with some care as the tracks are fragile. Not too much head and AS SOON AS SOLDERING IS FINISHED I put lots of the plastic hobby hot glue on to reinforce the connection and keep any force off the soldered joints.

This device has a relay output so I added HD speaker wires from these contacts which I will be able to use to control a 24V valve or actuator.
See what you think. Works for me but not yet using the relay to regulate water temp. Just reading the water temp as present.

I have more images but seem unable to add- reached my limit?
Happy to provide more later.

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File comment: images of temp controller mods.
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Author:  TimC [ Dec 4th, '07, 19:54 ]
Post subject: 
goodevans, I was looking for something like this for my marine tank. When the water gets too hot I need to shut the lights and heater off....

Thanks man, and good job. Love the thermocouple idea, now I need a testube.... lol
Author:  Jaymie [ Dec 4th, '07, 19:55 ]
Post subject: 
Hi GoodEvans, welcome :D
each post can only have 3 pictures (unless you are an Admin ;) )
Author:  Delgrade [ Dec 4th, '07, 20:35 ]
Post subject: 
but please dont let that stop you

great work too :)
Author:  steve [ Dec 4th, '07, 21:51 ]
Post subject: 
goode, nice stuff mate~!

$10 bloody hell, don't publicize that, you'll ruin the HVAC margins!

one point, the relays in those are TINY, MAKE SURE you switch another 24V relay before switching any loads, even solenoids.

i tried really hard not to write this next bit but couldn't help myself.............the sensor is a thermistor, not a thermocouple :) but it wouldn't matter to anyone else but me :) :)

Love the ingenuity mate, good to have you here
Author:  TimC [ Dec 4th, '07, 22:45 ]
Post subject: 
I picked up on that too steve... In case you feel like the only one. If it was a thermocouple you would not be able to extend the wires like that....
Author:  SlicerDicer [ Dec 5th, '07, 00:05 ]
Post subject: 
Well if you want some strange ideas. Do a nuclear tower style cooling system and no I am not kidding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bong_cooler

I built one a while back for my computer to overclock it but I never 100% completed or used it but the idea is for sure sound. Have your actuator start a small pump to cool it when needed. I think I hit around 5c below ambient with that type of setup.

As for warming the water in a efficient manner? any ideas?
Author:  Food&Fish [ Dec 5th, '07, 04:08 ]
Post subject: 
steve wrote:
goode, nice stuff mate~!

$10 bloody hell, don't publicize that, you'll ruin the HVAC margins!

one point, the relays in those are TINY, MAKE SURE you switch another 24V relay before switching any loads, even solenoids.

i tried really hard not to write this next bit but couldn't help myself.............the sensor is a thermistor, not a thermocouple :) but it wouldn't matter to anyone else but me :) :)

Love the ingenuity mate, good to have you here

And he did it without paper clips now whose the smart one :lol:
Author:  Sleepe [ Dec 5th, '07, 08:27 ]
Post subject: 
Very neat

Could not quite read the maker, Arlec? (any chance of a model no.) :wink:
Author:  EllKayBee [ Dec 5th, '07, 17:55 ]
Post subject: 
Goodo - love it, went to "B" today but they didn't have any (bugger)...quoted your name and was asked politely to leave :oops: :scratch:

Have you got anymore info you can give us, interested in having a look at one (might take along a photo of one next time)


Welcome to the forum too :wink:
Author:  Delgrade [ Dec 5th, '07, 20:29 ]
Post subject: 
for anyone making that bong cooler you can use condensate from an reverse cycle AC instead of distilled water ( as long as you catch it in a clean container ) should be almost as good

or at a pinch bottled drinking water as most of that is just RO water with a few minerals added back in

Cheers
Author:  TimC [ Dec 5th, '07, 20:45 ]
Post subject: 
You could even suspend the bong coolers over your fish tank to cool the water directly... or is this what was already suggested?
Author:  RupertofOZ [ Dec 5th, '07, 20:53 ]
Post subject: 
Think that's the ultimate idea Tim C..... circulate the actual tank water up into the atomiser and drain the cooled water back to tank from lower outlet.
Author:  TimC [ Dec 5th, '07, 21:03 ]
Post subject: 
Yeah, thats what I was getting at... It is a similar idea that was posted a while back by someone suggesting to attach fans to a vertical pipe to cool water.

So how do you make the atomiser.. or is that the technical term for a mister...?
Author:  steve [ Dec 5th, '07, 21:07 ]
Post subject: 
very fine mister.

might have more luck and less water spray loss on this scale with a few strips of shade cloth hung in the airflow with water trickling down it.

catch with any indoor evap system is that as the rooms humidity rises (and it will) the cooling effect drops. also your water loss from your tanks will be much greater
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