New TECO Review

[gods_angel77]

with MH (150W x 2) - on average 25 mins to chill down 1.5 deg C

with T5 (39W x 4) - on average 20 to chill down 1.5 deg C

without light - 10 mins to chill 1.5 deg C

i feel that your above data is wrong.

For a 450l-750l tank

it is impossible to cool down 1.5 deg c within 10 mins without light

it is impossible to cool down 1.5 deg c within 20 mins with T5

it is impossible to cool down 1.5 deg c within 25 mins with T5 & MH

BTW I'm using a teco chiller to and it takes pump ehiem 600l with TC20(old teco Chiller) it takes 1h-1h 15min to cool my entire tank with out light

[gods_angel77]

Sorry pc power went down just now.

with MH (150W x 2) - on average 25 mins to chill down 1.5 deg C

with T5 (39W x 4) - on average 20 to chill down 1.5 deg C

without light - 10 mins to chill 1.5 deg C

i feel that your above data is wrong.

For a 450l-750l tank

it is impossible to cool down 1.5 deg c within 10 mins without light

it is impossible to cool down 1.5 deg c within 20 mins with T5

it is impossible to cool down 1.5 deg c within 25 mins with T5 & MH

BTW I'm using a teco chiller for my 650l tank

the return pump for the chiller is ehiem pump 600l/h with TC20(old teco Chiller) & it takes around 1h 00min to 1h 15min when light off and when light on it takes about 1h 45 min with 2x MH 150w + 2Xblue 39watts to cool my entire tank.

Ratio of cut in/cut out = 1hour:2hour when light is off

[Killerwhale]

I used to operate the old teco too. I totally agreed with you that the old teco chiller take about an hour plus to do its job(with light on or off). However, if you tear down both chiller to compare side by side, you will know many differences such as shorter air path from inlet to outlet, 2 fans, titanium coil with enhance routing, etc etc. That's why I give 2 thumps up for this new TECO design.

Anyway, i would say the choice is yours. If you like old teco, artica, or whatever brands, etc....Go for it as long as you like the form, fit and function of the chiller. Bottonline, the money you spent on make it worth.

[southpaw23]

Perhaps to give us better insight, a few more questions for you if you don't mind.

1. Whats the length of time the chiller is at rest before kicking in again?

2. How is the current chiller configured (ie. where's the input and is the output direct to the main tank?)

The reason i ask is cos i've noticed instances where ppl connect the input and output of their chillers all in the sump area and depending on the configuration in sump, the chiller run time may vary greatly.

For example, when u run the input pump in the last compartment and feed the output to the first compartment or a compartment before the input, then the run time isn't fully representative or accurate as you will notice that the sump temp will be much lower than the main tank mainly cos you are recirculating the cool water in the sump area more than feeding it back to the main tank (seems to be a common mistake). The best way to test run time is have the chiller return water directly to the main tank.

just my two cents.

[arcanehacker]

But really how many feed the chilled water back to main take instead of sump? There would be too many pipes.. looks messy..

Further more, people with huge tanks would probably not have chiller pumps strong enough to pump water back up.

[Killerwhale]

hi, is my pleasure to ans your queries to my best knowledge.

1. Whats the length of time the chiller is at rest before kicking in again?

<<didn't measure this. I find it very subjective i.e. this will have to depend how well your tank is insulated or how well you prevent heat loss to the environment (for chilling, is how well you prevent conduction and convection take place). For insulation, many ways we can do it. By thicker glass, double layer glass, or insulated with stylerfoam (i think wrong spelling) etc etc and also insulated tube, where you place your chiller (near the wall, open, etc etc). Hope this ans your query to this.>>

2. How is the current chiller configured (ie. where's the input and is the output direct to the main tank?)

<<I placed the chiller return hose directly to the main tank return pump inlet i.e. the outlet is to the main tank>>.

[KCK]

Just bought a Teco TR10. One question about the powerhead flow rate.......

Anyone other than Killerwhale is using the recommended flow rate of 400l/h power head?

What other flow rate did you use and anyone notice any difference in chiller efficiency using different flow rate?

[shootsimon]

I'm using ehiem 1262 flow rate I think its 3400L/hr to run my TR20. What I noticed is that if you use a slower flow rate, the chiller kicks in more often which means chills fast and loose heat fast.

For mine although it takes about 1hr 40mins to chill it won't kick in after 3hrs(with lights on).

So in a day it only kicks in less than 5 times

[keetkeet]

KCK Posted on May 10 2006, 01:20 PM

  Just bought a Teco TR10. One question about the powerhead flow rate.......

Anyone other than Killerwhale is using the recommended flow rate of 400l/h power head?

What other flow rate did you use and anyone notice any difference in chiller efficiency using different flow rate? 

Can PM me the cost of your new Teco TR10?

thanks

[jervismun]

I am planning to get a Teco TR20 vs. Arctica 1/5hp model.

Anyone have experiences in both chillers? Price wise, they are the same, but the Arctica model is much smaller (in hp) compared to TR20

[Killerwhale]

what's your tank volume? For me, I will normally size my chiller capacity bigger than what the volume is required. Reason is obvious........running long term will avoid spending $ on electricity as well as it chill down the temp real fast as compare to smaller capacity.

Now, come to your qn. I think both chiller r equally good in performance. But if you go for look and build esp if u place it outside the cabinet, then I would say TR20. If look is not important, then either one will do. But make sure you size your chiller correctly. The technical specification is always multiply by certain factor. so try to account (say 15%) from your actual volume when you size it.

A quick update. So far my chiller is as good as new. Total no. of cut in is estimated to be 5 to 8 (by gut feel). No time to actually count it. May be one take on leave then I will count it.

[KCK]

Need to clarify...how long before the chiller start again isn't it more a matter of what is the surrounding temperature compared to the tank water.....i.e. if the diff is bigger, the water warms up faster.

For a Teco chiller you can only set the temperature you want and the chiller will start again once the temperature reaches 1.5 degree warmer than the temperature you set, i.e if you set temp at 26degree, you room is 29 degree, once it reaches 27.5degree, the chiller will start again.

So if you set at 25degree compared to someone setting at 26.5degree, if room temp is around 29degree, that means the one set 25 degree the chiller will start sooner, since the diff in temp is bigger, hence warm up by 1.5degree faster?