Chiller help

[petrasb]

I am deciding on what chiller to buy, either a 1/2 hp or 1hp.
The JBJ artica 1/2 chiller specs state that it is for a tank up to 150 gallons, but has 6000 btu's, @ 5.1 amps, but the pacific coast 1/2 hp chiller draws 9.9 amps with 6000 btu's and is recomended for tanks up to 450 gallons.
Does anyone have any input on this or used either of these chillers?
Here are the links:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~JB1151~idCategory~FICH~category~Chillers-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~JB1151~idCategory~FICH~category~Chillers-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html</a>

[IMG]http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PC-CW-0500&Category_Code=pacificcoast&Store_Code=PA">http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PC-CW-0500&Category_Code=pacificcoast&Store_Code=PA</a>

 

[petrasb]

TradeWind chillers sound nice, but I don't think they have titanium coils. I would also like to know if anyone has one of these, and how they like it.

 

[ejorg2]

I have had the JBJ for a year and a half and have no issues with it. That 150 gallon rating is wrong, I think it's more like 500. Look at a few other sites, actually I just looked and it's rated for 520. Mine is loud but it's in the basement. I have the da-500b.

 

[schwaggs]

I have a Prime USA 1 HP unit that has been great for the last 3 years. I bought it over the other brands because it was very efficient, like 6.5 Amps for 1HP. Even though is cost a few hundred more, I have saved that and more in lower electric bills by now...

 

[petrasb]

The system is about 400 gallons with 4 x 400 watt HQI's. I did look at the 1 hp pime and it looks nice. Sealine chillers draw even less hp @ 7.8 amps

 

[skriz]

The pacific coast chillers are better than the Jbj. Tradewinds are awesome and made in the USA!

A traditional 1/2 hp may be too small for a 400g with 4x400w halides. Although it probably will keep the tank cool, it may run longer, sucking down more energy in doing so. The larger units use more power when they're on, but they're on for much shorter durations (thus using less overall energy and saving you $$ in the long run).

Ares - your chiller is not a normal 3/4hp chiller...it's a BEAST! It's an HD unit and operates more like a regular 1 hp unit would. 1 hour/day is incredible; that'll cost you nada to operate

 

[suasati]

Stay away from pacific coast chillers they are junk and their customer service is even worse..

 

[schwaggs]

ares, you are correct, my 1HP Prime USA Commercial chiller draws 9.1 amps max. I measured it with one of those watt meters and it actually uses less than that.

I probably could have gotten away with a smaller chiller but this one is so much more efficient than typical 1/2 HP units that it just made sense to me.

Believe it or not, this time of year is the most taxing on my chiller. It is running about 20 minutes every other hour and more frequent than that when the lights are on. In the winter it hardly runs at all and in the summer with the AC on it runs less than it does now. I do not use fans at all except for a backup due to humidity concerns.