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/diy/ - Do It Yourself


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File: 100 KB, 1914x1546, Chinchilla cooling system.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769150 No.1769150 [Reply] [Original]

I want to get a pair of chinchillas but don't have anywhere to put an AC except getting a portable one for summer. where I live ACs aren't required and it doesn't get that hot except for heatwaves. also my house is almost always around 20-22 degrees celsius due to central heating. so I want to make an automated cage cooling system instead that will keep the chinnies at a constant 18-19 degrees celcius no matter what the rest of the house temperature is.

I made the following rudimentary diagram based off of my knowledge of how a fridge works and I am not exactly technologically oriented. the cage will have about 3-4 separate levels that have fleece dividers.

so the idea is coolant flows through a copper pipe that goes around the cage and alongside it is another copper pipe that gently blows cool air through small holes to keep the cage the right temperature. the coolant cools the air pipe which is on each level, and the air is supplied via a small computer fan which has speed control. the holes are facing up so the air doesn't blow directly onto the chinchillas - it creates air circulation in each level due to the dividers. an electric thermometer measures the temperature and humidity and adjusts the fan speed to raise or lower the temp. the thermometer also makes an alarm if the temp goes above 21 degrees celcius and humidity above 50%. it also sends a notification to my phone and email.

of course, if I realise there is going to be a bad heatwave then I will get a portable ac but this system is more for all year use and to keep costs lower. my questions are:

>> No.1769152
File: 105 KB, 800x800, 57498_pla_kleintierkaefig_mit_57499_pla_zwischenebene_fg_1235_5.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769152

1. is this cooling system feasible? will it be worth the money as I want to build it at least a month before I get chinchillas
2. what is the best coolant with regards to cooling capacity and low humidity? how can I put it in and close the system?
3. is there a more efficient/less-cluttered way to make this?
4. how do I make the automated temperature control work? I'm not tech-savvy or good at programming so arduinos and stuff go over my head. can you give a simple way to do it please?
5. what sort of parts will I need and what sort of costs am I looking at?

pic related is an example of the cage (ignore the plastic shelving as that will be removed)

>> No.1769162
File: 19 KB, 467x264, 6hqrzpuZihucDrFcUWiDPDl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVvK0kTmF0xjctABnaLJIm9.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769162

>>1769152
> 4.
my bet is you go for the arduino solution
easy as fuck to set up a simple temperature & humidity sensor, cheap as fuck also if you the buy Chinese off brand stuff
hundred of examples and guides on the interweb about to make an arduino run shit with a DTH11 sensor.

Also, If I may, I think you don't need such a contraption of cooling system to make your animal comfortable, I would put the fan attached in only one specific part of the cage (a cooling spot) and run the fan at low speed (for instance, powering it directly from the 5VDC bus on the arduino itself or even having the fan running directly from a 5VDC power source, no arduinos or sensor needed) and let animal decide which part of the cage is better depending on current conditions.

>> No.1769180

>>1769162
is it really that simple? I did consider just using a fan but so many people say fans are useless for chinchillas since they only blow room temp air so can either cause them to go too cold or not cool at all. unless if it cools through travelling through the air pipe?

>> No.1769192
File: 181 KB, 800x800, 1581958618109.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769192

>>1769180
not the perfect attempt but using a mild breeze will let the animal cool itself through sweat evaporation occurring on its fur and it wont be harmful as long as the animal can choose between warmer and cooler areas in his cage, so just don't blast full speed power all over the place and it will be ok.

>> No.1769196

>>1769192
ahh that could work except chinchillas can't sweat due to their dense fur :( but it seems good enough for current winter temperatures.

>> No.1769227

>>1769196
I don't know then. If a forced cooling system is required you could try using something based on a liquid cooling system from a PC instead.
Anyway, I would try to keep the room temperature low by natural means, like using a place with lower heating temp in winter and using a dark and fresh room in summer.

>> No.1769236

>>1769227
oh yeah I forgot to ask, how do I pump the coolant?

>> No.1769309
File: 1.07 MB, 750x750, refrigeration_cycle.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769309

>>1769236
literally a coolant pump?
just get a water cooling kit with all the parts you need.
But keep in mind this things only lower the temperature down to room temperature, just they are more efficient than just a fan.
Same as the one in your picture.
In order to really cool the air you need a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser in your circuit, same as in a fridge or any AC unit.
Of course this is expensive to make and it needs proper tools, materials and processes only a professional is capable to operate.
So you do better and cheaper by getting that portable AC unit soon or later in the end.

>> No.1769314

>>1769150
They really only need one floor to be cooled. You can use a floor made of Peltier modules. Though, they are so cheap you can pave every floor with them and have different voltages for each floor so the floors are differen't levels of cooling, leaving one floor uncooled.

>> No.1769319
File: 12 KB, 361x361, peltier cell.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769319

>>1769314
this
additionally, another solution is to put a peltier module in a heat exchange system such a fan and heatsink or a water cooling circuit in order to get temperatures lower than the air.
These modules generate humidity condensation though

>> No.1769330
File: 60 KB, 931x980, 61Dq1LtNwfL._AC_SL1000_.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769330

>>1769309
if I use a water cooling kit in conjunction with an automated fan like this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-AIRPLATE-Thermostat-Cabinets/dp/B00QFWLGPU
it blows air into the pipes (which have an internal pipe filled with cold water) according to the temperature and I'll put another fan above the cage to blow away the heat from the water pipe
>>1769314
>>1769319
how much humidity condensation do they generate? can't go above 40% or they'll be at risk of mouldy fur

>> No.1769337

>>1769330
>how much humidity condensation do they generate? can't go above 40% or they'll be at risk of mouldy fur
Just keep the temp above dew point and they will be free of condensation. You must understand something. If there's high humidity then there's nothing you can use that will prevent condensation when it is a cooling system to reach the cooling temps if those temps are below the dew point. Instead, you'd need to make a close system and remove the humidity from the air while cooling the air (typical AC.)

>> No.1769341

>>1769337
ahhh so at a temperature of 18 degrees celcius and relative humidity of 40%, the dew point is 4 degrees celcius. so if I place a bunch of them all over each floor and then cover the modules in fleece, where will the heatsink go? and can I control the temperature? how would I power each floor? sorry for the questions but this is the first time I've ever heard of peltier modules

>> No.1769343

>>1769330
I'm afraid that alone just wont work,
in the end is just like only a fan moving air without a cooling effect, but with extra steps

>> No.1769349

>>1769341
Pretend they are light bulbs. Higher voltage = colder/hotter. One side is hot and one side is cold. For this use, put the heat sink on the hot side. Use DC to power it in whatever manner you wish. Preferably using some type of thermostat that makes direct contact to one of the module surfaces. Try the >>>diy/ohm thread for more detailed stuff.

>> No.1769350

>>1769349
>>>/diy/ohm

>> No.1769358
File: 21 KB, 750x547, how to cook a chinchilla if done wrong.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769358

>>1769341
Could use a sensor and arduino, or a thermostat to cut off power at intervals in orther to control temperature.
A heatsink could be anything that is heat-conductive, like just a metal plate glued to the hot part of all the peltier cell together.
putting the cells under the floors with the cooling side facing upwards and the heatsink facing down seems like the best option here as heat will flow to leave towards the sides of the cage instead of towards the floors

>> No.1769362
File: 685 KB, 1080x1647, Screenshot_20200218-000532_Samsung Notes.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1769362

>>1769343
Aw man I really thought I was on to something :/ thought that if air passed over cold water then the air would be cooled and would then cool the chins, like how if water passed through cold air then the water would be cold. I'm planning to keep them in a corner of a big room so a portable AC would still be problematic e.g. the exhaust pipe won't be long enough. Maybe a combination of water cooling kit + piped air + automatic fan + peltier modules underneath bottom floor of cage to keep the water cold (when passing underneath cage) would work? Sorry for my autistic obsession
>>1769349
So if I put the peltier modules on/under the bottom floor of the cage then I can keep that floor cool while also cooling the water and air even more as their pipes will pass over the modules? The pipes + modules will then be covered with hard material + fleece. And the heat can escape through the bottom of the cage? I will ask on /ohm/ too thanks

>> No.1769365

>>1769358
Awesome drawing haha that helps to visualise what I was starting to understand, that cool side faces up and hot side lets heat escape downwards. Would doing what I said in >>1769362
work? Seeing as I can't put the modules on higher floors as they would burn the chinchillas' heads.

>> No.1769366

>>1769362
yes, if you keep the water in your system being constantly cooled by the peltier cells then it would probably work.

>> No.1769370

>>1769366
though you would need to move the water through the circuit
you can use either a water pump or move it naturally by the thermosiphon effect, which requires the design of the circuit is done right.

>> No.1769373

>>1769366
>>1769370
Nice! Water pump sounds a lot more easier desu. Thank you for your great advice :)

>> No.1770341

Alright so it turns out copper is toxic to chinchillas and that it's soft enough for them to chew on the pipes. One choice is to put the pipes on the outside of the cage but then it would look horrible. What to do what to do...

>> No.1772071

>>1770341
put chinchillas up ur ass?

>> No.1772077
File: 127 KB, 600x600, jawbra_02.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1772077

Can't you just equip the Chinchillas with chin chillers?

>> No.1772937
File: 105 KB, 818x538, self cooling spoon.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1772937

I invented that system, OP. Don't steal it from me, you slimy jew.

If you fill the loop with any fluid and evaporate water on the top coil, the coolant will be chilled (by the evaporation) and the coolness will go down the tubes due to convection. Now, how do you evaporate water real fast? You can let it drip on a tissue or clay evaporator and blow air on it. Notice this will only work if you have a low humidity,

>> No.1772999

>>1769162
Don't use that sensor. BME280 in redundancy with esp8266. www.kandrsmith.org/RJS/Misc/Hygrometers/calib_many.html
Better yet, OP shouldn't do it. Exotic animals should be kept in their natural habitat not shoehorned.

>> No.1774776

>>1769150
How about not getting chinchillas? Sometimes the smart solution is to do something different instead of clinging to what looked like fun but isn't smart IRL.

>> No.1774794

>>1769150

You can't have direct airflow with chinchillas. It can be potentially damaging for their respiratory system. You will need to cool the whole room realistically to make it the correct temperature for them. Drafts, fans, and windows can be useful during the day time, but in the summer the room will likely be too hot at night as well and then what will you do

>> No.1775283

I don't think your parents are going to be happy about the increased electrical bill.