Thread: Fog Chiller Tips Please

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Im new to the site and ive been researching these fog chillers. I havent tried my idea yet but im going to soon. Im going to take copper tubing and coil it inside a cooler and use ice. copper is an excellent thermal conductor and i believe with narrow tubing and a llong coil submerged in ice would rapidly cool the fog. if all works out i will post up my results either way

As Otaku said, the vortex is the best design I've tried, with mixed results. That is to say, I used a Chauvet 1250 with a square igloo chiller that I don't think was nearly big enough for the output of the fogger. The results were that the fog stayed somewhat low, but warmed up too fast and rose before dissipating. This year, if all goes well, I am either going to get a 700watt fogger with a timer for lack of funds to really afford something nice, or, if possible, I'll either pick up the VEI 960 or VEI 935. The 960 I was considering so that I could use some PVC piping and pipe it to two different locations, given the volume it puts out. However, after some reading, for the price, the 935 seems to be the best bang for buck going, with timer and wireless remote, 1200watts output.. as long as I can control the volume output so that the reheat cycle is either avoided, or if it kicks in doesn't take too long. I will most likely build the vortex design again, if possible with a bigger igloo chest.

Trurbo... that sounds really cool and I look forward to your results. I am interested in how well the fog will continue thru the copper wire after it has exited the fog machine. From my past experience, you usually want a good 2 to 3 inch "inlet" about an inch or two away from the fog nozzle so the fog has a chance to use the air around it to produce the fog. If the fog that comes out of your fogger is a certain diameter, and you try to push it thru a much smaller copper tubing, doesn't that try to "compress" the fog essentially? Or are you using 2" to 3" copper tubing diameter thru the ice? I ask because from what some have said, if the tube is too small, you may get back pressure and it may just pour out the inlet and not make it thru the tube at all. I don't know for sure..just tossing that out there for others that may know if this will be a problem before you spend too much time on it.

Yubney I know what your trying to do, and I've been trying to do the same thing. First I tried drier conduit but the foil breaks to easy when in water and floats too well. Then I tried vinyl and that works wonders.

I slapped together about 18' of 3/4" in OD 5/8" in ID tubing and put it in a 30 quart plastic storage bin and it chilled pretty well considering it was submerged in regular water with no ice and no refigeration.

This is the keg cooling concept of a lot of tubing running through melted ice. Tried and tested cheap beer cooling method ( yeah the fret boys actually figured this out a long time ago). Running it through salty ice water should have an awesome cooling effect so long as your tube doesn't exceed 1 1/2 inches in diameter and about 30' in length.

Originally Posted by Marc-UK

The fog will only chill when in contact with the ice. I have tried many variations on an ice chiller, and this one is really the only one that works. If you can get it, use dry ice as it's much colder and makes a big difference.

Here is a video from last weekend, testing this design:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55071152@N07/5111582127/

What I don't show are 4 or 5 different things I tried first. By far the best result was when I forced the fog thru the ice.

I use 4”inch dryer duct that is inserted into the ice chest but does not continue thru. I have a second 4” inch dryer duct on the other side with a built in duct fan. I lay 20 lbs bag of ice on the bottom of the ice chest.

I just started experimenting with a garbage bag secured at the end of the duct this evening. The jury is still out on the length and width of the garbage bag. When the wind is down; the fog hovers and flows across the ground like a cheap Hollywood movie.

Eventually everyone takes a turn in the box.