Automated terrarium cooling

[Galapoheros]

I just blew through some of this, maybe it was already said, you will probably get a lot of dripping condensation off the mini-fridge evaporator, you might be able to use that water for something, maybe to auto-fill a fogger or something like that. Also refrigerators are real efficient when it comes to energy usage. My full-blown frig sticker says it uses $25-$30 a year based on average cost per kilowatt but you will read things like an average of $150 a year but even that's pretty good for a full-blown kitchen frig. We've been told that cost a lot to run, don't know why because they don't. Online info says a mini-frig cost only around $30 to run per year. Of course it depends on how often it will turn on in a circumstance like yours. btw I got my mini for free also, just sitting at the curb haha, just cleaned it up, that's all. I also got one of my kitchen fidges for free, found it on the side of the road also. The condenser cooling fan was frozen up, that's all it was. It's not serviceable so I just dropped it in synthetic oil, runs great now.

 

[schmiggle]

Have you considered using thermoelectric cooling with a Peltier device?

Yes, but I've also read that Peltiers are really inefficient at a scale larger than about 10 gallons, especially for cooling twenty-thirty degrees.

 

[Gnarled Gnome]

Oh yeah I didnt know what scale or temps you are working with. I'm curious to see this.

 

[Rhino1]

@schmiggle
Would love a pic or 3 once you have it sorted, I love terrariums and have been itching to see your alpine set up cheers

 

[schmiggle]

@schmiggle
Would love a pic or 3 once you have it sorted, I love terrariums and have been itching to see your alpine set up cheers

Aw thanks, I appreciate that. Once it's set up properly--which will hopefully happen sometime--I will post all the pictures you desire.