Introducing the Eiszeit 2000 chiller:
As you’d expect, given the chiller ‘s dimensions, the box containing it is quite imposing. It also weighs a hefty 29 kg, which is why it was delivered on a pallet. The chiller is perfectly protected by a transparent plastic film and large foam blocks, ensuring delivery in perfect conditions. Alphacool claims a cooling capacity equivalent to 1500 watts. This cooling system comes at a not inconsiderable price, as the Eiszeit 2000 is priced at almost 1,000 euros.
The Eiszeit 2000 chiller is really quite imposing, with dimensions of 560 x 280 x 470 mm and, above all, an empty weight of 29 kg. In fact, you’ll need to fill it, and knowing that the tank has a capacity of 9 liters, you can easily add this weight when it’s up and running. Alphacool has provided two handles on the top for moving it. It stands on four rubber feet, but in the end we would have preferred to see it equipped with four small castors.
The front panel features an LCD screen for setting the liquid outlet temperature, a power button and two LEDs, one green and one red. These are designed to let you know if there’s a flow problem. The Eiszeit 2000 benefits from a number of safety features, including protection against compressor overvoltage and overtemperature.
The two side panels are each fitted with a perforated door to allow air to enter and then be exhausted from the rear of the chiller. Both doors feature a dust filter that can be removed for cleaning.
When the door is removed, the 9-liter tank is revealed. Like most of the chiller’s components, it is insulated with armaflex.
Inside the tank is the evaporator. This is responsible for cooling the liquid according to the temperature set on the LCD display. The tank is filled from the top of the chiller via the filling port.
To the right of the tank is the compressor, rated at 0.49/0.57 KW (0.66/0.77 HP). The gas used in the circuit is R-134a. You can also spot the large radiator, known as the condenser. Air will pass through it and be evacuated by the two fans located at the rear of the case.
Let’s talk about the rear panel. You can see the two fans responsible for drawing air through the condenser and evacuating it out of the chiller. The two fans measure 160 mm and are fitted with a protective grille to prevent you from losing a finger. On the upper left, you can see the tank inlet and outlet, which are G1/4 compatible, the standard used by most watercooling fittings.
To circulate the liquid, as in any cooling loop, you’ll need a pump with a flow rate of 10L/min. The power of this pump will enable you to relocate the chiller if you wish to place it in another room to avoid noise pollution, for example. You should also be aware that the pump has a 10-meter head! If the flow rate seems too high, you can limit it by adding a ball valve to your cooling loop.
You’ll also need to pay close attention to the level of liquid in the reservoir. Alphacool has provided a window indicating the level, which should be in the green section. At the bottom of the rear panel is a plug for draining the circuit.
How a chiller works:
We’re going to try and give you a simple explanation of how a chiller works, based in particular on this video from the abcclim website. As we’ve already explained, the four key components are the compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator. Bear in mind that, in the case of our Alphacool Eiszeit 2000, the evaporator has a serpentine shape and is inserted into the reservoir to lower the temperature of the liquid in your liquid cooling loop.
Our example of the Alphacool Eiszeit 2000 also features an electronic part that allows you to select the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir. Alphacool allows you to choose a basic minimum temperature of 20°C. In our case, we’ll see if it’s possible to go lower.
The inner workings of the Eiszeit 2000 :
Although the first photos already give us an idea of the chiller ‘s operating principle , we were keen to discover its inner workings. So we removed the hood to reveal the cooling circuit.
We can see that the internal organization follows the diagram shown in the video, and that the various components are easily identifiable, such as the condenser whose dimensions are 190 x 310 x 80 mm. The various elements that could condense are isolated.
The tank is also easily identifiable, with a capacity of 9 liters. The transparent plastic tube on the back of the chiller allows you to judge the liquid level. You’ll need to keep a close eye on this level to see if a top-up is necessary, or to ensure that the circuit is perfectly sealed.
The thermostat is an Elitech T-503 and the gas used in the chiller is R134a. We’re going to look on the internet for information about the thermostat to see if it’s possible to access the advanced settings.
Let’s finish with a photo of the pump and the Y which will allow you to drain your liquid via the rear of the chiller. As we said, the internal design is clean and the welds well executed.
