What constitutes short-cycling in a chiller

[ca1ore]

Perhaps there is no single answer, but I was curious if anyone knows what constitutes short-cycling in a chiller? Clearly if a unit is on for a minute then off for a minute that’d be short-cycling. How about on for 10 off for 10? Perhaps it’s one of those ‘I cannot define it .... but know it when I see it’ things.

 

[Lasse]

Perhaps there is no single answer, but I was curious if anyone knows what constitutes short-cycling in a chiller? Clearly if a unit is on for a minute then off for a minute that’d be short-cycling. How about on for 10 off for 10? Perhaps it’s one of those ‘I cannot define it .... but know it when I see it’ things.

A chiller that relay on a compressor should not be used in short cycles - the compressor need to work for at least 30 minutes every cycle (the pause is not as important). For the health of the compressor - longer runtime the better survival time

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ingchr1]

A number I've heard often for refrigeration is a ten minute off time.

 

[ca1ore]

I decided that it was an ‘unfair’ question to pose of the community so I called the chap that makes the chiller. If it were not my thread, that would have been my advice to the OP . Anyhow ...... thoroughly nice guy to chat with. He said, for this chiller, no more than 10 on/off cycles per hour. I’m at about three or four so good to go.