Tecoponic HY500

The Tecoponic HY500 cools volumes up to 500 litres of nutrient solution. That figure deserves explaining, because it is not an absolute limit but a result tied to one specific set of conditions.

Where the 500 litres comes from

Tecoponic quote the volume under three conditions, stated openly in the specification: a water temperature of 20 °C, an ambient temperature of 30 °C, and a thermal load of 0.5 watts per litre. Change any of the three and the volume this machine can hold changes with it.

In practice: if your tank sits in a room that climbs past 30 °C, the HY500 no longer manages 500 litres. If you want to cool below 20 °C, likewise. And if your setup puts more heat into the water than half a watt per litre, because a heavy pump runs in the tank continuously or the reservoir stands in the light, that counts directly against you.

How to reckon this honestly

Work from your worst day, not your average. The hottest week of the year decides whether your chiller copes, and that is exactly the week things go wrong if it is undersized. If your tank volume sits close to the ceiling, or your room passes 30 °C in summer, the model above is the safer choice.

The reverse holds too: anything that lowers the heat load raises the volume this chiller can handle. A lid on the tank, insulation underneath, the tank out of the direct light, and a circulation pump no heavier than necessary. All of that is cheaper than buying a size up.

What you get

A digital thermostat with water temperature readout, adjustable from 18 to 22 °C. Compressor cooling on R134a with the condenser integrated into the housing, which leaves little to maintain. Inlet and outlet with 3/4 inch threads and hose connectors for 16 millimetre tubing. Designed and built in Italy.

An external pump is required and not supplied; reckon on a flow of 400 to 800 litres per hour.

Technical Specifications:

• Cools up to: 500 litres of solution, at 20 °C water, 30 °C ambient and 0.5 W/litre heat load
• Adjustable range: 18 to 22 °C
• Electric cooling: 220 watts
• Supply: 230 V, 50 Hz
• Refrigerant: R134a
• Required water flow: 400 to 800 litres per hour
• Air flow: 160 m³ per hour
• Connections: 3/4 inch thread, 16 mm hose
• Dimensions: 310 x 310 x 420 mm (w x d x h)
• Weight: 16.5 kg
• External pump: required, not supplied

Frequently asked questions

Will it really cool 500 litres? Under the stated conditions, yes. In a hotter room or at a higher heat load the usable volume is lower.

What is thermal load? The heat entering your tank per litre, from the room, the lighting and any equipment sitting in the water. Tecoponic reckon on half a watt per litre.

When should I take the HY1000 H? When your tank approaches the ceiling, your room exceeds 30 °C in summer, or a lot of heat goes into the water.

Can I set it below 18 °C? No, 18 °C is the thermostat's lower limit. For a nutrient tank that is comfortably low enough.