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My DIY cooler is pretty basic.
25 liter tank and a pony pump; no heat exchanger yet.
The pump output is just a little over 1 liter/minute @ 15 psi. I used this particular pump because A- I had it, and B- it's compact.
This output however, seems to me to be on the low side, so my question is:
What is the maximum allowable exit water temp, @ 1 liter/minute, for the PP256 water cooled torch ?
Thanks,
rivets
The maximum exit water temperature is at the point when the torch handle becomes so hot you don't want to hold it anymore. There is no magic number for that exit water temp (tap water @ 105 degrees is comfortable, 140 degrees is too hot to wash your hands with). You have a 5 gallon tank that's 2 1/2 times a store bought cooler. That should do nicely even with out a heat exchanger, if not go to a larger pump or a larger tank or add a radiator & fan. Until you have tried it, you don't really know that you have a problem. I think you will be okay just as you are.
My guess is the max water temperature will have to do with the melting point of the torch's water jacket and cable insulation.
Thank you gentlemen.
rivets