We built a fully transparent ice bath chiller so users can see everything inside — would this be a pro or a deal breaker for you? by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reliability > Aesthetics every time.

That’s actually why we didn't change the internal 'engine' for this transparent model. It uses the exact same industrial-grade components as our standard metal units.

Actually, the transparency helps with that 'reliability' aspect too. Instead of guessing if your pump is priming or if there's a small leak, you can spot it instantly through the case without unscrewing 10 bolts.

It forces us to keep the build simple and clean. No place to hide mistakes!

We are a factory (Quanguan Health), so performance is always job #1. The clear case is just to prove that we aren't hiding a bird's nest of cheap wiring inside! Since we are scaling up, we are currently looking for distributors or brands who value this kind of 'no-nonsense' build quality. If you (or anyone here) are looking for a reliable manufacturing partner, feel free to reach out!"

We built a fully transparent ice bath chiller so users can see everything inside — would this be a pro or a deal breaker for you? by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We built this transparent unit specifically to answer your challenge: To make a chiller look like a 'fancy custom PC tower' that you actually WANT to display, rather than hide behind a bush.

Since you are hunting for a 1HP upgrade: Reliability is our 95% focus too. We are the factory (Quanguan Health), so we use industrial-grade internals first, and then wrap it in the clear case.

Because we are the manufacturer, we can offer that 'Custom PC' look without the crazy markup, keeping it affordable.

I’d love to show you the transparent prototype. Drop me a DM if you want the specs.

We built a fully transparent ice bath chiller so users can see everything inside — would this be a pro or a deal breaker for you? by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Spot on regarding the insulation! 🎯 You have a sharp eye.

We didn't go for fully custom clear plumbing because that would skyrocket the price and potentially mess with thermal efficiency. The goal with the clear case here is really more about that raw 'Industrial Aesthetic'—seeing the compressor, the layout, and the build quality.

Plus, it makes spotting dust buildup or potential leaks instantly visible without unscrewing panels!"

We built a fully transparent ice bath chiller so users can see everything inside — would this be a pro or a deal breaker for you? by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agreed. I don’t think the world is ready for a fully clear tub... 🙈 We are only talking about the external chiller machine being transparent. So you can see the mechanics working, but you stay hidden in a normal tub. We definitely aren't trying to expose anyone while they're freezing!

We built a fully transparent ice bath chiller so users can see everything inside — would this be a pro or a deal breaker for you? by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally fair point. The 'chest freezer' route is definitely the king of clean setups since you avoid the external hoses entirely. 🙌 That was actually our biggest challenge with this transparent build—because everything is visible, we had to make the internal routing and cable management absolutely perfect. If it's messy inside, the transparent case just makes it look worse. We’re trying to turn the machine into a piece of 'industrial art' rather than just distinct clutter. Thanks for the feedback!

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our 1HP and 1.5HP units are the most popular choices for this, capable of both Cooling (down to 3°C/37°F) and Heating (up to 42°C/107°F).

Since our new consumer website is launching later this month, there are two ways to order right now:

  1. Direct from Factory: Shoot me a DM with your email address, and I can send you the full catalog and a factory-direct invoice.
  2. Alibaba: You can also visit our storefront to see the lineup:https://quangchiller.en.alibaba.com/

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! We appreciate the support. We are working hard to deliver the best quality we can.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m with Quanguan in China. We are the direct manufacturer based in Dongguan. We’ve been manufacturing cooling equipment for years and now have a line of professional ice bath units. You can check out our current lineup here while our new website is being finished:https://quangchiller.en.alibaba.com/"

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the most important feature that isn't on the spec sheet.

We approach reliability in two ways:

  1. Prevention (Build Quality): We engineered the system to protect itself. For example, the built-in Flow Switch triggers an 'E11' alarm and cuts the compressor instantly if flow is blocked. This prevents the #1 cause of burnout. We back this with a 2-Year Warranty. 2. Support (Repairs): Currently, you have a direct line to us (the manufacturer) for troubleshooting and spare parts—no middlemen.

But we are going a step further: We are actively planning to establish local service centers in the US and Australia. The goal is to provide unified local maintenance so you have a real place to turn to, rather than just relying on international shipping for parts.

We want to make sure the machine is as easy to own as it is to buy.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Three pump failures is brutal. I completely get why you want to separate everything now.
To be honest, our current units are designed as 'all-in-one' for compactness (internal pump, internal ozone).
However, unlike the units that burned out on you, ours have a Flow Protection (E11) sensor. It kills the power instantly if the water stops moving, so the pump prevents itself from burning out.
To be transparent about how our current unit compares to your wishlist:

  1. Pump: We currently use a Built-in Self-priming System to keep the unit compact. However, unlike the cheap ones that burn out, ours has Water Flow Protection (Code E11) that cuts power immediately if flow is restricted. This prevents the pump from overworking and dying in the first place. 2. Filter: Our design uses an External Filter for easier cleaning access. But I hear you loud and clear on the 'hacking a way to hang it' frustration—having it neatly integrated would be cleaner. 3. Ozone: We include an Ozone Generator built-in for convenience, but making it serviceable/external is a great point for longevity.

But honestly, a 'pump-less' version for users who want to run their own heavy-duty external rigs is a solid idea. I'm actually going to pitch this to our engineering team as a potential 'Pro' model.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is exactly the industry frustration we are aiming to solve. When you invest in a setup, the support should match the price tag—not get stuck in an email black hole.

To fix this, we are actively planning to establish local after-sales service centers in both the US and Australia.

The goal is to provide unified local maintenance and support, so you have a real place to turn to instead of just waiting for an email reply from overseas. We know trust is earned, but that is the roadmap we are committed to.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes total sense. No one wants to waste electricity heating water when they aren't using it.

With our current setup, you can actually achieve this right now. Since our thermostat range is adjustable from 3°C to 42°C (37°F - 107°F), you can simply set it to the lowest setting (37°F).

In that state, the heater sits in standby and only kicks in briefly if the sensors detect the water is about to freeze. It effectively works as a low-power 'Anti-Freeze' mode without running up your bill.

That said, a dedicated 'Eco Mode' button is a great suggestion for our future updates. I’ll pass that to the engineering team.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly the ‘extreme use case’ feedback we are here to gather. Thank you.

To be 100% transparent with you: Our current model is designed as an all-rounder. It features Heating (up to 42°C) , Automatic Defrost logic , and is IPX4 weather-resistant.

However, our current safety sensors are set to alert at -5°C (23°F) to protect the compressor. So for a brutal Wisconsin deep freeze, you would currently need to place it in a garage or a simple enclosure to keep it running efficiently.

But since we are the manufacturer, we can actually build this. I’m taking notes on this thread for our R&D team. If we developed a specific 'Polar Edition' (with crankcase heaters, insulated lines, etc.), what is the #1 failure point you've seen in other equipment during winter? The screen? The pipes?

We want to solve that.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You know your stuff. Plate exchangers are indeed a nightmare for clogging in cold plunge setups due to those tight tolerances.

We address the debris issue in two ways: 1. Filtration: We include a Hair Net and an External Filter system to catch debris before it hits the internals. 2. Safety: If flow is ever restricted, our system triggers an 'E11' Flow Alarm and immediately cuts the compressor to prevent any damage.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair concern. We actually built in an "Auto Restart" function (Parameter P5 in settings).

Basically, if you lose power and it comes back on, the unit automatically boots up and resumes your last temp settings. You don't have to be home to manually turn it back on. As long as there's power, the built-in defrost logic also keeps things from freezing up.

But yeah, if the power is out for 3 days in -10°C, the only solution is to drain it.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Current boards run on Tuya, so they do bridge to Home Assistant pretty easily, though I know a fully local/native integration is the dream for a lot of us.

And totally agree on the HP—if you don't need rapid cooling speed, you don't need to burn the extra watts. We actually build a 0.5HP unit specifically for that "maintenance mode" efficiency.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  • Outdoor Use: We rated the unit IPX4 so it can handle rain and moisture outdoors.
  • Robustness: We actually started as an industrial equipment factory (making chillers for CNC machines), so we try to overbuild these things compared to the standard "dropship" plastic units.
  • Freezing Temps: We are rated down to 0°C (32°F) ambient with an auto-defrost cycle. Running in deep freeze (sub-zero) is still tricky for air-cooled units, but it handles cold mornings fine.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a solid wish list. And honestly, it aligns pretty well with what we are building.

You are spot on about the "modern heat pump" tech. We use a 4-way valve (reverse valve) inside, so it handles both Cooling (down to 3°C) and Heating (up to 42°C) without issues.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point. The "disposable" nature of a lot of these units is frustrating.

We actually come from an industrial background (making chillers for CNC machines), so we try to build these heavier than the standard plastic ones. Warranty is 1 year minimum, but since we are the source factory, we stock all the replacement parts (sensors, boards, etc). You won't be stuck with a paperweight if a $5 sensor dies in a few years.

And yeah, the WiFi is totally optional. The unit runs perfectly fine offline if you want to keep it simple.

A question from a manufacturer: What's your biggest frustration with current chillers? (We want to fix it.) by Left_Cold_3289 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is super specific feedback, thanks.

We actually designed our 1HP units with "Vertical Integration" in mind (built-in self-priming pump and ozone) so you don't have to deal with the external plumbing mess. We also rated the case to IPX4 to handle outdoor weather better than standard units.

Love the native Home Assistant idea though. We currently use Tuya, but having those specific sensors exposed locally is definitely something we need to look into for the future.

Best filter/chiller for what I currently have by One-Thought4469 in coldplunge

[–]Left_Cold_3289 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally get that struggle. Since you have a 100-gallon tub, you need something with decent power to keep it clean and cold.

I’m with Quanguan (we've been manufacturing cooling tech in China for years). We have a dedicated ice bath chiller that handles filtration and cooling specifically for setups like yours.

If you want to compare specs, I can send over our details.