Okay so when I installed my chiller I didn’t get to put clamps on the two outlets on the chiller side(got them on the laser side) so to avoid a catastrophe iv been cutting it off but I know that’s not great for the laser so I’m going to add some this weekend but the million dollar question is how do I disconnect it without flooding my workspace? I know there’s a drain but to drain it I need to unhook it
Without knowledge of the chiller’s hydraulic scheme or how it is assembled (photograph for example) it is very difficult to help.
The principle will always be this: The liquid comes out through the lowest side and the air enters through the highest side.
If you have to change the hoses it will be easier than if you have to use them.
What kind of clamps are you adding that require you to disconnect the lines? Are you unable to use plain old worm gear hose clamps (that you can just thread all the way out to put around a hose)?
Personally, my chiller arrived damaged in transit, so I had to open it up to replace some plumbing. I installed a nice ball valve as a new drain fitting, which lets me easily drain it in place, although I really ought to add a dedicated drain hose to make it easier on future-me.
The chiller should have a drain plug near the bottom of the reservoir, but it’s probably at floor level right now, just like mine. That lets you drain the chiller reservoir and, perhaps, most of the laser tube in one go.
If so, hoist the chiller onto a sturdy box with the drain plug sticking out over the side, deploy a bucket, grab a thick towel, unscrew the plug, and let 'er drain into the bucket while catching random drips with the towel. Then clamp the hoses at the chiller, pull them off the chiller, unclamp, and drain whatever’s left in the tube into the bucket.
If the chiller doesn’t have a drain plug, I’d clamp both hoses at the chiller, hoist the chiller onto the same box above the bucket, unplug the hoses at the chiller, drain the chiller, then unclamp the hoses with their ends in the bucket to drain the laser tube. The towel will definitely come in handy.
Putting a tee in the lowest tube near the chiller, with a valve on the tee, might simplify the whole process next time.
On my 5200 series chiller, the coolant is in the good range and it leaves me plenty of room to hold the coolant in the tube.
I just loosen the tube, undue the output (cathode end) and hold that end of the tube up, it drains back into the reservoir of the chiller. Than I can do what needs to be done.
5200 series chiller user and maintenance manual.
Clamps can be opened so there is really no need to drain the system.
On my third tube… been there, done that …
I actually ended up using those style clamps! Thanks for the tip haha