Can I use a mini fridge?
 

ok this is my plan..... basically all I want to do is chill my reservoir so I wanted to get a mini fridge and put my res inside it with the tubes coming in from the side of the fridge. i'll also have a rad but it'll be outside the fridge. do you think this could work?

If you put your rad outside the fridge, you will be counteracting the cooling going on in the fridge. Conversely, if yu put the rad inside the fridge you run the risk of ruining the fridge. Ever leave the fridge door open for a long time- like a day? It will die. As far as the life cycle of your setup, I think you would do better to go with a refrigeration system that is geared for more constant duty.

Brian W

I agree with Brian.

Fridges are designed as insulated boxes to maintain goods at a temperature below ambient.

Because of the insulation, the fridge actually has very little capacity to remove heat. (think how long it takes to cool a bottle of wine. Now remember that the water is constantly being heated.

I don't know if you've ever made too much pasta sauce with the intention of freezing some. I put some pots of bologenese sauce into my freezer and ended up defrosting it because the freezer couldn't cope with the heat I'd just put in.

Mini-fridges are just not suited to the job.

8-ball

Take a quick glance at the radiator on the fridge. Then look at a typical watercooling radiator. What will happen if you put your res in the fridge should then be self explanatory.