Homemade Air Conditioner

[isaacpr7]

Another project complete

I was looking for prices on a cooling system for the aircraft when flying during the summer, and came across a few models. The few sites that do sell them are rapidly increasing their prices ($500) as demand escalates. Since I can only stretch my pockets so far, I opted to build my own for a friend for $75 bucks. I'm almost done with the assembly and I will post a picture of the final product. If anyone is interested on building their own, just let me know and I will be happy to help a fellow mooniac

The cigarette lighter connector has an On/Off push button. I found that one new on ebay for $1.24, shipped.

[PaulB]

That's pretty cool.  Where did you find the little radiator?

[isaacpr7]

That's pretty cool. Where did you find the little radiator?

It's a heater core for a '77 VW Jetta Rabbit. You can find it new on Ebay for $26 bucks.

[PTK]

That's great isaacpr7!

If I may make one suggestion, get a good fan that can put out super high air velocity.

The key with these things is cold air at high velocity.

[isaacpr7]

That's great isaacpr7!

If I may make one suggestion, get a good fan that can put out super high air velocity.

The key with these things is cold air at high velocity.

I bought two 4" fans from EBay for $20 that I will be installing side by side. They are rated at 124CFM max, each. I will gives those a shot and if not convinced I will upgrade to something more powerful.

[laytonl]

I suggest something like this for the blower. You need to move a lot of air. These will do the job. Lee

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/shurflo--yellowtail-marine-blowers--P012_362_001_507

[isaacpr7]

I suggest something like this for the blower. You need to move a lot of air. These will do the job. Lee

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/shurflo--yellowtail-marine-blowers--P012_362_001_507

If I'm not satisfied with the amount of air that is coming out of the flexible hose I attached to the lid, I will definitely get one of these to assist more are to come out Thanks for your suggestion. It will be a nice upgrade.

[HRM]

If I may make one suggestion, get a good fan that can put out super high air velocity.

 

My suggestion for the blower, a RoadPro Tornado. Has a variable speed control.

[aviatoreb]

Where are you that you are building airconditioners in Feb?!  Its warming up here too....its going to be 3F tonight which is warmer than -18F last night - but we left our air conditioner off and rand the wood stove instead.

[isaacpr7]

My suggestion for the blower, a RoadPro Tornado. Has a variable speed control.

I like this one too. It has less amp draw than the previous one and has the perfect fit profile for the small cooler I am using.

[isaacpr7]

Where are you that you are building airconditioners in Feb?! Its warming up here too....its going to be 3F tonight which is warmer than -18F last night - but we left our air conditioner off and rand the wood stove instead.

Lmao! Let's put it this way. I have not been able to get into my hangar in over a week because the doors are frozen shut. I am building this for a friend so that he can enjoy it over the summer when while I'm deployed.

[Wesley brown]

I made one of these almost in exact detail . I too ordered a boat ventilation turbo motor. It flows 750 cfm at only .4 amps a hour. It's very efficient and works. I have actually seen the exact fan at o Reilly. Just ask for a boat ventilation fan. It's 4" in diameter.

[isaacpr7]

I made one of these almost in exact detail . I too ordered a boat ventilation turbo motor. It flows 750 cfm at only .4 amps a hour. It's very efficient and works. I have actually seen the exact fan at o Reilly. Just ask for a boat ventilation fan. It's 4" in diameter.

That's awesome! I'm heading towards O'Reilly tomorrow to check it out

Thanks for the lead.

[isaacpr7]

Well here's the final product, minus the fan upgrade that I will do later on.

[Marauder]

Well here's the final product, minus the fan upgrade that I will do later on.

Nicely done. What do you think you have into it for materials?

[isaacpr7]

Chris,

The initial list of materials was just under 75 bucks and I added that flex tube, some hardware, and caulk for a little over 10 bucks.

If I upgrade the fan to the one suggested it will bump it up another 40 bucks or so after shipping. This still beats 500 dollars

[dcrogers11]

Well here's the final product, minus the fan upgrade that I will do later on.

Yours turned out a bit cleaner looking than mine.  I used the marine bilge fan mounted inside the box.  It will fit almost exactly in a 4" PVC crossover connector from Home Depot and puts out a lot of air.  Last year, during my panel and interior upgrade, I added a 12V plug in the luggage compartment and Aux. rocker switch in the panel to turn it off once in cool air.  My next plan is to get the help of my wife and sew a canvas container with an area for the intake and exhaust that matches the interior to hide the DIY look of it.  

 

Don

[goterminal120]

That looks AWSOME Isaac. Now if only you could build an auto pilot that's not permanently installed, with parts off of Ebay, you would be a god.

[isaacpr7]

Yours turned out a bit cleaner looking than mine. I used the marine bilge fan mounted inside the box. It will fit almost exactly in a 4" PVC crossover connector from Home Depot and puts out a lot of air. Last year, during my panel and interior upgrade, I added a 12V plug in the luggage compartment and Aux. rocker switch in the panel to turn it off once in cool air. My next plan is to get the help of my wife and sew a canvas container with an area for the intake and exhaust that matches the interior to hide the DIY look of it.

Don

I was planning on adding the marine bilge fan like the one you have but now that I see your pics I don't think it can fit in the cooler size I selected. The diameter is still good but the attachment point would not fit. Maybe I can come up with another way to attach it though.

[1964-M20E]

The only other suggestion I have is to build a plenum so the air that you are removing heat from does not touch the ice.  This will reduce humidity as well as remove heat.

[isaacpr7]

The only other suggestion I have is to build a plenum so the air that you are removing heat from does not touch the ice. This will reduce humidity as well as remove heat.

I like the idea

[PTK]

The only other suggestion I have is to build a plenum so the air that you are removing heat from does not touch the ice. This will reduce humidity as well as remove heat.

That's a great idea I think. If may even extend the life of the ice a bit.

I would also suggest one more thing. I haven't seen a pic of the interior setup but I think attaching a tubing line to the return on the radiator to chanel the water back to the base of the pump would help extend the ice also. So the returned water doesn't directly drip on the ice.

[aviatoreb]

Lmao! Let's put it this way. I have not been able to get into my hangar in over a week because the doors are frozen shut. I am building this for a friend so that he can enjoy it over the summer when while I'm deployed.

 

:-)  I said it mostly to be funny.  But that's some good positive attitude my friend - when iced out of your hangar then build an air conditioner for the hot summer to come. If life gives you lemons then make lemonade.

[ryoder]

For those of us that have no patience and want a quality product I endorse the bekool product. Google it.

[chrisk]

The only other suggestion I have is to build a plenum so the air that you are removing heat from does not touch the ice.  This will reduce humidity as well as remove heat.

I was to busy to build my own.  I ended up buying the "Ice Box" version.  It's a nice product, but it blows the air over the ice.  I wish it had a plenum.