Icebox worth it ? and also it's installation to ship batteries.

[Houman]

I'm about to buy an Icebox portable AC for my plane and was wondering if the electrical installation to the plane's batteries are really required or easy.

I personally rather not connect anything not needed to the plane's electric system, and speciallly in the Rocket, the batteries are at the very back of the plane just before the rudder. It was part of the Rocket mod to balance the Aircraft because of heavier engine.

So wondering what have people done with their IceBox and is it even worth the price for a kit... It runs into more than 1/2 Amu for the kit.

Thanks for sharing any real experience with the Icebox, I have read trough some posts about it here, but nothing that much on the actual electrical connection.

[chrisk]

I have an ice box AC with an external battery.  I dump ice in it and run it while I pre-flight, which is why the external battery is useful.   Once the plane is up in the air, I don't really see a need for running the AC. 

 

As a point of reference.  I live in Texas and use the ice box cooler about 1 to 2 months a year.  An example was this last weekend.   The high was 102 (39 for a Canadian), not a cloud in the sky, and leaving at 6pm after the plane had been sitting on the ramp for 6 hours.    The ice box AC made a huge difference. The plane goes from intolerable to useable.   It's worth every penny when waiting for your IFR release in conditions like this.

 

With that said, if the sky is cloudy or its early morning (lows are around 80 this time of year), I don't use the ice box.  It's not worth the hassle for a few minutes of discomfort.  --But I might feel different if I had my plane sitting on the ramp, heating up from the minute the sun rises.

 

Edit: by external battery, I mean a portable auto jump starter with a cigarette lighter port.  They are available for under $100 and last more than an hour.  --and it works while you pre-flight, which is when you want to run the AC.

[KSMooniac]

I ran a harness from my battery into the baggage compartment for my battery tender. It is a common 2 prong plug, fortunately. I then found a 12v cigarette receptacle with the corresponding 2 prong plug, and simply plug it into my harness when I need to use the icebox cooler. Works great.

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[dlmorris]

I recently bought the B-Cool Ice Box (Top rated by Aviation Consumer). Ran the power cord forward behind the interior side panels to a cigar lighter plug behind my panel with an on-off switch that is reachable in flight. I introduced a disconnect plug in the rear baggage compartment so I can remove the unit without pulling all the wire out. Unlike others here I run the unit off of the ship battery while pre flighting the plane. The concord battery (12V) seems to tolerate the 3.5 Amp drain with no problems at startup. Flew to Houston Hobby earlier this week. Spent 20 minutes at the FBO with the unit running in the cabin on the ramp (102 in the shade). When I boarded, cabin was comfortable and engine started right away. Use block ice for longer service. Use cubes for quicker cooling. Use both for optimum results.

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[carusoam]

DL,

Do you have a one or two battery electrical system?

I am pretty impressed if you can reliably use a battery to start cooling your plane for 20 minutes and then follow that up with starting the plane from the same battery.

This would be an example case for Concorde.

Or did I miss-understand something?

-a-

[Yetti]

Recently built on for about $75 in parts.   Got to use it last evening.   It was in the 100s in Texas.  Small refrigerator in the hanger with ice packs in the freezer section.   For a battery you can get a couple Sealed Lead Acid 7 amp hour at home depot by the security lights section.  Charge them with a 12volt DC wall wart.   12volt cigerett lighter with wires from autoparts house will have the spade lugs that connect to the top of the battery.  Should run it till you get up to altitude.   

 

 

 

Went for a dinner flight and was able to keep my shirt dry.   Very much worth it.

[Yetti]

I just noticed in the top picture is the old UPS that I charge my battery pack with.  I could get fancy with plugs, but I just use alligator jump wires

[Houman]

Well I don't see much need to run the cooler much longer after liftoff, I mean usually I get very decent cooling by the vents, so it is mostly for pre-flight, taxi and after landing...

 

So I think the 90 min battery that comes with the Icebox kit should be good enough, or if I can run a wire and plug it into the cigarette lighter, that would be ok, as long as there is no permanent wiring.

[carusoam]

Y,

Need a plastic sheet to separate your airflow from your water....?

This would help minimize the excess moisture being pushed into the plane...

Best regards,

-a-

[ryoder]

Buy the bekool. It is awesome.

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[Piloto]

Another option is the cooling vest.

The lawn care guy uses one with pockets for ice packs. 

 

José

[Deb]

I'm about to buy an Icebox portable AC for my plane and was wondering if the electrical installation to the plane's batteries are really required or easy.

I personally rather not connect anything not needed to the plane's electric system, and speciallly in the Rocket, the batteries are at the very back of the plane just before the rudder. It was part of the Rocket mod to balance the Aircraft because of heavier engine.

So wondering what have people done with their IceBox and is it even worth the price for a kit... It runs into more than 1/2 Amu for the kit.

Thanks for sharing any real experience with the Icebox, I have read trough some posts about it here, but nothing that much on the actual electrical connection.

This thread may help...

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/5710-arctic-air-conditioner/page-2

[Amelia]

I've had a cooler for 30 years: it's called a turbocharger. It takes about ten minutes to cool things off, and in ten more, I'm pulling on just a little cabin heat.

[Yetti]

There is a big temptation to skip the check list and get the big fan going fast.

[triple8s]

Another option is the cooling vest.

The lawn care guy uses one with pockets for ice packs. 

 

José

Like the ones on Dune ????

[Yetti]

Y,

Need a plastic sheet to separate your airflow from your water....?

This would help minimize the excess moisture being pushed into the plane...

Best regards,

-a-

-a-

 

These are a buck or so at wally world.   So no Ice needed.   5 of them lasted about 20 minutes in 100 plus heat.

 

[dlmorris]

DL,

Do you have a one or two battery electrical system?

I am pretty impressed if you can reliably use a battery to start cooling your plane for 20 minutes and then follow that up with starting the plane from the same battery.

This would be an example case for Concorde.

Or did I miss-understand something?

-a-

I have a 12v one battery system. The Concord battery is a big part of the solution. After years of replacing Gill batteries I finally saw the light and bought a concord. Never looked back. Other important issues are: plane flies regularly (175 hours yearly). If in the hangar, it's plugged into a quality battery minder. The engine is equipped with two 80 amp alternators so power to run everything is never an issue even at low RPM.

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[slowflyin]

I use Bob's B-cool  and run it off of my battery minder pig tail in the luggage compartment.  On a really hot day I leave the sun shades up and turn it on via the key-chain remote while I pre-flight...pay for fuel...head call......  I is remarkable what a difference it makes.   Without the sunshades it works pretty well with the cool air blowing on the back of my neck but when it is really hot I recommend the shades.  Leaving the rear shades up at least during taxi also makes a huge difference.   No buyers remorse here!