rorythedog Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 has anyone had any experience with the kooleraire, or any portable air conditioner? i just ordered one and am excited to try it. Quote
Dale Posted March 2, 2011 Report Posted March 2, 2011 Yes. I have used one for years. Originally got it for use at my house when the electric went out and you could run the Kooleraire on batteries. It would cool a room down if it wasn't too big. It doesn't cool large rooms but does a real nice job of cooling smaller spaces such as inside cars and small planes. If you set it up right, with the frozen water bottles or blue ice it will work really well. I have had some friends put some dry ice in the bottom to keep the frozen water bottles frozen. I understand that using dry ice is not recommended, however, my friends say it works for them. Don't know if I would want to use dry ice under any circumstances where that evaporated mist is being circulated. Quote
clh Posted March 2, 2011 Report Posted March 2, 2011 I for sure would not use dry ice. here is too much of a chance for asphyication. I have a homemade one from plans someone posted on the internet. Total for parts was about $50. Do some surfing and you can find it. Be sure it uses a heat exchanger, just blowing air over ice will cause condensation in the cabin in soupy environments like Houston. (don't ask just trust me) It works quite well. i also use a portable battery pack to power it, so it does not interfer with the ships power. With 10 lbs of ice it will cool for about 1.5 hrs. I ususally start it when I begin my preflight and it is comfortably cool in the cabin when time to startup and taxi. Quote
piperpainter Posted March 2, 2011 Report Posted March 2, 2011 Wow.....this does the same thing but at a higher rate....but the price holy cow the difference http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/cockpitcooler_100_28v.php I think I am going to buy one of these Kooleraire's!! Dale, How long does the ice usually last?? Thanks! Quote
DonMuncy Posted March 2, 2011 Report Posted March 2, 2011 Has anyone done any testing or calculation on how much carbon dioxide is placed in the cabin with the sublimation of dry ice. I don't claim to have any real knowledge, but my guess would be that the carbon dioxide output of an additional passenger breathing might be as much as x amount of dry ice. Don Quote
piperpainter Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 Quote: DonMuncy Has anyone done any testing or calculation on how much carbon dioxide is placed in the cabin with the sublimation of dry ice. I don't claim to have any real knowledge, but my guess would be that the carbon dioxide output of an additional passenger breathing might be as much as x amount of dry ice. Don Quote
rorythedog Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Posted March 3, 2011 Quote: Dale Yes. I have used one for years. Originally got it for use at my house when the electric went out and you could run the Kooleraire on batteries. It would cool a room down if it wasn't too big. It doesn't cool large rooms but does a real nice job of cooling smaller spaces such as inside cars and small planes. If you set it up right, with the frozen water bottles or blue ice it will work really well. Quote
John Pleisse Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 How guys, how much noise does it make? Louder than say, your ac unit in your car? Vibration? just wondering. I have a need for one, but in a near silent application..... Quote
piperpainter Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 It must be pretty quiet since its basically a computer fan! You know I figure you would want to close the vents once its going otherwise you'll let all the hot air in an cold air....well any cold air would be overcome! Quote
MARZ Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 If you are the handy type you can build one of these (I did) Bilge pump from academy - bilge blower from any online source (I used a 4" but a 3" would work good as well) - any heater core or old ac evaporator from a bone yard a cooler and something to make the blower housing. A rocker switch and cigarette lighter plug. If you want to go portable or keep lighter plug open - a 12v alarm battery or one that is used in larger computer uninterrupted power supplies. An afternoon of putzing in the garage and you have a custom built cooler for around $120. After I wired everything up and bench ran it, the fan and pump pulled a bit less than 4Amps. I tested mine in my Tahoe on a hot August morning in Houston before I went in the air with it - half full of ice (5 lbs) and a bit of water cooled the Tahoe down as well as the normal ac and kept it comfortable for my 45 minute ride to work. By the time I parked the ice was pretty much just cold water, but then again the "cabin space" of the Tahoe is a bit larger than the plane and I only had half as much ice in it than it would hold. Quote
Piloto Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 Forget the hassle, get four of these. They are cheap elegant and work all the time. Ladies love them. José Quote
piperpainter Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 Quote: Piloto Forget the hassle, get four of these. They are cheap elegant and work all the time. Ladies love them. José Quote
thinwing Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 I must be gettin old!!!I just can imagine luggin a heavy ice filled cooler on a 100 degree day!!!I think it would be faster to just run through a lawn sprinkler!!!..kpc Quote
thinwing Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 You know...you guys might be on to something..(i am getting tired of lawn sprinklers)I notice the unit on the website is 12 volt...the thing is i need 24volt operation.I have lots of spare coolers,a 24 volt 4 in computer fan....so I need a pump to circulate water through a little radiator to act as heat exchanger???Thats it???...kp couch Quote
fantom Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 kpc...do you mean to tell us you don't have A/C in that otherwise wonderfully tricked out Bravo??? Quote
thinwing Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 Gary...nope...no a/c Im afraid.Fortunately natures air conditioning at alitude is pretty effective(brrrrrr).KPC Quote
MARZ Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 Quote: thinwing You know...you guys might be on to something..(i am getting tired of lawn sprinklers)I notice the unit on the website is 12 volt...the thing is i need 24volt operation.I have lots of spare coolers,a 24 volt 4 in computer fan....so I need a pump to circulate water through a little radiator to act as heat exchanger???Thats it???...kp couch Quote
fantom Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 For about $10 get a neck cooler....just Google it. Crystals inside these wraps absorb water and keep your neck cool for hours, through evaporation. Will keep you comfortable until you get your big nose fan started, and get a little altitude, plus a lot less maintenance than a $30K A/C, and less trouble and much lighter than a portable ice chest with a tiny little fan. YMMV Quote
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