DIY Ice Cooler Air Conditioner
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- DIY Ice Cooler Air Conditioner. This is a DIY ice cooler air conditioner. It's not a swamp cooler. In this video I show you how to make an air conditioner. Most homemade air conditioners use a fan and Ice to make cold air. This portable air conditioner uses a radiator style cooling system. This cold be a camping air conditioner, overlanding air conditioner, an air conditioner to cool your garage or just about anywhere you need to cool off. For a homemade ac unit, this 12 volt air conditioner works great!
This project can be built for under $100 If you have your own cooler and source Items from Ali or EBAY. When I purchased the items for this video I spent $140 for my build. The exact blower I used Is currently unavailable but the link I have provided Is comparable. I used a 240 cfm fan and In retrospect I could have used less.
The Build
Here is the cost breakdown for this build:
$27 Igloo Cooler (Walmart)
$29 Blower Fan
$12 4” Flange
$10 4”Flex Duct
$13 Water Pump
$8 5/16 Tubing
$19 Radiator
$7 3” Floor Drain Caps (2ct Home Depot)
$15 12v Cigarette Power Cord
$19 PWM Speed Control
$0 Conduit clamps (I had already)
$149 = My cost to build.
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#mrfredsdiy #cooler #airconditioner #airconditioning #diy #overland #camping #campinglife #howto - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
So many different designs and ideas on how to fab these up, I've been taking bits of ideas from different sources. Those drain plugs are excellent for air inlets. I'm making one using copper tubing down in the ice/water compartment, using a separator to keep the ice/water from making contact with the air, then using the pump to send water to the coils and to the radiator up under the lid in a closed loop manner. Still thinking it through but basic idea. Thanks for sharing.
I published a follow up not to long ago where I closed the air system.
th-cam.com/video/YCfmn16QCas/w-d-xo.html
I’m working on a testing video for the unit as well. Thanks for watching!
Before starting any of the holes, you can drill small holes in the lid and use spray foam to inject spray foam into the lid where it will expand and fill the cavity. This negates the need for the rigid foam.
No, the foam isolates the ice from the air chamber to rely on the radiator instead of ambient air. Without that foam, it would certainly be colder, but the ice would melt a lot faster too, so it wouldn't last as long even with a better cooler.
@@user-id9ou2np8g you also couldn't out new ice back in it if the top was sealed with spray foam
@@user-id9ou2np8g Correct but it wouldn't hurt to insulate that lid. Not sure why he didn't do that because you could see all the empty sections when he lifted it after he cut it but definitely need to isolate the two chambers. Good call.
@@CommonCentsRob It also wouldn't help to insulate the lid. The fan is pulling in ambient air through the radiator, so the top air is always going to be hot. However, the gaps could have been smaller in the top foam (maybe add a sealed handle instead of finger holes) and a better cooler would help the ice/water in the bottom.
I look forward to the follow up!
This project was long overdue! I have made a few mods, watch here➡️DIY Ice Cooler Air Conditioner (FAIL)
th-cam.com/video/YCfmn16QCas/w-d-xo.html🟣Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/mrfredsdiy/
This is one of the best designs I've found. Other similar ones put the fan on the intake pushing the air in, and maybe adding a radiator on both intake and exhaust. I wonder if there is a way to somehow run the airflow through a duct but still have it pass through the radiator and cover the duct with ice.
Here is a follow up video for a few mods to the cooler. Thank you for watching. th-cam.com/video/YCfmn16QCas/w-d-xo.html
Yep! Just like with air conditioner units, the more coils you have, the colder the temperature. Also by putting the pump and the fan both on the same switch, it defeated the purpose and ability to get colder air at lower air speeds. If they were not on the same switch, and you still had the pump on high, passing more cold water thru, while turning fan speeds lower, passing with less air, you would get colder air on lower the fan speeds, just like an actual air conditioner. That's why o. The old under the dash units on vehicles they had seperate temp and fans switches 🙂👍
Cool video. I have the same cooler and will be converting mine soon.
Thank you!
Thank you
I need one to work in my truck 😊
Nice air cooler and I’ve made a few of these and just recently bought an icy breeze v2. I use 2 radiators and the air temp coming out of the duct is in the 40 degree range.
I appreciate you watching the video. Two radiator is pretty beefy!
Question.....did the DIY cooler last longer than the icy breeze . In terms of Temps and still frozen ice. Watch alot of videos and It seem that the DIY coolers last for 8 hours while the icy breeze v2 last for only 2 hours before melting
@toyomoma.6841 how long the ice lasts really depends on several factors. I’ve had it last 90 minutes in the garage with an outside temperature of 112°. I’ve had it last half a day camping with the temps in the 80s.
BADASS! My favorite project yet!!!!!!
I’ve been trying to build this thing since last summer. It turned out super clean! Thanks for watching!
Nice!
I was just right thanks for the great instructions in building this. I'm in Brooklyn New York I was thinking of building one myself at the beginning of the heatwave starting the beginning of July. I just never got my act together with the sudden heat wave. It was like 3 weeks of a steady 90+ degree temperature so I never got it. Now the temperature in August is just about 80. I'm still looking to make one. I see it's a simple concept you tood us. My big worry like one of the guys here asked about the submersible pump. Man I'm worried about electrocution if the pump malfunctions is that possible? Most of the pumps I see are all under water. One side of the pump has a grill that takes in water and the as a tube coming out to connect a small hose. What do you suggest? Where to get a pumper tubes on both sides so I can keep it above the water line? What I was hoping to build something mostly stationary. The box we have the speed control and all that wires coming out of it I think it's too much for me to comprehend. Maybe I can do one without. What also confuses me is radiator what do you mean by the radiator? The other videos talk about going into a refrigerator and pulling out the fins that have the metal tubes going through it. is that what you're talkin about? I went to home Depot and picked up l/4 inch 10 foot copper tubing. Which I was going to make into a spiral over a 12in.. but that's not well figured out. Like if you can put the copper tube rap close into a cóne shape and then put it in those 4 or 6-in flexible hoses pushed by the computer or a small fan. That I think would concentrate the coldness into a very confined space while it comes out of that flex hose or those plastic ducks coming out of cooler I don't know it's just some ideas I just need to like work on it instead of just thinking qnd not redesigning and redesigning and notthing gets gets done.. I just turned 72 been getting pretty disorganized very easily so I wish I can get my act together any thoughts please thank you.. take care and stay well
I like this build better than any others I’ve seen. Great job! I do have one question though. Does the pump (being submerged) get warm itself and add to warming up the water? Have you thought about an in-line pump where only the intake tube is below the water line?
I do not believe that the pump adds in the heat to the water, and if it does, it is minuscule. Thanks for watching.!
Ok how did you find where the holes are for the radiator to screw it down to the lid?
Idk of I am doing something wrong or not but it really isn't blowing out that cold. I decided to build this instead of buying an icy breeze, kinda wish I just bought the icybreeze
Any idea how many watts this uses? I’m debating on converting a window unit for ac but this would be much simpler. Although getting ice for it might be challenging while camping.
I've been freezing gallon jugs it's going to work better then bag of ice that's a good idea I'm going to bill me one too
That’s a good idea! Thanks for watching!
I made one of these (well, really similar, but the same idea, just not as pretty) from another TH-camr, I was really excited to make it too!
As it turned out though, it was a no-go for me here in far Northeast Texas, I assume that you are in Arizona or California since I saw a 'rock yard'. :)
With your lower humidity it might work, but with our higher humidity, it doesn't work at all.
Mine went down only ONE DEGREE F under the room temperature, which was 78 degrees F.
I'm only letting people know that although your build is BEAUTIFUL, and I have zero doubt in my mind about it working for you, it will (probably not) work in states that are more humid.
Just for you people that plan on this, do your homework if you want to make one of these. I spent $50.00+ to find this out.
I have almost the same components that he has here, well, some of them, but the exact principle...
Mr. Fred, I really like how nice you made this, I am not at all knocking what you did, but only mentioning where it will work, or, in my case, not work.
Thanks!
If you had used dehimidifier in the room, would thet have helped?
@@kookia213 More than likely it would. If the dehumidifier was equivalent to the gadget.
The point of these 'air conditioners' though is to make it cheap and operate it cheaply. That kind of negates the point.
I think that for what it is, and where it is used, it's a GREAT thing to have, but not so much in a humid place.
Also, had this gadget worked for me I would have had more than one in different rooms. If I needed a dehumidifier for each of the rooms, well... :)
Not that I would have them all going at the same time, but then again I wouldn't really want to drag all of the things into different rooms either.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for people making these, but people that live in a humid area need to realize that these will 'probably not' work. :)
@@rec1952 how humid are we talking about? 100%, 90%, 80% or above amy other certain %?
@@kookia213 If I said I knew, I'd be lying. :)
Right now, my thermometer shows to be 96 degrees F. I am not sure what the humidity would be right now. I live in FAR Northeast Texas up by the Red River.
In the Summer it's usually anywhere from 50% to 95%, all depending on the time and of day, and some days are better, and some days are worse.
All I know is, when I was a kid we didn't have air conditioners, we had a window water cooler. Those were all that most people knew back then, air conditioners were not common at all.
Even so, I remember many a night that the entire family would sleep in the living room underneath the "cooler'.
I lived around Dallas, Texas my entire life, it was, and is, a lot hooter there than here, and more humid too.
All I know is, I made the contraption and it doesn't work for me at all, I HOPE that I am the only one that has had this.
I mean, it's not like I didn't know there was a chance that it wouldn't work. I had high hopes that it might, even though science doesn't agree as much. :)
In terms of adding moisture to the air, I think that this one will add less than the myriad other ones with air just blowing over ice. Mainly due to the foam and the placement of the radiator. As he stated, the foam keeps the environments separate so most of the air doesn't directly contact with the ice/water. I say the placement of the radiator might help as I'm thinking that to some degree its going to condense some of the water in the air as it cools it and it will drip back down into the cooler. Not saying its going to be perfect, and nothing here is airtight, but perhaps less added humidity than you think.
you could also run 2 radiators 1 large 1 at the bottom and run a closed loop system. And use the ice as radiant cooling as well. The aluminum should stay cooler then just water.
Thanks for watching. Interesting idea! Here’s a follow up videoDIY Ice Cooler Air Conditioner th-cam.com/video/YCfmn16QCas/w-d-xo.html
finally I see one that is done correctly.
Awesome build, thanks! Would an additional radiator on the intake of the blower have much of an effect? What is the make/model of the Infrared Temperature device you're using? Here in Austin, I can't effectively use a swamp cooler for 1/3 of the summer (high humidity). Do you think this build would contribute much humidity?
A second radiator strategically placed might well be more efficient. This unit makes some pretty cold air but I am always thinking about new designs! I recently made a testing video for a few of my designs. You can watch it here.▶️th-cam.com/video/-ssSvss5woE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=B-EnjS70V5SRJbyl
what is the link or name of that adjustable circular tool to drill the big hole? thanks
That is an adjustable hole saw. They can be a little challenging to use. Here is a link amzn.to/3LclpmN
Thank you for link!
I made one but the fan turns off i turn the dial a little past half of the potentiometer. Im not quite sure what the problem is.
Excellent DIY video Mr. Fred. Well done! Please post the answers to my questions under this comment: Your DIY ice cooler air conditioner uses a blower fan and water pump that uses 12 volts direct current instead of 110 volts alternating current; during a hot weather electric utility company power outage ('blackout' or 'brownout'). your 12 volt direct current DIY ice cooler air conditioner can be connected to one or two 12 volt 100 watt portable solar panel(s) (such as Harbor Freight store Thunderbolt brand briefcase 12 volt 100 watt portable solar panel(s) or Rich Solar brand briefcase 12 volt 100 watt portable solar panel) without requiring a solar power inverter, without requiring a solar charge controller, and without requiring a battery power supply as long as the sun is shining on the portable solar panel(s) for the panel(s) to convert sunlight into direct current electrical power, and as long as there is ice available for the igloo ice chest. For indoor and after dark use during a power outage, your 12 volt direct current Ice cooler air conditioner could be powered by either a gas powered electric power generator, or rechargeable lithium ion battery power station. Your DIY ice cooler air conditioner uses a small cold water temperature-to-air transfer radiator to cool the air and therefore, it can be used in an R.V., van, camper, tent, or a room because it does not release moisture into the air (a swamp cooler releases moisture into the air). For indoor use when there is available 110V / 120V alternating current electrical power (when there is no power outage or 'blackout' / 'brownout'), your ice cooler air conditioner can be wired to a 12 volt direct current automobile cigarette lighter power connector plug and plugged into a 110 volt / 120 volt alternating current to 12 volt direct current power inverter available through Amazon.com. My questions: (1) Where can people buy your adjustable drill tool you used to drill the 4" holes in your ice cooler lid, and what is that tool called? (2) Where can people buy your power tool you used to cut / trim your plastic ice cooler lid for the underside of the 4" holes and for cutting the plastic underside of the ice cooler lid for fitting the radiator into the underside of the lid? What is the name and brand of that power tool? It would be interesting to know whether or not your DIY ice cooler air conditioner could be interfaced with a 12 volt peltier thermal electric water chiller such as those used in cold salt water fish aquariums. It would be interesting to know whether or not a 12 volt direct current peltier thermal electric water chiller would be able to chill the water in the ice chest enough to cool the air passing through the radiator of your ice cooler air conditioner after the ice has melted and / or, without ice.
Thanks for checking out the video. To cut the round holes I used an adjustable hole cutter like this one amzn.to/3O2AuqK
The tool I used to cut the square holes was my Rockwell Soinccrafter oscillating tool amzn.to/3HzoKtj. Thanks for watching!
Peltier devices are extremely inefficient, according to a YT video I saw some time ago
Yo.. this thing has a radiator too? Where does the transmission fit in?
I built this cooler step by step how you did with the parts you supplied, minus a few 3d print ed parts I did. But when I turn it on a few minutes of it being on water starts coming through the fan. You think maybe the radiator has a hole? I haven't added plexiglass or styrofoam yet as I was just testing it
It’s possible it has a hole. I’m publishing the follow up video tomorrow. While filming I noticed that if there is humidity there is a ton of condensation. It makes me curious though. Some kind of pressure test might show if you have a leak
I'm in Texas so that condensation build up makes sense
@@beaucopeland243 here is the follow up! Best Homemade Air Conditioner Ever!
th-cam.com/video/ENhpHyx3Xe0/w-d-xo.html
Is thier a parts list and where to buy these parts from the radiator and the pump and also the speed controller thanks great video I want to build one but I don’t know we’re to find the parts
Thanks for checking out the video I will put one together!
Thanks Fred! We are building this to your exact spec over the next few weeks for a camping trip in the hot Texas sun. Any idea on how much power is drawn? Shopping for a portable power method so that this can be ran overnight.
Good luck with your build! I can’t remember the power draw offhand, but I’ll look it up! Maybe I’ll do a power draw testing video with a few different 12volt power sources. I have a 50AH LifePO4 that I used in the project boat for this Friday’s video. I’ll bet that battery would last several hours with the fan on low. That Battery was $169 on Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/B0C49STP5P/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_HKTYRANYMW6EYKZCH5HH?linkCode=ml1&tag=mrfredsdiy-20
Here is a link to the testing video I made last summer. The pump and blower combo when running on high draws 4.25 amps. Hope this helps! ▶️th-cam.com/video/ENhpHyx3Xe0/w-d-xo.html
@@MrFredsDIY Thanks fred! Quick question for clarification, as I am using an online calculator to decide what portable storage to use. Is that 4.5 measured in Amp-hours (Ah) or milliamp-hours (mAh)? Makes a big difference in my shopping choices.
(sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm new at this)
Our build is almost complete! Excited to show it off to you. I'll do a little video.
@thezerohawk how did it work I’m making one right now, worried it won’t be dry air coming out and soak the tent in condensation
I'm assuming the cost for everything, plus labor, is still significantly cheaper than your average window AC unit? What's the energy draw on this unit? Great vid, thanks man
Seems pretty loud, but I'd trade audible discomfort for 10-20 degrees cooler.
Here is a recent testing video for this AC. It has many data points including amp draw. Thanks for watching!
8:22 i built one that goes up to 11.
I have a better idea, why don't you do it then let everyone know how that works out for you. First, you have to learn how to tie your own shoelaces.
Very 😎COOL😎Project!
This thing works great! Thanks for the view!
Can you do something where it can run off a Milwaukee battery or something like that
I built everything to spec but cut the cigarettes lighter adapter and connected a regular plug...wanted to power it thru my 400watt inverter connected to a 12v battery...unfortunately it didn't work and said overload on inverter when I tried to power up...and suggestions on what's wrong ? Or should I reconnect cigarettes adapter again and connect to jump box ?
Regular plug? I used the cigarette lighter plug to power the 12volt blower motor. The 12volt blower that I used will not work powered through a 12Ov plug in an inverter.
awesome project. it does seem like it'll add humidity to the air, though. I wonder if, to compensate, you could make a closed loop system with water filled copper going to the radiator and using that chilled copper to cool the air. Maybe using a coil in the ice water.
Interesting concept, thanks for watching!
For high desert dry this one will wrk thanks
Could you possibly use dry ice to get it cooler? Or is that not possible?
Thanks for watching! My extra with dry ice is that it freezes the ice and water together into a mass.
Would love to buy that cooler off you for sale
Would this be effective for people in the UK.
This thing makes cool air wherever you are! I’m filling a performance testing video this week. Thank you for watching!
@@MrFredsDIY
Really? This will work in any area, even with a lot of humidity, such as Texas?
I'm not arguing at all, but I am curious as to why, or how that can be.
As I mentioned a while back (above) that I did build one, not from your design, but a design that was the same concept, just a different style.
Someone just replied to my earlier statement with a question above, would this would in a humid place "with a dehumidifier?". I said, probably, but from my experience, it doesn't at all without one.
The reason I say this is that people need to realize that these may not work in their area because they could be wasting money on parts. ($50.00 plus in my case)
If you say it does work in humid areas, I want to know how, and why I think that it won't, and if it does work, I need to have one.
I REALLY love the idea and I am not against this at all.
Probably not for people of mainly 10 to 12th-century Anglo-Saxon hereditary. Better for the Yanks with their mix of the gene pool with British, Italians, Germans, Mexicans, French, and of course African extraction populating the country in the 1700s.
@@MonaichFother Well played sir
@@MonaichFother Something a baboon would say…
This thing wont cool ur room right? just facing this towards yourself?
I use it in my garage when I’m working. I point it at me and the air is cold! It will not however, cool the garage. Thanks for watching!
@@MrFredsDIY thanks for the video!! Thats brilliant invention.
Make a coil or hose that the air blows thru and up out the vent !
Like a one inch copper pipe coil ! Even can make it two layers sitting in the ice water and in contact with the ice .
The AC in my car is dead and I'm going to try this instead of spending $1000+ to fix it. I'm going to use ice packs instead of ice cubes and see if that works.
Iv seen systems get to 32 degrees
While the cost of the DYI AC parts my be low the cost of the tools to make it has to be close to $1000.
Maybe close your garage door. Just a thought.
Only problem with all these ice a/c is You gotta consider the Cost of ICE if you on a let say small cabin Boat Cdory or such for a few weeks you gonna burn at least 3 bags of ice a day MIN Ice isnt Cheap especially at Marinas and such u looking at 10 bucks a day just for Ice, Min. gotta weight out all the options.
Then sweat
He sounds like the “How it’s Made” Guy
That is a "cool" idea Fred !!
Can you build me one and I just pay for it
Here are two fun facts:
1. He would have gotten just as much BTUs cooling as if he had just laid a block of ice in the room. Yes, the fan and duxting directs air helps in that direction. But it's the same block of ice.
2. If his ice source, a.k.a freezer is in the same cooled space, he is making his space warmer, not cooler. Reason? A modern fridge is 20-25% efficient: For every BTU of cooling to make ice, your fridge is making 4 BTUs of heat that vents into your cooled space. That means his fridge is making way more heat than the ice is cooling. Move the freezer out of the space (garage) and the science changes a bit.
Pour salt 🧂 on top of the ice. 🧊 You may get some supreme cold temperatures 🌡
Yeah temps below freezing but it melts waay faster too. You only want to use in frozen containers or it will cause corrosion over time.
This is just toooo much work and for someone that does not have the equipment...