BajaNomad - Cheap air conditioner

Cheap air conditioner

Keri - 7-2-2014 at 01:41 PM

Check it out Looks like it would work for some of our Baja places. http://www.truthandaction.org/super-easy-diy-make-454-air-co... :yes:

Timinator - 7-2-2014 at 02:06 PM

Is the inner Styrofoam bucket just to insulate the frozen gallon jug better?

Russ - 7-2-2014 at 03:48 PM

That is way cool! :yes:

Hook - 7-2-2014 at 05:23 PM

I have never seen one of those styro buckets that would fit in a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Has anyone else?

This might have application for anyone (like me) who has a loud, a/c unit in their truck camper. I think I would have to use several small "blue ice" modules since my camper freezer is not large. But it might be a quiet A/C unit for sleeping at night.

[Edited on 7-3-2014 by Hook]

wessongroup - 7-2-2014 at 07:01 PM

Super ... thanks

vandenberg - 7-2-2014 at 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
I have never seen one of those styro buckets that would fit in a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Has anyone else?

This might have application for anyone (like me) who has a loud, a/c unit in their truck camper. I think I would have to use several small "blue ice" modules since my camper freezer is not large. But it might be a quiet A/C unit for sleeping at night.

[Edited on 7-3-2014 by Hook]

Wouldn't be too hard to glue some soft styrofoam to the bucket's inside, even 3 inch will work.

Timinator - 7-2-2014 at 08:47 PM

Home Depot sells some 2-part foam that may work really well making a lining for the inside of the pail. Even a used water cooler would work great too. I actually have a couple of those, I may try making one. Great idea. Thanks for the link/video.

BajaRat - 7-2-2014 at 08:55 PM

Sounds like a 12 volt camping luxury I'd like to play with........... Thanks great post :cool:

wessongroup - 7-2-2014 at 10:07 PM

Let us know what ya get together ... pretty cool

[Edited on 7-3-2014 by wessongroup]

Robertofox - 7-3-2014 at 08:43 AM

Hey.....I got an Idea!!!!! Instead of a bucket and foam, use the old small cooler that we all have. I know I've got at least two of them in the garage. I'll let ya know later as to how well it works.

boe4fun - 7-3-2014 at 09:07 AM

What a great idea - I'm gonna make one for use in my junker Alaskan camper, that is, when I'm on the Cortez side.

micah202 - 7-3-2014 at 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaRat
Sounds like a 12 volt camping luxury I'd like to play with........... Thanks great post :cool:

...umm,,you've got a 12v icemaker that'll keep up? :wow:

Done_Deal - 7-7-2014 at 05:12 PM

Here is another version - 12 volt

https://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?t=33842

Floatflyer - 7-16-2014 at 06:08 PM

Ok, I got all excited when I first saw this hillbilly a/c unit so I have built one. Today was the trial run and it failed totally. With a bucket and 1/2" of a foam sheet lining the inside of the bucket and the underside of the lid, putting a frozen gallon container of water inside, and turning on my 12 volt fan powered by a brand new battery, I got a very light flow of air out of the 3 vents and I could barely tell the temperature differential between what was blowing out of the bucket and the room temperature. Room temp was about 80 degrees.

Has anybody else built and used one of these?? If so, your results, please. Thanks, FF

wessongroup - 7-16-2014 at 06:22 PM

Thanks for sharing flyer ...

Bob H - 7-16-2014 at 06:55 PM

Thanks Keri... This is interesting !!! I like the cooler alternative setup also...

Kgryfon - 7-16-2014 at 06:56 PM

I built a similar unit and took it to Burning Man a couple of years ago. I did not use freezing water.

I cut circles around the bucket for ventilation. I lined the inside of the bucket with the same material used in swamp coolers. I used a solar-powered underwater pump and aquarium hose to keep the swamp-cooler material wet. I hooked the fan to a deep-cycle boat battery and hooked that to a solar panel. My fan blew in reverse of the one pictured - it sucked air in, went through the swamp cooler material, and out through a dryer vent hose I connected to the lid (the fan was located in the lid as well, just turned backwards).

It actually worked pretty well - cooled off some folks that were in danger of heat stoke. You could point the hose right at your face (or where ever you needed it most

), or close off a small area and cool it down a few degrees.

I'm not saying it lowered the temp by 20 degrees or anything, but it was noticable and very welcome in the desert. And all solar powered. And used grey water (treated with bleach) so it was very "Leave No Trace."

Kgryfon - 7-16-2014 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Done_Deal
Here is another version - 12 volt

https://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?t=33842

Yes! This is where I got the plans for the one I built! Fellow Burner?