*Solid, **Fastly.Cool** and gets the job done. For rooms where window-mounted air conditioning is not an option, this works very well. Easy set up, rapid cooling, and great design.*
After the ice melts (so long as you don't drop rock salt in there) you can recycle the water in the shower system if you have it. Or to wash your hands. Or to wash dishes etc.
Great job. Sure there are a lot of little tweaks. The only minor thing I'd do different is drill the hole and mount the intake air higher so it's not below the water line when the ice melts. Physics says the more surface area the better. That duct work laying in ice water is much better than the ice it self. A cooler works better when the water is contacting the items
I know I'm 3 years late from the time you made this, but I'm doing my research...and Your Video and the DIY AC is the Best. Gonna copy your plan. Thanks guys! Thumbs up. GREAT JOB.
The brilliant part of this is the fact that you separate the ice and air by a physical barrier meaning you are not introducing more moisture in to the air. Yes there will be some condensation inside the duct, but that moisture came from the air, not the ice. In fact if you found a way to gather any water that condenses in the duct you'll actually have created a dehumidifier :)
That's a good point, colin. You should somehow throw a water absorber in to the hose so that it doesn't start breeding legionaires disease in there after a while. ..or use the copper coils, which are already anti-microbial.
If you'd make holes to the duct inside the bucket, wouldn't the condensated water then flow to the bucket... But then there would not be barrier anymore. Do you really need the barrier as long as the content of the bucket is colder than the outside.
If you go with a 9 volt power supply it slows down the fan enough that your air will get colder because it's in the cooler longer. It also reduces your volume. I made a similar unit for my garage with a 120qt cooler, it'll hold ice for about 30 hours.
I have had mine for some time and I also insulated the lid with spray foam and double sided aluminum foil bubble wrap with dry ice and Frozen bottles of water it last a few days
Elsewhere I learned that dry ice is frozen CO2 (carbon dioxide) so best be careful if you're using it inside. Suffocation is bad. Or so the internet told me.
I really like that you gave details about parts like fan and even screw size that most videos don't mention. Appreciate the specific size information you gave on the rest of the parts
Good job Trent! Made one very similar but used 5-gallon bucket with a little styrofoam for insulation and Frozen gallon water bottles instead of bagged ice. If you have the ability to freeze purified gallons they last much longer and you can drink them when they thaw out and don't have to drain the ice chest 👍 really enjoy your Vlog keep them coming! Keep that Frank cool 🐾
I made one like yours but used coiled copper tubing. Yes it is smaller then yours but the reduced air flow gave the ice time to cool down the tubing and keep it cool, plus it also had a lower temp on the output. I had 92 degrees going in and 66 coming out. I just added a thermostat to the power line to turn off when the room reached the set temp (didn't like it too cold). Keep thinking out of the box and enjoy life!
I wish I had made a video of it, maybe on my next build version 3.0 Version 2 I drilled holes in the lid ribs and injected spray insulation in. That added more cooling time with the ice. The copper tubing did change color but so far in the 8 months I've used it, still no corrosion or leaks. I'm thinking on how to make more improvements to my unit, if I do I'll video it from start to finish.
Nifty idea. Another approach is a dog house air conditioner which is about 1500 btu's which is 25% of a 5000 to 6000 btu window unit and uses 75% less electricity. Obviously its only going to cool a tiny space such as a van. Perhaps using one in conjunction with a dehumidifier might also work. When air is dry the environment is far less cold or hot. Also the dehumidifier produces a fair amount of water, probably several gallons per day.
I've already tried to this an it works but I've upgraded an improved this deal. One I built an box around the return of the fan with a grill an home filter on grill an it quiets the fan motor. Two instead of a cooler I took two pieces of styrofoam two inch thick with that aluminum flashing on all sides same as a walk in cooler at a restaurant. An the ice will last two weeks plus I use water to cook with keep hands out an only get water out of spout it stays clean.an by using filter you cleaning air in van.
Great build! I would put the fan inside the cooler. Sure you lose some volume for the ice, but it would be a little quiet and a lot easier to store in tight space.
Thank you Trent for the ice cooler AC info.. ❄️❄️❄️HERE’s A Quick Easy Affordable Idea FOR TEMPORARY While you are building the Ice Cooler AC... for this you will need a bottle of peppermint oil extract, a spray bottle and water. So for example a size spray bottle that is half the amount of a can of soda you will need about half of a teaspoon of oil or slightly more. Remember to shake the bottle every time you spray it. The best zones to spray it on your body is over your ears, a couple of squirts at the very top of your head and rub it in your hair or really your scalp. Your under arms, and back of your knees and inside of your elbows and really all over. My favorite time to apply it After I’ve taken a bath. It seems to really work well after you’ve been sweating and all of your pores are open. I’m telling you you will be freezing, almost to the point of being uncomfortable. Once you get used to what the extreme freezing this will bring on you you may want to only spray it in the above mentioned zones of your body or just a few of them. It really makes a huge difference. You can find oil extract at health food stores and vitamin stores… At the “Vitamin Shoppe” I pay eight dollars for a 1 ounce bottle of PEPPERMINT OIL. I hope this helps someone ❄️❄️❄️
I have done the exact same thing but I put my fan inside(zero noise). At high noon you pretty much want to sit right on the cooler but after you are not directly competing with the sun it will get too cold. Mine came in at $73.00. Ice stays with me for 3 days and I sometimes use it to keep other things cold but not often. I have experimented with salt and dry ice and I don't see much of a difference. I have notice keeping the tubes covered with ice and not draining the water makes it colder longer. It is a great solution that well worth the investment.
TINY HOUSE GREECE I did it and my 72 quart cooler stayed at ~ 54 deg. F for four days. Yes, the ice melts but at a slower rate and the melted ice provides enough of very cold water to surround the aluminum ducting.
I just got done with mine. What I did was cut the 3” hole much higher to avoid leakage. I didn’t cut the hole at the bottom of the cooler. I also used a boring drill tool for the 2 “ hole. It turned out very well.
Trent & Allie I don’t have a van though. I have a large full size RV with 2 full bedrooms kitchen. Movie theatre with movie pop corn. Ha. It has it all. This is DIY air conditioner is exactly what I needed!
This is really a good video man and ma'am...I want to give you a little tip to extend the life of the ice...when in the military (Texas HOT)...to preserve the ice we would fill the container with water after adding the ice...near the top of the ice...then add more ice if available...one more thing...I would put the in/out piping on the lid to preserve the integrity of the ice cooler...you probably ask...why water...when the water reaches the 32 degrees...it WILL NO longer MELT...it will melt some initially...the level will stay the same...ice is water...your level will not rise...adding the intake filter as Harold Gatlin suggested is genius...!!! great job...Ya'll have a great time...Peace and Tranquility...
It cannot de-humudiify. Basic science. It can only humidify....though not to excess. Simple test...look inside the aluminum tube...dry? No, the condensation will go with the flow. The air. Luckily, the tube is corrugated, so much of the moisture is trapped.
@@seedlessgrapes2605 Just experienced...In Thailand we use A/C or dehumidifiers when camping. Relative H being 45 to 90%. (Yucch) I am now in Montana, where it rarely gets to 25%...thus swamp coolers and such are OK. Wise to check the camper environment often. I mentioned 40%...quite neutral for my liking.
This really is great stuff guys, as it's hard to survive in this bloody heat. This video shows what can be done on a limited budget with some DIY work, and shows what a clever young man Trent has proved to be. Cheers, Peter.
very COOL. I did a similar set up a few years ago when I was in the Mid east 130F out. it lasted all day in a Yeti. had it in the back of a Truck we where using, Nice to see your creation of it. Keep up the Great videos.
You probably just saved me a mayor headache. I was brainstorming on a window AC unit. But now I’m going with this. I think I’m using an infinity 6 inch turbine and controller instead of that marine fan. I’m excited. Thanks for that video.
I'd love to know how long it lasts for on a hot day. In general, the more air you push through the faster it will melt the ice, so variable fan speed would be useful. I wouldn't worry about how good the chilli bin (cooler) insulation is, because any coldness that escapes is simply cooling the air around it anyway!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. One tip to save a little $, most thrift shops will have a good sized ice chest for under $10, but it can take a little searching.
In the UK right now we are having an unusually hot heatwave. This doesn't happen too regularly so we don't generally need an air-con unit of any size. This idea of yours is very good but I think it could be improved upon. For a start, if you were to use a narrower guage internal pipe you could; with the use of elbows or U pipes, create other layers of internal piping. this would increase the amount of time the flowing air spends in the ice chamber. Baffles along the inside of the inner pipe would also slow the air again, thus cooling it even more. With regards to the fan. I was thinking of two low watt computer fans, one sucking air in and through the inner chamber and the second one sucking and blowing air out into the room/van. The advantage of computer fans is they run a lot quieter than other industrial ones do. I don't have the funds to build a prototype of this idea, but if anyone lives near Huddersfield and does, get in touch I have hundreds of mad ideas, just no cash. Life eh......
A block of ice melts alot slower than crushed. Pay a block on top of tube if it don't crush it or below the tube! Blocks can lasts for4-5 days! Great job!
Just set the cooler drain out to your fresh water intake for van if you have proper filters , get some high output computer fans $60 each in and one out locations on cooler. Pump this through smaller more coils back and forth. Longer runs, the air has to stay in the ice chest will be colder. I used copper but was for a surveillance van for work.
I've built these and they do work but in my experience the ice doesn't last very long. Yall have very good insulation in the van so will probably have a better experience with it. Can't wait for the followup vid of yalls experience! Good work Trent!
Man thank you so much for bringing up the humidity issue. Im going to build one of these for my dad's 43' boat, and until you brought that to light I was going down the wrong road. Humidity, mold, foul odors are already a constant battle to keep away just because of the existing atmosphere near the ocean. So, thanks again bro!
Uh, Trent, the space you are cooling is all around that ice chest so the insulation factor is not a big deal. The sides of the cooler will help chill the air too. Also, you should try to drain the aluminum air tube every so often as the hot air hitting the inside of the cold duct inside the cooler will cause condensation and the water will collect in the lowest point. You will notice it when the water starts dripping out of the fan on its way onto your table
Having a blast finding older ones..this is very very very great..at home with no AC and similar climate to you...I put a bowl of ice in front of a personal fan in my tiny office room on bad days.this I need for bedroom pefect on those days when late night or early am is not enough to shoot all hot air out.
Kapsul makes the Noria W5, a cool looking 5000 BTU portable and compact (15 kg - 7 inches tall) window style airconditioner which needs about 500 W of power..That should be possible provided enough battery storage capacity and ampel solar power. BTW: having solar power is ironic if you seek airconditioning: you need to be in the full brunt of the sun to generate power and need the cooling of the airco to counter the heat... Possibly the best way to go would be a setup where you could detach the solar powerplant from the roof and set it up away from the (in the shade parked) van.
But the cost goes way up with solar and the large battery bank needed. Yes 6 100ah lithium batteries can run a 6000btu overnight etc...but that's $6k in batteries alone
If you run it indoors as an RV you can take any plastic box because the cold escapes into the environment and you want to cool the environment. so you don't need an insulated cooler. a point to consider.
Fantastic idea and after reading the comments ... it seems the perfect solution. I think I'd sit it in the front seat so it didn't take up usable space in the back.
Iam sure a higher end cool will help keep the ice long. No matter you are still pumping hot air through the cooler limiting how long the cooling last. Great idea thanks for sharing
The Ryobi cooling cooler is 149 on sale with a battery and charger... extremely quiet and runs on a battery . The 4ah battery lasts over 8 hrs...the battery chargers with ac or car 12v ( cigarette lighter) ... The Ryobi cooler is a much better,colder and quieter solution,plus you'd have batteries for.tools....also.has a storage compartment ( bonus)....
Does it take the hot air from the van in? I think that is what is genius about theirs, it takes air in AND puts it out, many of these just blow out cold air.
Those lids are usually hollow on cheaper coolers. Drill some holes, several inches apart, on the bottom of the lid and fill it with spray foam. - If you'll use expanding foam and let it work, you can avoid a distortion problem as some of those holes provide relief from too much pressure. Let one can set before you use another. Just feel around on it by trying to press it with your fingers and you'll know where to spray next.
I built one for a tent, but I built an insert so the cooler isn't destroyed. Used a brushless 12v fan, 12v brushless water pump, and a liquid cooling radiator for a computer. That way the condensation can just drain back into the cooler instead of getting stuck inside of the tube.
semi rigid vent tubing has tons of tiny hole which allow water into the air tube; using small copper tubing solves this problem (think a diy version of a supercooler for a car). $10 motor controllers that lower and rise voltage can be purchased on amazon which allows you to control the fan speed to reduce airflow when needed and reduce noise. an off and on switch is a nice addition. reducing angles of pipes from 90 to 45degrees will reduce turbulence which is better for airflow and fan life
I saw this on another channel and it is absolutely a must. I plan on car camping for six months at a time and I probably think it that the size cooler you use wouldn’t fit for a car. Maybe I’ll try it with a 16 quart cooler
I built the same thing from stuff I had kicking around my house....two styrofoam coolers, one fit inside the other, some old aluminum tent poles, a piece of 4" PVC, and a 12volt cooling fan from a computer. Took me one hour to put together, and no out of pocket expense.
For quite a few reasons, first of which is cost... You should investigate peltier thermal transfer. PC versions run around 2$ ea. The cold side gets down to around -5 degrees centigrade, they CAN be stacked to decrease that number, but a cooler putting out 30 deg. Farenheit should be fine. I run 4 with water cooling and depending on the layout the actual ft.cubed of airflow is up to you. I use a large PC fan on each. and my room stays nice and cool. You may need to be inventive to move the exhaust heat out of the vehicle, but I can't see it reaching your cost. Plus the power draw is 12vdc so no losses or heat generated by an inverter. Have fun, stay Cool. 😎
@@TrentandAllie Banggood has peltiers and even a variety of DIY kits for making coolers, fridges and AC's. Lotsa guides on youtube as well. Cool stuff indeed! ;)
Not quite following why it is beneficial for the cooler to retain the cold. I mean, wouldn't one with less insulation simply cool the room down faster? I'm curious how long one of these gives off cold air before you have to drain and put new ice in?
even though you have to constantly buy ice for a set up like this you could if you have a freezer in the van /fridge freezer , you could at various time create some of your own ice . and also when the ice eventually melts you could reuse this now water by saving it in a container and wash dishes etc. with it .would be good to have this set up high e and a drain hose that automatically lets melted ice into water to flow into a storage container about half way down that could be used with a pump to pump out recycled water to wash hands etc.
Ice cost around 3 dollars a bag and you have to put at least 3 in there. Your so worried about an air conditioner using electricity but a small Honda can power an AC for 8+hrs on a gallon of gas. That’s much cheaper than buying ice
Most refrigerators can make ice, so one can stock up... you could even nick some from a hotel 😛 The mobility of it is good...it could also be used in a tent.
Dude, I practice wild camping; you will only be able to start a generator in the middle of nowhere, with no people around. The noise disturbs anyone around.
Great job, and I don't mean to throw rocks, but if you had cut openings in the lid, on the hinge side, you wouldn't need sealant, or the 1 1/2" piping, just the reducer. As far as keeping ice longer, you won't be making a difference whether the cooler is insulated or not, because you are blowing hot air into the cooling duct, thus introducing the heat into the box anyway, Thanks for sharing it turned out great, I hope it works well for you.
I love the ingenuity and creative thinking. It is a fun idea and a great video. That said, obviously, this is not very practical in the long run as the cold only lasts as long as the ice. And If the unit is sucking in 100 degree heat, that ice will last only hours. So everyday it’s another bag of ice and in a month you’ve got $60 spent in just ice. Otherwise, a big hassle of always draining the water, buying ice and putting it in the cooler. Then it uses almost as much electricity as a regular AC unit, and are wasting hundreds of gallons of water. And as mentioned in the video, buying all the needed supplies are almost as much as a properly built AC unit. It’s fun as a kid’s class project, and I really do appreciate the video, but not so much for actual realistic long term use.
as i cannot find Fan Motor , i build one with 3D printer and Compter 80mm fan (0.14A) and on other side a 50 mm computer fan (0.10A) total consumtion : 0.24A and no noise (all taken from an old dead computer , from trash :P)
thank's lol , 3D print finished to put more flow i've put 2 PC fans (0.14A x2 ) then 0.28A for Max flow , 2 speeds (1 or 2 motors on) here is the result www.thingiverse.com/make:519095
www.thingiverse.com/make:519106 the other fan on other side (smaller) can act as some like a booster .. (consume 0.1A) hope finish my own cooler the week-end thanks again for your DIY surely the best i've seen , no humidity etc
I prefer about 68, but I guess I cant get everything without pushing the limits! This is by far the most energy efficient, cheapest and coolest (in comparison to other smaller models) that I've seen! Thank you!
Trent thanks for showing how to make an ice chest AC unit. You did a great job. To all those haters out there he never once mentioned that it was his idea, and in fact if you click on "show more" in the description he lists a link from where he got his inspiration.....CAN YOU GUESS WHERE THE LINK LEADS YOU !!! Everyone get a life, and I'll send you some cheese to go with your wine LOL
A USB port cant power that fan properly. Its only 5 volts, where the cigarette lighter is 12. It might be quieter if it was on 12 volts, at it sounds like the motor is labouring
Your AC fix is brilliant Trent & so are many of the knowledgeable comments! Every crisis has 2 elements, either chaos or opportunity & T&A you always seem to discover the latter. Kudos 👍
no worries the cooler you bought can easily handle dry ice but after some research issue would be carbon dioxide as the dry ice melts in such a small space it may be unhealthy
@@johnharris8123 I used dry ice in a cooler on a trip once...it gave a funny taste to the grapes...like carbon dioxideish I guess. Thought they were unedible, but just left them out for a while and they were back to normal. First time I tried dry ice.
I would have made a custom lid (maybe out of dense styrofoam and glue some thinner plywood top and bottom) I would have left the cooler as is and make the new lid the piece which gets the large and smaller holes cut into. Also I would mount the fan inside the cooler, maybe shrouded by a hdpe (milk) jug to protect it against moisture) also to keep the noise of the fan more down. Using a custom lid lets you use the cooler as a cooler (when you are not using it in airconditioning mode) without the thingamebobs sticking out and hanging of the sides. Also cutting holes in the sides (even though you may have nailed it with the ton of caulk) poses a risk of water leakage. A custom lid with all the holes drilled into it does not have that risk plus the cooler is still very much usable as a cooler...
My AC went out in my Jeep. My wife is sick and must see a specialist in Las Vegas in 5 days where it's up to 115 f. Was trying to get one of those mini Arctic air things but nobody can ship it in time, so this idea is perfect for our needs. I'm so on this I'm going to get the parts at HW store asap. I imagine if it works well for your RV van it'll work better in my smaller Jeep. Heck if it works really well, I may put off fixing my AC until a later time. Thanks for sharing all your how to's and ideas. Liked and subbed. Happy trails to you guys.
Since you have been using it Has it cooled the van enough to 74 degrees in 90 degree weather for long period of time. How often do u change the ice water in hot temps ? Can you do another video showing the van 95 degrees and leaving the cooler ac left in the van all day and then do another inside the van tempature test. I want to know if this is viable option for window ac unit replacement. Also how much humidity and moisture this thing gives off. Please do a follow up video so we can see the results of this and what you think overall as to this being a long term effective replacement thanks.
Nice job, I would add a speed control and maybe a thermostat for the fan. You could also change the fan from a axial fan to a squirrel cage wheel fan which is often much quieter.
Made something much more juvenile but similar. The entire thing cost me $20. It works on the very rare days we get here when it's above 90°. Put two tubes out the front of mine that can slightly move from side to side to angle the airflow direction. Loving the channel. Keep the videos coming, please.
Here is an OLD caulking secret: after applying the caulk/sealant, dip your finger in soapy water and run your finger along the caulk. Smooths it down without it sticking to your finger.
Large ice blocks in water will work better than ice alone. The water will have more contact and therefore more thermal transfer with the ducting than ice chunks will. The large pieces of ice will melt slower than ice cubes because large ice blocks have less surface area contact with the water. So you want less contact surface between the water and the ice, and more between the water and the ducting. I like that you used the metal ducting and because it transfers heat from the air into the water more quickly, than say plastic.
I've built something like that as a fog maker for Halloween. Used screen instead of dryer tubing. Everything else is the same. Awesome little a/c unit.
genius! seriously, list one in ebay and i will totally buy it. we’re first time campers and bought the solis. and about to camp in joshua tree next month. temp will be over 110 for sure🥵
One suggestion I would have for you is go get a can of the expanding foam from home depot and fill the lid(since its empty) of the cooler with it, you're ice will last much longer that way. Nice project.
The amount of insulation is moot. You could put ice in a closed metal box and blow a fan on it and get the same effect. A pound of ice will absorb 36,000 calories of heat whether it absorbs from the sides of the ice container or absorbs it through the metal tubing.
Hi Trent! Great DIY. Hi Allie! Frank!❤ Can't believe y'all were dealing with no AC at night during this heat wave. Glad this worked. Good to know. Sleep good tonight, sweet dreams. 😎👍💙🐾
Also check into dry ice. Make sure to use some good gloves if you handle it. I'd also suggest setting the intake closer to the top so it makes it even less likely to leak.
Nice job, I've seen a few of with slight different ways used. I wish I new which way worked best, as I want to build one myself. Yours is the neatest build I've seen so far, so there's a plus haha😜. One piece of advice I can give (take it, or leave it) Your two priorities were low power use and low noise. The quietest and lowest amp fan I know of, would be a pc fan. Quite and runs on about, 0.2 amps per hour. And the only other way I can think for low noise, would be to install the fan in the middle of the air-con unit. Of course you would have to water proof. For eg: put the whole fan including connections in a water tight container (like Junction box that's used for outdoor wire joins from electritions) so it all water tight. Even if you kept the same fan, that should quite it down 10 fold with the ice and insulation as your noise dampeners. Please let me know your thoughts on this. Cheers
Thanks for posting this! Well done! I am most curious about the condensation buildup inside the tube and have been thinking about how to remedy that with maybe a gravity induced flow through the tube and a drain(but to where). And then is there a threat of mold after time with a possible remedy of an occasional spritz of diluted bleach into the air intake.
WRONG! Every pound of melting ice absorbs 36,000 calories of heat from the air around it. The heat absorbed through the sides of the cooler is no different than the heat absorbed through the tubing/fan arrangement. Any heat absorbed by the ice cools the space just the same. If you have a cheaper cooler, you can run the fan slower.
*Solid, **Fastly.Cool** and gets the job done. For rooms where window-mounted air conditioning is not an option, this works very well. Easy set up, rapid cooling, and great design.*
Where will you get all the ice ???🤔
After the ice melts (so long as you don't drop rock salt in there) you can recycle the water in the shower system if you have it. Or to wash your hands. Or to wash dishes etc.
Great job. Sure there are a lot of little tweaks. The only minor thing I'd do different is drill the hole and mount the
intake air higher so it's not below the water line when the ice melts. Physics says the more surface area the better. That duct work laying in ice water is much better than the ice it self. A cooler works better when the water is contacting the items
I know I'm 3 years late from the time you made this, but I'm doing my research...and Your Video and the DIY AC is the Best.
Gonna copy your plan. Thanks guys!
Thumbs up. GREAT JOB.
The brilliant part of this is the fact that you separate the ice and air by a physical barrier meaning you are not introducing more moisture in to the air. Yes there will be some condensation inside the duct, but that moisture came from the air, not the ice. In fact if you found a way to gather any water that condenses in the duct you'll actually have created a dehumidifier :)
That’s an amazing point!! Thanks doe helping me realize that haha
And a water source!
That's a good point, colin. You should somehow throw a water absorber in to the hose so that it doesn't start breeding legionaires disease in there after a while.
..or use the copper coils, which are already anti-microbial.
If you'd make holes to the duct inside the bucket, wouldn't the condensated water then flow to the bucket... But then there would not be barrier anymore. Do you really need the barrier as long as the content of the bucket is colder than the outside.
Finally a video that outlines all the details soooo clear!!
If you go with a 9 volt power supply it slows down the fan enough that your air will get colder because it's in the cooler longer. It also reduces your volume. I made a similar unit for my garage with a 120qt cooler, it'll hold ice for about 30 hours.
That’s great idea!! Thank you
I have had mine for some time and I also insulated the lid with spray foam and double sided aluminum foil bubble wrap with dry ice and Frozen bottles of water it last a few days
Awesome news!!
Elsewhere I learned that dry ice is frozen CO2 (carbon dioxide) so best be careful if you're using it inside. Suffocation is bad. Or so the internet told me.
I really like that you gave details about parts like fan and even screw size that most videos don't mention. Appreciate the specific size information you gave on the rest of the parts
Maybe some copper tubing for inside would get colder I'm going to do it it's an awesome idea
Good job Trent! Made one very similar but used 5-gallon bucket with a little styrofoam for insulation and Frozen gallon water bottles instead of bagged ice. If you have the ability to freeze purified gallons they last much longer and you can drink them when they thaw out and don't have to drain the ice chest 👍 really enjoy your Vlog keep them coming! Keep that Frank cool 🐾
Thanks Mike!! That’s a good idea, we’ll have to try that. Drinking the water instead of draining it sounds awesome for sure
Trent & Allie i agree
Mike, can you share your design? I am interested!
Yes please I need baby steps
@@tinawindham6958 try UA-cam bucket A/C
Best cooler a/c project I have seen so far. Separate the air inlet further from the air output for added efficiency.
I made one like yours but used coiled copper tubing. Yes it is smaller then yours but the reduced air flow gave the ice time to cool down the tubing and keep it cool, plus it also had a lower temp on the output. I had 92 degrees going in and 66 coming out. I just added a thermostat to the power line to turn off when the room reached the set temp (didn't like it too cold). Keep thinking out of the box and enjoy life!
That’s a great idea!!! Thanks for getting my gears turning!!
Hi Brian How did you connect the thermostat?
Brian Clevenger please make a video on your set up I’m curious to see how you have it set up. Did you have to worry about the copper corroding?
I put it in line with the power line to the fan. Stopping the fan. I also added a dimmer switch to runup or down to the fan, gets noisy sometimes.
I wish I had made a video of it, maybe on my next build version 3.0 Version 2 I drilled holes in the lid ribs and injected spray insulation in. That added more cooling time with the ice. The copper tubing did change color but so far in the 8 months I've used it, still no corrosion or leaks. I'm thinking on how to make more improvements to my unit, if I do I'll video it from start to finish.
Nifty idea. Another approach is a dog house air conditioner which is about 1500 btu's which is 25% of a 5000 to 6000 btu window unit and uses 75% less electricity. Obviously its only going to cool a tiny space such as a van. Perhaps using one in conjunction with a dehumidifier might also work. When air is dry the environment is far less cold or hot. Also the dehumidifier produces a fair amount of water, probably several gallons per day.
I've already tried to this an it works but I've upgraded an improved this deal. One I built an box around the return of the fan with a grill an home filter on grill an it quiets the fan motor. Two instead of a cooler I took two pieces of styrofoam two inch thick with that aluminum flashing on all sides same as a walk in cooler at a restaurant. An the ice will last two weeks plus I use water to cook with keep hands out an only get water out of spout it stays clean.an by using filter you cleaning air in van.
This guy DIY's!
DIY English
Nice upgrade!!
Harold Gatlin buddy... I'd LOVE to see your setup!
Do a video showing your modifications. Would love too see how you have improved it !! I want to use it in my suv.
Great build!
I would put the fan inside the cooler. Sure you lose some volume for the ice, but it would be a little quiet and a lot easier to store in tight space.
Thank you Trent for the ice cooler AC info..
❄️❄️❄️HERE’s A Quick Easy Affordable Idea FOR TEMPORARY While you are building the Ice Cooler AC... for this you will need a bottle of peppermint oil extract, a spray bottle and water. So for example a size spray bottle that is half the amount of a can of soda you will need about half of a teaspoon of oil or slightly more. Remember to shake the bottle every time you spray it. The best zones to spray it on your body is over your ears, a couple of squirts at the very top of your head and rub it in your hair or really your scalp. Your under arms, and back of your knees and inside of your elbows and really all over. My favorite time to apply it After I’ve taken a bath. It seems to really work well after you’ve been sweating and all of your pores are open. I’m telling you you will be freezing, almost to the point of being uncomfortable. Once you get used to what the extreme freezing this will bring on you you may want to only spray it in the above mentioned zones of your body or just a few of them. It really makes a huge difference. You can find oil extract at health food stores and vitamin stores… At the “Vitamin Shoppe” I pay eight dollars for a 1 ounce bottle of PEPPERMINT OIL. I hope this helps someone ❄️❄️❄️
I have done the exact same thing but I put my fan inside(zero noise). At high noon you pretty much want to sit right on the cooler but after you are not directly competing with the sun it will get too cold. Mine came in at $73.00. Ice stays with me for 3 days and I sometimes use it to keep other things cold but not often. I have experimented with salt and dry ice and I don't see much of a difference. I have notice keeping the tubes covered with ice and not draining the water makes it colder longer. It is a great solution that well worth the investment.
FYI - Add some rock salt to the ice and watch the temperature drop even more. Works great for making ice cream and making your cooler even better.
Thanks Bob!!
dont do that it melts the ice faster so cooler then less coolness! simply add a little water to surround the pipes
TINY HOUSE GREECE I did it and my 72 quart cooler stayed at ~ 54 deg. F for four days. Yes, the ice melts but at a slower rate and the melted ice provides enough of very cold water to surround the aluminum ducting.
thats great but when you in 43c the ice wil go down for sure in a day. ethier way great for a hot night
BRILLIANT! Definitely adding this to my To Do DIY list! Great job Trent!
I just got done with mine. What I did was cut the 3” hole much higher to avoid leakage. I didn’t cut the hole at the bottom of the cooler. I also used a boring drill tool for the 2 “ hole. It turned out very well.
Awesome!!
Trent & Allie I don’t have a van though. I have a large full size RV with 2 full bedrooms kitchen. Movie theatre with movie pop corn. Ha. It has it all. This is DIY air conditioner is exactly what I needed!
This is really a good video man and ma'am...I want to give you a little tip to extend the life of the ice...when in the military (Texas HOT)...to preserve the ice we would fill the container with water after adding the ice...near the top of the ice...then add more ice if available...one more thing...I would put the in/out piping on the lid to preserve the integrity of the ice cooler...you probably ask...why water...when the water reaches the 32 degrees...it WILL NO longer MELT...it will melt some initially...the level will stay the same...ice is water...your level will not rise...adding the intake filter as Harold Gatlin suggested is genius...!!! great job...Ya'll have a great time...Peace and Tranquility...
Thank you for the tips!!
"It will NO LONGER MELT" lol yes it will...water doesn't magically make ice permanent.
I have never seen this design before. Burying the duct work in the ice makes perfect sense. Thanks for making this video.
Trent and Allie - absolute genius and shocking that the ice lasted 48 hours AND it dehumidifies by condensation. Brilliant!
pretty neat overall!!!
It cannot de-humudiify. Basic science. It can only humidify....though not to excess. Simple test...look inside the aluminum tube...dry? No, the condensation will go with the flow. The air. Luckily, the tube is corrugated, so much of the moisture is trapped.
U are smart
@@seedlessgrapes2605 Just experienced...In Thailand we use A/C or dehumidifiers when camping. Relative H being 45 to 90%. (Yucch) I am now in Montana, where it rarely gets to 25%...thus swamp coolers and such are OK. Wise to check the camper environment often. I mentioned 40%...quite neutral for my liking.
I don't even have a van, and this just made so much dang sense. There's so many other uses for this... great stuff.
This really is great stuff guys, as it's hard to survive in this bloody heat. This video shows what can be done on a limited budget with some DIY work, and shows what a clever young man Trent has proved to be. Cheers, Peter.
Thanks peter!! I made it but didn’t invent it haha
Peter you need to watch your language you bloody mate!
Being an animals first person, I imagine that your gorgeous dog is really enjoying your latest invention.......Well done!
very COOL. I did a similar set up a few years ago when I was in the Mid east 130F out. it lasted all day in a Yeti. had it in the back of a Truck we where using, Nice to see your creation of it. Keep up the Great videos.
Thanks Bigfoot! Glad you enjoyed it
The better you can insulate that cooler, the longer your ice will last. Nice job!!
I don't even have a van, and it was totally worth watching, just to see the smiles. :-D
Awesome!!! Thanks for watching 😊
ChaSquared would it work better than normal ice?
I'm sorry, Lookatubex, I have no idea. :-))
how long does it last till the ice melts!!???? tnx
You probably just saved me a mayor headache. I was brainstorming on a window AC unit. But now I’m going with this. I think I’m using an infinity 6 inch turbine and controller instead of that marine fan. I’m excited. Thanks for that video.
I'd love to know how long it lasts for on a hot day. In general, the more air you push through the faster it will melt the ice, so variable fan speed would be useful. I wouldn't worry about how good the chilli bin (cooler) insulation is, because any coldness that escapes is simply cooling the air around it anyway!
That’s a good point. We used that ice for over 48 hrs before it melted
Oh that's way better than I thought. Good stuff!
Did you collect that water and use it for washing up etc? double usage :0)
@@jameshoyles4261 That water would be poisoned.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. One tip to save a little $, most thrift shops will have a good sized ice chest for under $10, but it can take a little searching.
In the UK right now we are having an unusually hot heatwave. This doesn't happen too regularly so we don't generally need an air-con unit of any size. This idea of yours is very good but I think it could be improved upon. For a start, if you were to use a narrower guage internal pipe you could; with the use of elbows or U pipes, create other layers of internal piping. this would increase the amount of time the flowing air spends in the ice chamber. Baffles along the inside of the inner pipe would also slow the air again, thus cooling it even more. With regards to the fan. I was thinking of two low watt computer fans, one sucking air in and through the inner chamber and the second one sucking and blowing air out into the room/van. The advantage of computer fans is they run a lot quieter than other industrial ones do. I don't have the funds to build a prototype of this idea, but if anyone lives near Huddersfield and does, get in touch I have hundreds of mad ideas, just no cash. Life eh......
I feel you with the no cash haha. Those are all great ideas too!! Thanks
Maybe PVC pipe would work too, the aluminum will transfer quicker and easier...but PVC may work.
A block of ice melts alot slower than crushed. Pay a block on top of tube if it don't crush it or below the tube! Blocks can lasts for4-5 days! Great job!
Just set the cooler drain out to your fresh water intake for van if you have proper filters , get some high output computer fans $60 each in and one out locations on cooler.
Pump this through smaller more coils back and forth.
Longer runs, the air has to stay in the ice chest will be colder.
I used copper but was for a surveillance van for work.
That's really smart!! I may have to redesign this thing
Use frozen bottles on top
Nice project so far the cleanest one I've seen so far. Little tip add some salt I would say a cup of two cups with the ice it'll make it even colder
great tip! Thank you
I've built these and they do work but in my experience the ice doesn't last very long. Yall have very good insulation in the van so will probably have a better experience with it. Can't wait for the followup vid of yalls experience! Good work Trent!
Thanks Will!!!
Man thank you so much for bringing up the humidity issue. Im going to build one of these for my dad's 43' boat, and until you brought that to light I was going down the wrong road. Humidity, mold, foul odors are already a constant battle to keep away just because of the existing atmosphere near the ocean. So, thanks again bro!
Anytime!!
Seriously Trent, you rock!
Hi Allie! I bet Frank is happy too! Thanks for sharing guys! 😊
Thanks midlife!! Glad you liked it, everyone says hey 👋🏼
This is great. A diy air conditioner that isn't a swamp cooler. Big improvement.
Yeah that was the idea!!
Uh, Trent, the space you are cooling is all around that ice chest so the insulation factor is not a big deal. The sides of the cooler will help chill the air too. Also, you should try to drain the aluminum air tube every so often as the hot air hitting the inside of the cold duct inside the cooler will cause condensation and the water will collect in the lowest point. You will notice it when the water starts dripping out of the fan on its way onto your table
We have already seen this problem!! It sucks but draining it has worked well! Thanks for the heads up
Maybe a drain tube when you have time to dry the interior out and it is a normal temperature for the silicone sealant
.. or just put a few holes under the lowest parts of the tubing
Water needs to be excluded from the tube otherwise the van will become humid.
Pip Baxter But melted ice will get into the duct, maybe way earlier than condensation is noticeable.
Having a blast finding older ones..this is very very very great..at home with no AC and similar climate to you...I put a bowl of ice in front of a personal fan in my tiny office room on bad days.this I need for bedroom pefect on those days when late night or early am is not enough to shoot all hot air out.
Kapsul makes the Noria W5, a cool looking 5000 BTU portable and compact (15 kg - 7 inches tall) window style airconditioner which needs about 500 W of power..That should be possible provided enough battery storage capacity and ampel solar power.
BTW: having solar power is ironic if you seek airconditioning: you need to be in the full brunt of the sun to generate power and need the cooling of the airco to counter the heat... Possibly the best way to go would be a setup where you could detach the solar powerplant from the roof and set it up away from the (in the shade parked) van.
That’s an ingenious idea!!
But the cost goes way up with solar and the large battery bank needed. Yes 6 100ah lithium batteries can run a 6000btu overnight etc...but that's $6k in batteries alone
Thank you for all your help for a Lady that planning to buy a Van to live on I'm 76 and can't afford to do anything else
So I know how it is without!!
Yes, Thanks! For my camper van. Couldn't imagine going through the West without this! Was assigned to Ft Irwin, CA many years ago.
Looks good man! Just a tip for others, make the holes as high as possible to minimize leaks from melting ice.
Yeah I messed that one up haha
That's why he used caulking
@@BetterOff735 Next you're going to tell me ice is cold.
If you run it indoors as an RV you can take any plastic box because the cold escapes into the environment and you want to cool the environment. so you don't need an insulated cooler. a point to consider.
Fantastic idea and after reading the comments ... it seems the perfect solution. I think I'd sit it in the front seat so it didn't take up usable space in the back.
For sure!!
Iam sure a higher end cool will help keep the ice long. No matter you are still pumping hot air through the cooler limiting how long the cooling last. Great idea thanks for sharing
The Ryobi cooling cooler is 149 on sale with a battery and charger... extremely quiet and runs on a battery . The 4ah battery lasts over 8 hrs...the battery chargers with ac or car 12v ( cigarette lighter) ...
The Ryobi cooler is a much better,colder and quieter solution,plus you'd have batteries for.tools....also.has a storage compartment ( bonus)....
Does it take the hot air from the van in? I think that is what is genius about theirs, it takes air in AND puts it out, many of these just blow out cold air.
Those lids are usually hollow on cheaper coolers. Drill some holes, several inches apart, on the bottom of the lid and fill it with spray foam.
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If you'll use expanding foam and let it work, you can avoid a distortion problem as some of those holes provide relief from too much pressure. Let one can set before you use another. Just feel around on it by trying to press it with your fingers and you'll know where to spray next.
I hope this is going to be in your book!
You don't need it in the book!! haha you've got your own tutorial right here
I built one for a tent, but I built an insert so the cooler isn't destroyed. Used a brushless 12v fan, 12v brushless water pump, and a liquid cooling radiator for a computer. That way the condensation can just drain back into the cooler instead of getting stuck inside of the tube.
Austin, I'd like to learn exactly how you built yours. Do you have a video or photos you could share?
semi rigid vent tubing has tons of tiny hole which allow water into the air tube; using small copper tubing solves this problem (think a diy version of a supercooler for a car). $10 motor controllers that lower and rise voltage can be purchased on amazon which allows you to control the fan speed to reduce airflow when needed and reduce noise. an off and on switch is a nice addition. reducing angles of pipes from 90 to 45degrees will reduce turbulence which is better for airflow and fan life
This is great advice!! Thank you
Cost and complication goes way up too
I saw this on another channel and it is absolutely a must. I plan on car camping for six months at a time and I probably think it that the size cooler you use wouldn’t fit for a car. Maybe I’ll try it with a 16 quart cooler
Trent, brilliant workaround. I have a 20 year old Jeep with no ac. Had I the tools and skill to build one for it, I would.
~Smile!
Give it a shot Ciecie!!
Have some one build it for you.
I built the same thing from stuff I had kicking around my house....two styrofoam coolers, one fit inside the other, some old aluminum tent poles, a piece of 4" PVC, and a 12volt cooling fan from a computer. Took me one hour to put together, and no out of pocket expense.
As hot air rises,it would make sense to crack open roof vent until you lower temp some.experiment with different combos Good luck
that's smart actually!
For quite a few reasons, first of which is cost... You should investigate peltier thermal transfer. PC versions run around 2$ ea. The cold side gets down to around -5 degrees centigrade, they CAN be stacked to decrease that number, but a cooler putting out 30 deg. Farenheit should be fine. I run 4 with water cooling and depending on the layout the actual ft.cubed of airflow is up to you. I use a large PC fan on each. and my room stays nice and cool. You may need to be inventive to move the exhaust heat out of the vehicle, but I can't see it reaching your cost.
Plus the power draw is 12vdc so no losses or heat generated by an inverter.
Have fun, stay Cool. 😎
Thank you!!!
@@TrentandAllie Banggood has peltiers and even a variety of DIY kits for making coolers, fridges and AC's. Lotsa guides on youtube as well. Cool stuff indeed! ;)
Not quite following why it is beneficial for the cooler to retain the cold. I mean, wouldn't one with less insulation simply cool the room down faster?
I'm curious how long one of these gives off cold air before you have to drain and put new ice in?
because the cold air comes from the ice, it wont last long, maybe 3 hours. tops.
even though you have to constantly buy ice for a set up like this you could if you have a freezer in the van /fridge freezer , you could at various time create some of your own ice . and also when the ice eventually melts you could reuse this now water by saving it in a container and wash dishes etc. with it .would be good to have this set up high e and a drain hose that automatically lets melted ice into water to flow into a storage container about half way down that could be used with a pump to pump out recycled water to wash hands etc.
Ice cost around 3 dollars a bag and you have to put at least 3 in there. Your so worried about an air conditioner using electricity but a small Honda can power an AC for 8+hrs on a gallon of gas. That’s much cheaper than buying ice
Most refrigerators can make ice, so one can stock up... you could even nick some from a hotel 😛 The mobility of it is good...it could also be used in a tent.
Dude, I practice wild camping; you will only be able to start a generator in the middle of nowhere, with no people around. The noise disturbs anyone around.
Great job, and I don't mean to throw rocks, but if you had cut openings in the lid, on the hinge side, you wouldn't need sealant, or the 1 1/2" piping, just the reducer. As far as keeping ice longer, you won't be making a difference whether the cooler is insulated or not, because you are blowing hot air into the cooling duct, thus introducing the heat into the box anyway, Thanks for sharing it turned out great, I hope it works well for you.
I wonder if a block of ice would work even better🤔. Also a split Y at the exit for his/hers cool air.
the block of ice has less surface area so it's a debate! But the splitter would be really nice for sure
I love the ingenuity and creative thinking. It is a fun idea and a great video. That said, obviously, this is not very practical in the long run as the cold only lasts as long as the ice. And If the unit is sucking in 100 degree heat, that ice will last only hours. So everyday it’s another bag of ice and in a month you’ve got $60 spent in just ice. Otherwise, a big hassle of always draining the water, buying ice and putting it in the cooler. Then it uses almost as much electricity as a regular AC unit, and are wasting hundreds of gallons of water. And as mentioned in the video, buying all the needed supplies are almost as much as a properly built AC unit. It’s fun as a kid’s class project, and I really do appreciate the video, but not so much for actual realistic long term use.
Yes just put ice in the cooler and leave the lid open if you need extra cooling on a hot day. Blow a fan on top if you want a breeze.
as i cannot find Fan Motor , i build one with 3D printer and Compter 80mm fan (0.14A) and on other side a 50 mm computer fan (0.10A) total consumtion : 0.24A and no noise (all taken from an old dead computer , from trash :P)
You’re a genius!!!
thank's lol , 3D print finished to put more flow i've put 2 PC fans (0.14A x2 ) then 0.28A for Max flow , 2 speeds (1 or 2 motors on) here is the result www.thingiverse.com/make:519095
www.thingiverse.com/make:519106 the other fan on other side (smaller) can act as some like a booster .. (consume 0.1A) hope finish my own cooler the week-end thanks again for your DIY surely the best i've seen , no humidity etc
@@bebox That is an awesome reducer thing. I have to save that for some day when I get a 3D printer...so many things I could do haha
I prefer about 68, but I guess I cant get everything without pushing the limits! This is by far the most energy efficient, cheapest and coolest (in comparison to other smaller models) that I've seen! Thank you!
Trent thanks for showing how to make an ice chest AC unit. You did a great job. To all those haters out there he never once mentioned that it was his idea, and in fact if you click on "show more" in the description he lists a link from where he got his inspiration.....CAN YOU GUESS WHERE THE LINK LEADS YOU !!! Everyone get a life, and I'll send you some cheese to go with your wine LOL
I'm not whining, but I'd love for you to send me some cheese!
I love when people use some common sense to invent things! Awesome vid! Thanks for the idea!!!!!!!!
A USB port cant power that fan properly. Its only 5 volts, where the cigarette lighter is 12. It might be quieter if it was on 12 volts, at it sounds like the motor is labouring
That and the pvc outlet vent isn’t large enough. Too much air restriction. At least 2” pipe is needed.
Your AC fix is brilliant Trent & so are many of the knowledgeable comments! Every crisis has 2 elements, either chaos or opportunity & T&A you always seem to discover the latter. Kudos 👍
Try some dry ice last 2-3 times longer and significantly colder!
worried that the cooler can't handle dry ice
no worries the cooler you bought can easily handle dry ice but after some research issue would be carbon dioxide as the dry ice melts in such a small space it may be unhealthy
@@johnharris8123 I used dry ice in a cooler on a trip once...it gave a funny taste to the grapes...like carbon dioxideish I guess. Thought they were unedible, but just left them out for a while and they were back to normal. First time I tried dry ice.
@@mrmotofy first time to try dry iced grapes too
The guy seems nice. He did a great job.
I would have made a custom lid (maybe out of dense styrofoam and glue some thinner plywood top and bottom) I would have left the cooler as is and make the new lid the piece which gets the large and smaller holes cut into.
Also I would mount the fan inside the cooler, maybe shrouded by a hdpe (milk) jug to protect it against moisture) also to keep the noise of the fan more down.
Using a custom lid lets you use the cooler as a cooler (when you are not using it in airconditioning mode) without the thingamebobs sticking out and hanging of the sides.
Also cutting holes in the sides (even though you may have nailed it with the ton of caulk) poses a risk of water leakage. A custom lid with all the holes drilled into it does not have that risk plus the cooler is still very much usable as a cooler...
Cant mount the fan inside it has to be outside to draw in enough air
My AC went out in my Jeep. My wife is sick and must see a specialist in Las Vegas in 5 days where it's up to 115 f. Was trying to get one of those mini Arctic air things but nobody can ship it in time, so this idea is perfect for our needs. I'm so on this I'm going to get the parts at HW store asap. I imagine if it works well for your RV van it'll work better in my smaller Jeep. Heck if it works really well, I may put off fixing my AC until a later time. Thanks for sharing all your how to's and ideas. Liked and subbed. Happy trails to you guys.
Since you have been using it Has it cooled the van enough to 74 degrees in 90 degree weather for long period of time. How often do u change the ice water in hot temps ? Can you do another video showing the van 95 degrees and leaving the cooler ac left in the van all day and then do another inside the van tempature test. I want to know if this is viable option for window ac unit replacement. Also how much humidity and moisture this thing gives off. Please do a follow up video so we can see the results of this and what you think overall as to this being a long term effective replacement thanks.
We will make an extended review of this later on
wow awesome , love the idea you dont need an exaust running outside
Nice job, I would add a speed control and maybe a thermostat for the fan. You could also change the fan from a axial fan to a squirrel cage wheel fan which is often much quieter.
A fantastic mold generator. Wood+metal+moisure=mold.
Moisture is all contained in the cooler though.
moist air is released
should have drilled the larger hole at the lid of cooler not bottom side. It'll leak.
Made something much more juvenile but similar. The entire thing cost me $20. It works on the very rare days we get here when it's above 90°. Put two tubes out the front of mine that can slightly move from side to side to angle the airflow direction.
Loving the channel. Keep the videos coming, please.
Here is an OLD caulking secret: after applying the caulk/sealant, dip your finger in soapy water and run your finger along the caulk. Smooths it down without it sticking to your finger.
Large ice blocks in water will work better than ice alone. The water will have more contact and therefore more thermal transfer with the ducting than ice chunks will. The large pieces of ice will melt slower than ice cubes because large ice blocks have less surface area contact with the water. So you want less contact surface between the water and the ice, and more between the water and the ducting. I like that you used the metal ducting and because it transfers heat from the air into the water more quickly, than say plastic.
Genius"awesome.. thanks for sharing 🤗
Thanks for watching Rosa
I've built something like that as a fog maker for Halloween. Used screen instead of dryer tubing. Everything else is the same. Awesome little a/c unit.
Pretty cool!!
Genius!!!
genius! seriously, list one in ebay and i will totally buy it. we’re first time campers and bought the solis. and about to camp in joshua tree next month. temp will be over 110 for sure🥵
Cool project thanks! What's the smallest solar panel I would need to run something like this?
One suggestion I would have for you is go get a can of the expanding foam from home depot and fill the lid(since its empty) of the cooler with it, you're ice will last much longer that way. Nice project.
That’s a great idea! Thank you
The amount of insulation is moot. You could put ice in a closed metal box and blow a fan on it and get the same effect. A pound of ice will absorb 36,000 calories of heat whether it absorbs from the sides of the ice container or absorbs it through the metal tubing.
Hi Trent! Great DIY. Hi Allie! Frank!❤ Can't believe y'all were dealing with no AC at night during this heat wave. Glad this worked. Good to know. Sleep good tonight, sweet dreams. 😎👍💙🐾
Thanks Gibbs!! We are sleepin like babies now 😇
Also check into dry ice. Make sure to use some good gloves if you handle it. I'd also suggest setting the intake closer to the top so it makes it even less likely to leak.
that's a good idea
If I could give you a double Thumbs up I would 👍👍 Nice job on the Cooler Trent Alices is very supportive of you
pfff. thats obviously farce. 2thumbs up is not 2 consecutive identical right hands. IMPOSTER!!
Maybe not for everyone but absolutely brilliant!
Thanks Carrie!!
Get a bag of salt from costco and sprinkle a small amount over your ice, it turns it into a freezer and ice will last a lot longer.
Killer idea!!
Nice job, I've seen a few of with slight different ways used. I wish I new which way worked best, as I want to build one myself. Yours is the neatest build I've seen so far, so there's a plus haha😜.
One piece of advice I can give (take it, or leave it) Your two priorities were low power use and low noise. The quietest and lowest amp fan I know of, would be a pc fan. Quite and runs on about, 0.2 amps per hour. And the only other way I can think for low noise, would be to install the fan in the middle of the air-con unit. Of course you would have to water proof. For eg: put the whole fan including connections in a water tight container (like Junction box that's used for outdoor wire joins from electritions) so it all water tight. Even if you kept the same fan, that should quite it down 10 fold with the ice and insulation as your noise dampeners.
Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Cheers
Only problem is the ice start to melt in 10-15 minutes with this design.
Great idea! We always used our melted cooler ice in our camping sink for washing up.
Thanks for posting this! Well done! I am most curious about the condensation buildup inside the tube and have been thinking about how to remedy that with maybe a gravity induced flow through the tube and a drain(but to where). And then is there a threat of mold after time with a possible remedy of an occasional spritz of diluted bleach into the air intake.
Yeah these are problems I still need to solve haha
A spray of Lysol before and after (closing both ends when not in use) should create an environment that mold can't grow.
An amazing ice melting machine. You two are a perfect match.
Awesome. How long does the ice last?
Over 48 hrs!!
I’m really glad you sprung for the better cooler. Should pay off in the long run. Lookin forward to the updates. Thanks for showing us.
Thanks Stephen!! We’re stoked on it
WRONG! Every pound of melting ice absorbs 36,000 calories of heat from the air around it. The heat absorbed through the sides of the cooler is no different than the heat absorbed through the tubing/fan arrangement. Any heat absorbed by the ice cools the space just the same. If you have a cheaper cooler, you can run the fan slower.