Deluxe DIY AC Air Cooler! Best DIY Ice-Based Air Cooler i've ever made! Combo Air Filter/Air Cooler! w/internal radiator! AC/DC Powered (12v 3amp 36 watts). can be solar or battery powered. works great in a car too. (on the 12v power socket). The Unit: air is pulled into the unit through a filter and pre-cooled. the internal radiator is cooled by the ice water and by the cold air in the cooler. the high performance 12 tube 120mm radiator that's used has a thick or 'tight finned' configuration for maximum cooling. and the "internal radiator" design means that all condensation stays contained in the cooler. very little water needed (only 1 gallon) - or about 1 inch deep in the bottom. start with pre-cooled water from the fridge if possible. once you place the frozen gallon ice jugs in the air cooler the water will raise up another inch and fully cover the pump. the unit works amazing! tested in an 80F(27C) room. cool air lasted 4 hours using 2 frozen gallon jugs and a couple of ice-packs. add 2 more jugs and you might get 8 hours. *solar power options are also shown in the video (along with a homemade patch cord) so you can easily attach the cooler to a 12v deep cycle battery or a 12v solar panel).
⭐ Parts List and details on the build listed below.⭐
✔ Note: a bilge blower motor (or automotive ac/heater blower motor) is required for it to work. regular fans lack the needed power.
✔ Note: the only extra thing I'll be doing is adding caulk all the way around the radiator for a perfect airtight seal.
✔ Note: the unit is no louder than a box fan (on medium speed). i can't hear the blower motor at all when I'm running a box fan next to it.
🟢 List of parts:
1.) Igloo ice chest (38 quart with wheels and tow handle) (from walmart)
2.) SEAFLO 3" in-Line Marine Bilge Air Blower 12V (amazon/ebay - only $15 if you price around)
3.) 3 in. x 8 ft. Flexible Semi-Rigid Aluminum Duct - dryer hose
4.) Three 3" worm gear clamps
5.) 8148 Spectre Air Duct Mounting Plate - high impact ABS plastic (found on amazon)
6.) Filtrete 20-in W x 30-in L x 1-in Washable Air Filter (found at lowes)
7.) AGPtek 12 Pipe Aluminum Heat Exchanger Radiator for PC CPU CO2 Laser Water Cool System Computer (or similar) (found on amazon)
8.) Mavel Star 12 Volt Small Mini Submersible Water Pump 63 GPH (or similar) (found on amazon)
9.) AC/DC transformer (5a or higher is best) (found on amazon)
10.) 12V plug (found on amazon)
11.) Velcro
12.) vinyl tubing
13.) piece of 2x6 lumber
14.) optional: caulk/construction adhesive
⭐🔨 A Few Important Notes on building it:
Make your unit as closely as possible to this unit. Don't skip any steps. Everything was done with a purpose in mind. A few examples: use the Velcro under the wood and on the radiator. it provides a 'cushion' between the plastic, wood and metal and absorbs any vibrations that might otherwise cause unwanted sounds. circular holes can be 2.5 inches to 3" inches in diameter. i used a 2.5" hole-saw. don't cut the air inlet any bigger than 2.75". the air restriction helps the unit work correctly. (my unit has a 2.5" air inlet hole). use the 2x6 piece of lumber. the motor needs a solid base and has to be at that specific height to allow for the proper 90 degree bend in the hose. the height also allows for enough room under the hose so that the air can enter the unit properly. definitely use the 3" flange. it's needed to hold the pipe securely in place. drill 1/16" pilot holes in the
plastic (before screwing on the flange). 1/16th may sound small but plastic is "soft" and you want the screws to grab very securely. only use a blower-motor. desk fans and computer case fans are much too weak. make sure to use a "mini pump" like i did. they run cooler than a regular sized pump and the ice will last a lot longer. the connection on both the radiator and the pump is 3/8" so all you do is press the hose on. you don't need any kind of adapters.