This is my first attempt at a DIY Hillbilly Air Conditioner. I came across the Redneck Air Conditioner on KZfaq and decided to make one for my son's bedroom, while trying to improve the design slightly.
If you are looking to cool a bedroom, a DIY Swamp Cooler or Hillbilly AC is a great way to bring that temperature down at an affordable price. You could use a styrofoam cooler and cheaper fan but I wanted to make something that will last. If you buy the cooler and fan used it won’t cost you much at all, you could possibly even find it for free.
Here is what I used for this Homemade Hillbilly Air Conditioner
Cooler (used) - Inside Dimensions (22” x 11-1/2”) - $10
7" Fan (used), kid-friendly so they don’t lose a finger) - $10
Mesh Plastic from Home Depot - $15 (for full sheet, cut into two pieces)
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Assorted ABS Fittings - $10
x2 - 2” ABS Pipe x 2-½” Long (any plastic pipe will work)
x2 - 2” ABS Pipe x 4” Long (any plastic pipe will work)
x2 - 3” ABS Pipe x 5-1/2” Long (any plastic pipe will work)
x5 - 1-1/2” ABS Pipe x 5-1/2” Long (any plastic pipe will work)
x2 - 2” ABS 90 degree elbow (any compatible plastic elbow will work)
x2 - 2” ABS coupling (any compatible plastic coupling will work)
Silicone (indoor/outdoor - waterproof)
Super glue - Gorilla Glue from Home Depot works great
Tools you will need for your Homemade Hillbilly AC
Pen / Sharpie
Diagonal Cut Pliers (wire snips)
A Saw to cut the plastic pipe. I used a miter saw, not recommended. Any chop saw would work or you can use a tool designed for cutting plastic pipe (PVC cutter).
Drill
Drill bit (thicker than jigsaw blade)
Jigsaw
File
Building a DIY Hillbilly Air Conditioner is actually really easy. Very similar to a Redneck AC but I added a plastic mesh to create an upper and lower chamber to improve the cooling efficiency. The only plastic mesh I could find had ½” opening. If I decide to use only Ice cubes I don't want them to fall through the holes early in the cooling process so I decided to glue two staggered pieces together making the holes a quarter of the size.
I first measured the internal dimensions of the cooler and cut one piece of mesh to fit snugly. Then I cut a second piece a bit smaller to allow it to be staggered but still fit within the outside dimensions of the first piece of mesh. I then used Gorilla Super Glue to adhere the two pieces together.
I then cut 5 pieces of 1-½” plastic pipe at 5” long for the plastic mesh to rest on. Once I confirmed this was the correct height and verified the location for the DIY Hillbilly AC.
Use super glue to attach mesh to the pipe. Find something heavy to place on top while the glue sets.
Fit internals in cooler and verify hole locations.
Mark out fan and exhaust pipes on the ice chest air conditioner’s lid. I found using a black sharpie worked great.
Once everything is marked, get your jigsaw, drill and drill bit. Drill a pilot hole ‘inside’ the marked holes to give the jigsaw blade a starting point.
Use a file to clean up your edges before you start installing fittings.
Using the 2” pipe, cut two lengths of 4-½”
Use super glue to adhere the 2” pipe below the holes in the cover.
Once dry, cut away the mesh below the inside diameter of the 2” pipe.
Using the 1-½” pipe, cut 2 lengths of 4-½”
Attach the 1-½” couplings to the 1-½” pipe. Place in cooler holes. Seal with Silicone.
Use tape to set and hold the fan in place. Use silicone to seal.
Lessons Learned and Hillbilly Hack I should have cut on the inside of the sharpie markings. I cut on the outside and all the holes were a bit too big. I made it work but had to use empty wire casing to fix the gap under the hillbilly Cooling fan.
Once the silicone is dry. Attached plastic elbows to the 1-½ couplings. Do not glue the fittings to keep the vents adjustable on your Homemade Hillbilly Ice Chest.
Fill the lower and top section of the DIY Hillbilly Air Cooler with Ice.
That is how to make an air conditioner.
If you are looking to make yourself an air conditioner, this Homemade Hillbilly AC Cooler is a decent design and actually very efficient.
For more of our hillbilly DIY hacks and parent hacks follow our channel - / parentsandprojects