DIY A/C when camped (ice box air comditioner)?

[zuren]

(err...title should read "ice box air conditioner".)

The family is making a trip next month to visit some friends and family in New England. My wife and son are flying out and I will be driving out in the van about a week later. Then we will drive back together over 2 days with the idea that we will camp in the van for that 1 night. August in the Great Lakes region tends to be hot and humid so I'm considering what else I can do, other than fans, to keep the interior of the van cool overnight that won't strain the wallet, won't require a generator, doesn't need an electrical hookup, and can be accomplished in the next 2 weeks.

I began poking around and found "ice box air conditioners":

Commercial example - http://www.icybreeze.com/
DIY example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITtlxjvLQis

Has anyone tried or built one of these? It does not seem like a good solution for an extended period or a large space, but for a night or 2 inside a van, it might be just the ticket!

Items I already have:
- Coleman 48 qt. chest cooler: I rarely use this now that I have a Yeti, I've been considering getting rid of it or finding a new use
- 12v, extra large muffin fans: bought these to move air in the van when camped, very low voltage draw

My house battery has more than enough capacity to run the fans overnight. I have all of the tools required and I have a gift card to the local home center to buy the PVC elbow and ducting, so this would only cost me the sacrifice of the cooler. Just wondering if anyone has tried it before I move forward.

Thanks!

 

[tarditi]

swamp cooler ******... some good DIY plans out there

 

[brianjwilson]

My dad built one of these and it definitely helps. It isn't going to be very effective at cooling a space, but it will blow cold air over your skin for hours which is a huge help. He is using a simple 12v computer fan on his. Most of the time I've seen him use ice cubes and it seems to work for a few hours, a block might last longer for what it's worth.

 

[zuren]

My dad built one of these and it definitely helps. It isn't going to be very effective at cooling a space, but it will blow cold air over your skin for hours which is a huge help. He is using a simple 12v computer fan on his. Most of the time I've seen him use ice cubes and it seems to work for a few hours, a block might last longer for what it's worth.

My muffin fans are some of the larger ones you can buy with 3 speeds. I've been impressed with the amount of air they move with such little noise:

Antec Big Boy 200

http://store.antec.com/enclosure-fans/big-boy-200.html#

Link with more useful specs - https://www.amazon.com/Antec-Big-Boy-200-Computer/dp/B000V6FKGM

The video I posted above shows the guy using an ice block; I agree that it would be the more durable solution versus ice cubes. I'm just looking for this to last the night, maybe 2 nights if I added more insulation to the cooler, blocked the fan and vent openings during the day, and added more ice if necessary to keep the wife and kid happy. If it were just me, I would just have the fans pointed at me.

 

[luthj]

The icebox AC units are not going to do much. You can blow cool air over one or two people, but you cant cool a room, much less a van. You can do the math, but to cool a van sized space for reasonable length of time requires hundreds of pounds of ice.

Swamp coolers work well if humidity is less than 30-40%. Otherwise it will be ineffective. New England is probably too humid.

A race drivers cooling vest circulated with chilled ice water can keep person cool with just a few pounds of ice an hour. The human body makes only 100w of heat when resting.

Your best bet is to cool the van with the front AC before sunset. Then mount a good high flow fan in one window. Open another for cross ventilation. Having a fan pointing directly at the sleeper is also critical. I find that I can sleep well as long as it's below 81f and 60% humidity with good air circulation.

 

[Bbasso]

If the humidity is over 60% forget the swamp cooler. It's going to add huge amounts of moisture inside. (Very uncomfortable)(I won't turn mine on uless below 50%)
For those hot and humid nights, I just turn on the fantastic fan and enjoy the breeze.

 

[mtnbike28]

I have camped in the Great Lakes are a lot - I tried the DIY ac and didn't think it did much at all - I was happier a 12 inch fan blowing over me. If I am camping in a CG, I use a box fan, if primitive, then 12v fans. They have not killed my start battery when used over night yet.

 

[Bikersmurf]

If you add salt to the water it will get colder.

 

[Pntyrmvr]

Don't forget about how much heat the engine, rad, and exhaust add to the steel body of the van when you run it to cool down the interior before bed.

If you do go this route at least leave the hood open.


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

 

[temporarydweller]

Here's another version of a swamp cooler one of the technicians here at my work is using. Small submersible pump from Harbor Freight meant for an outdoor fountain. Circulating ice water through an old A/C accumulator which is wired to the inlet of a squirrel cage fan. Blows incredibly cold air but also spits water droplets because of the condensation. You could obviously substitute the 5 gallon bucket for a cooler for longer ice time. Probably pulls a few more amps than what would be ideal for an overnight situation without a generator or big battery bank.

 

[bdog1]

Using the coil eliminates the humidity issue: If you seal the ice and pump in a cooler.

Really for 1 ~2 nights a CG might be the answer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[86scotty]

hmmm. 2 weeks???

1. Work overtime, buy a cheap generator and keep the receipt to return it after the trip. Buy a Walmart small window unit for $112.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/General-...ndow-Air-Conditioner-115V-GE-AEY05LV/48947433

2. Go to Lowes/Home Depot/Etc. and buy a 4x8' of 3/4" rigid foam and cut it to fit one of your doors or windows to seal around the window unit.

3. Drag the generator off in the woods about 50' and take a 50' extension cord to run back to the AC at the van.

I know this is exactly what you said you DIDN'T want to do, but man it's damn hot and humid out there right now. Happy wife/happy life and all that.

 

[broncobowsher]

Here's another version of a swamp cooler one of the technicians here at my work is using. Small submersible pump from Harbor Freight meant for an outdoor fountain. Circulating ice water through an old A/C accumulator which is wired to the inlet of a squirrel cage fan. Blows incredibly cold air but also spits water droplets because of the condensation. You could obviously substitute the 5 gallon bucket for a cooler for longer ice time. Probably pulls a few more amps than what would be ideal for an overnight situation without a generator or big battery bank.

That's not a swamp cooler. Swamp coolers are evaperative cooling systems. Fiberous pads (originally shreaded aspen bark, now mostly cardboard type material) has water dribbled down them. As the water evaporates it cools. The offest to that is it makes the air very humid. Thus the swamp cooler minikor, makes humid air. It will not work where it is humid, only in dry locals. You need the dry air for the evaporation to occur. They work great in the early summer in Arizona, before the monsoons roll in and the humidity goes up. Once you get humidity they are worthless.

That picture is nothing more than a regular cooling system. There was still refrigerant involved in making that cold air. Still an evaporator and a condensor with a compressor running on electricity. It just happen to be in the ice maker and not directly to air. The ice water just happens to be a thermal transfer/storage device. Water cooling like what you picture is very common in larger buildings. A chiller makes cold water, the water is circulated around the building(s) in pipes and when a thermostat calls for cooling the valve sends cold water through the coils. The same plumbing can also be used for heating. Although between seasons it gets difficult when some building need cooling and others need heat. The cold water loop is nice in that you get a lot of cooling with a fairly small amount of refrigerent. Leaks in the system are simple water leaks that are much easier to deal with. Common in schools, hotels, shopping centers, apartments, office buildings...

 

[Bikersmurf]

Here's another version of a swamp cooler one of the technicians here at my work is using. Small submersible pump from Harbor Freight meant for an outdoor fountain. Circulating ice water through an old A/C accumulator which is wired to the inlet of a squirrel cage fan. Blows incredibly cold air but also spits water droplets because of the condensation. You could obviously substitute the 5 gallon bucket for a cooler for longer ice time. Probably pulls a few more amps than what would be ideal for an overnight situation without a generator or big battery bank.

The same can be done with a spare radiator. If there's a cold stream nearby it can be used in place of the bucket of ice water.