Homemade portable A/C

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:32 am

So during the monsoon weekend here in Vegas I spent my time off the water building this. It's 12v and for cooling I put several frozen 2 liter bottles and some ice in the coole. I have yet to put it in the cabin of my 238 Vista and test it to see how well it really works, but in my garage I was actually a bit impressed with how cool it felt (the Admiral thought I was crazy and said it just felt like a fan blowing.)

Cost:
Cooler from grage sale - $4.00
12v Fan from Walmart - $11.97
Dryer vent pipe from Home Depot - $12
refridgerant -frozen 2 liter bottles - free!

So this is my Portable A/C model 2797 (total cost $27.97)

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:12 pm

And its a FOUR WINNS cooler!

JohnnyMarlin · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:15 pm

Good job Chris!..........Nascar drivers use the same system..........it is plumbed into their helmets.......

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:19 pm

Well, at least you didn't waste that much money. I highly recommend the MarinAire 6000btu system I installed. In 101 degree florida heat with 80% humidity I keep my cabin a a nice 72 with 40% humidity without the unit even trying. It also reverse cycles for heat in the winter unlike most.

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:42 pm

may i recommend using FRY ICE.. available at most grocery stores.. $1/# and will cool more efficiently than a frozen 2L alone.. now what i would do is. lay a towel or a 1/4" foam down on the bottom of cooler.. then lay the dry ice across the bottom and then some ice then your 2 liters.. and boy let me tell you this will stay cool all day.. dry ice is a secret weapon...

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:53 pm

Are you joking or seriously trying to kill this guy's family? A couple pounds of dry ice is enough to be deadly. You'll fall asleep for the night and never wake up.

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 1:56 pm

ric wrote:

Are you joking or seriously trying to kill this guy's family? A couple pounds of dry ice is enough to be deadly. You'll fall asleep for the night and never wake up.

I somewhat agree rick, I chose not to use dry ice, because I think it will keep the cabin cooler with the door shut. But if that dosen't work I may go the dry ice route...I'll just take the necessary precautions. http://chemistry.about.com/od/dryice/f/Why-Is-Dry-Ice-Dangerous.htm and vent the Co2 out

I had considered the unit you purchased, but it dosen't meet our needs. Understand the only reason for this is when we go out on our lake it's around 105-110 degress and almost Zero humidity. I like to spend the whole day, we don't do much overnight and if we do we have to set up tents (wife gets sea-sick we found out), So I wanted a portable unit to use when the kids were napping in the afternoon, as well as a potential to use it in the tent overnight. Now I know this won't chill my tent down to 70 degrees...but I live here for a reason...I LIKE the hot dry weather.

Why do you live in Florida if you don't like humidity and heat? That's like living in Brazil and not liking butt cheecks and wax? hehe

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 2:33 pm

I've seen A/C's in a suitcase pop up forsale once and awhile. I found one last year for $600 but decided to sell the boat at the time (stingray). With the extreme profit I made off that I just went with a top of the line system with heat.

Krusin Kool Suitcase AC. Water cooled. They have a small pump on a hose you throw out the hatch window. 7000 btu!

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:40 pm

rpengr wrote:

And its a FOUR WINNS cooler!

Oh sorry about that, that's photoshop-ed...like this...

and this..

oh no wait that's REAL!

Sorry Ric, just messing with you. If you're ever in vegas I owe you a beer, and a ride on my Vista :wink:

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:52 pm

I would love to check out a 238. A 238/248 is my next purchase, not sure if spending the extra 10k premium for a 248 is worth it. I've heard a few times the U seating is much worse than the 238's L seating.

rpengr · **Posted:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:25 pm

LVChris wrote:

rpengr wrote:

And its a FOUR WINNS cooler!

Oh sorry about that, that's photoshop-ed...like this...
and this...

lmao I didn't notice it was photoshoped! Nice work.

www.iFourWinns.com

Homemade portable A/C

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