DIY air conditioner | VANLIFE Hack
534,568
Published 2018-07-26
Fan Motor ~ amzn.to/2NOmvFh
Aluminum ducting ~ amzn.to/2mO1u21
Kwik seal caulk ~ amzn.to/2K3inzi
4'' to 3" reducer ~ amzn.to/2OldODQ
3" to 1 1/2" reducer ~ amzn.to/2OidJRb
Coleman extreme cooler ~ amzn.to/2OnQ2Hg
12v cigarette lighter male end ~ amzn.to/2mJ57q1
Cigarette lighter to USB ~ amzn.to/2LGPrSn
ABS elbow ~ www.homedepot.com/p/NIBCO-1-1-2-in-ABS-DWV-90-Degr…
ABS pipe ~ www.homedepot.com/p/VPC-1-1-2-in-x-2-ft-Plastic-AB…
Drill & Impact Driver: amzn.to/2tSKPhV
Jig Saw: amzn.to/2tRIALS
Original inspiration found here • Homemade Portable Air Conditioner DIY...
help support the channel ~ www.patreon.com/trentandallie
Instagram ~ @trentandallie
Below are parts used in our van build
Our blanket ~ amzn.to/2LhaRBE
Solar System
Solar Cables ~ amzn.to/2Jf2ZTS
Inverter ~amzn.to/2shzs2a
Charge Controller ~ amzn.to/2shIbSd
Batteries ~ amzn.to/2IXVtgP
Cable entry ~ amzn.to/2L5npfr
Solar Panel Brackets ~ amzn.to/2sjVUrx
Solar Panels ~ amzn.to/2xyr6Zl
Electrical
DC Fuse Panel ~ amzn.to/2IVxNtE
Main DC Panel Breaker ~ amzn.to/2L1g6oQ
Fuse Panel Ring Terminals ~ amzn.to/2Jhgnab
DC Red Cables ~ amzn.to/2xrzh9u
DC Black Cables ~ amzn.to/2xqd4bR
L.E.D. Lights ~ amzn.to/2IWpptS
Battery Cables ~ amzn.to/2xqc07R
Ring Terminals ~ amzn.to/2xmBmU4
Ring Terminal Crimper ~ amzn.to/2IZLFyM
Shore Power Cable ~ amzn.to/2L5cnXp
Heat Shrink tubing ~ amzn.to/2JckFzt
Shower Light Switch ~ amzn.to/2JffG16
L.E.D. Dimmer Switch (main) ~ amzn.to/2LG81Hx
L.E.D. Dimme Switch (by bed) ~ amzn.to/2IWINXy
L.E.D. Dimmer Switch (kitchen) ~ amzn.to/2Jl5y6O
USB Dual Charger ~ amzn.to/2IWnYHO
Butt Connector Kit ~ amzn.to/2J2q9JG
Wire Strippers ~ amzn.to/2ITsfQ9
Garage L.E.D.’s ~ amzn.to/2kxamYV
Voltage Sensing Relay ~ amzn.to/2H1idXs
Thermostat ~ amzn.to/2xkT1LY
Rear View Mirror Camera ~ amzn.to/2L65mpg
Building Supplies / Misc.
Butcher Block Glaze ~ amzn.to/2ya5SRL
Air Compressor ~ amzn.to/2LgtfKQ
Air bag Kit ~ amzn.to/2JueOG2
Bike Rack ~ amzn.to/2kLVki4
Cell Booster ~ amzn.to/2JqpIwk
Shelf by bed ~ amzn.to/2sxndxG
Router ~ amzn.to/2xC8PKr
Drill and Impact ~ amzn.to/2LhjwEe
Table saw ~ amzn.to/2LiEy5n
Table Slides ~ amzn.to/2H2h3Lc
Sound Deadener / floor insulation ~ amzn.to/2IXTusT
Heavy Duty Adhesive Insulation ~ amzn.to/2JfeJpj
Auto Carpet for Trim ~ amzn.to/2ITfvZU
Door Panel Removal Kit ~ amzn.to/2LJgz02
Center Console Base ~ amzn.to/2LFYhgc
Center Console Leg ~ amzn.to/2JeOtf2
Center console Top ~ amzn.to/2LDqjZP
Trailer Hitch ~ amzn.to/2IVBlIa
Cabinet Hinges ~ amzn.to/2LFWzeZ
Cabinet Gas Struts ~ amzn.to/2sseqxk
Cabinet Latches ~ amzn.to/2sp6Raj
Telescoping Ladder ~ amzn.to/2ITkARY
Carbon Monoxide Detector ~ amzn.to/2L222eX
Propane Detector ~ amzn.to/2JhMnLa
Memory Foam Mattress ~ amzn.to/2Jh31dU
Blendtec ~ amzn.to/2J1PrrK
Mountain Bike Fork Mount ~ amzn.to/2LGphfC
Bathroom Shelves ~ amzn.to/2smEk5q
Back Door Orangizer ~ amzn.to/2Jfk7c1
Paper Towel Dispenser ~ amzn.to/2kAduU0
Shower Soap Dispenser ~ amzn.to/2LIsf3o
Fire Extinguisher ~ amzn.to/2H0hCoY
Folding Hooks ~ amzn.to/2IUenVT
Fridge ~ amzn.to/2smPTdB
Roof Fan ~ amzn.to/2xoisfx
Roof Fan Sealant ~ amzn.to/2LHvsAn
Axe mounting hardware ~ amzn.to/2H5JlER
Axe ~ amzn.to/2L8njDW
Propane
Propane Tank ~ amzn.to/2Jciw6T
Propane Tank Insulation ~ amzn.to/2JfeJpj
Propane Regulator ~ amzn.to/2xqyx4F
Propane Furnace ~ amzn.to/2Jgka7z
Propane Stove ~ amzn.to/2JhgnHg
Propane Water Heater ~ amzn.to/2kA3fPC
Propane Remote Fill ~ amzn.to/2JeMBCU
Propane Detector ~ amzn.to/2JhMnLa
All Comments (21)
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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.
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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 🐾
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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
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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!
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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 :)
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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!
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Being an animals first person, I imagine that your gorgeous dog is really enjoying your latest invention.......Well done!
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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.
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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.
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I don't even have a van, and it was totally worth watching, just to see the smiles. :-D
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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
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Finally a video that outlines all the details soooo clear!!
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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...
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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
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Great job Trent!! You rock!! 🎉
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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.
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Trent and Allie - absolute genius and shocking that the ice lasted 48 hours AND it dehumidifies by condensation. Brilliant!
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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.
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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 👍
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Best cooler a/c project I have seen so far. Separate the air inlet further from the air output for added efficiency.
