Review: Homemade Air Conditioner - Portable DIY AC Cooler. Cheap, Easy.
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- I DIY'ed the whole campervan build. If I can do it, YOU can do it!
If you'd like to buy me a coffee, THANKS! Hit this link: ko-fi.com/lesliekalk
#vanlife #honda #odyssey #minivan #camper #conversion
I just grabbed some materials on the way to the campsite. But if you want to order them, here are some comparable items:
Foam cooler:
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Dryer duct:
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Small fan:
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Aluminum stove liners:
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Foil cake pan:
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Small storage bins:
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Here's some of the stuff I used to make the van a camper. As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission at no cost to you:
Magnets for screen room:
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Dome tent for 4 people:
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Square perforated tubing for roof crossbars:
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Roof basket:
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Tarp poles:
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Sewing machine:
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Roof rails:
Get the OEM - Original Equipment Manufactured - roof rails:
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Roof cross bars:
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Motion activated light:
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Collapsible crate:
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Telescoping table leg:
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Table Support Channel and Slide:
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Rechargeable fan:
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Igloo cooler:
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3-drawer unit in pantry:
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Collapsible bucket:
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Disposable "toilet" bags:
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Mattress:
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Mattress fabric (Looks like the design I ordered was discontinued. But I LOVE this one):
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Zippers for mattress covers:
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Lantern that's crushable, USB chargeable and SOLAR chargeable:
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Toiletry travel bag (Hubby loves this!):
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Quick Dry towel (Another of Hubby's faves):
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Watch Next! >> FULL TOUR of my Minivan Camper: ruclips.net/video/FsCz8USgvJg/видео.html and What I ELIMINATED after living full time in the Minivan: ruclips.net/video/in8H_ilCQPw/видео.html
You put on your engineering hat I see❣️Outstanding❣️If it drops the temp even 5 degrees would make a huge difference I’m sure!
Very clever, especially with such limited tools! Cheaper than a hotel for the night! Great video explaining what you did…anyone could make one from your clear directions!
Hi Carole! Aw, thanks for the love. 😃
Looks like a good idea in a pinch. Thanks for the idea
Wow, but its an option, something to give a little relief aside from starting the car. Two thumbs up Leslie.
You reinvented the swamp cooler glad it worked for you.
Hey Kenneth, So am I! I had one too many unbearable nights in that van. If this didn't work, plan B was an air conditioned hotel, LOL!
If you get a muffin fan, or 3, like the ones used in desktop computers; you could mount them directly to the lid. The work off 5v very little amp draw and all you need is a usb source to operate them.
Like the idea, but it takes up a lot of space. Another idea could be to use a humidifier (CVS, Walgreens), add mostly ice (which will obviously melt) and have the fan blow that cool air around. Would be a bit of a tidier solution in such a small space! 😀
Omg, Smoo, the Hubby couldn't WAIT to get this bulky thing out of the van! I don't blame him but I still wanted to take pictures of it. LOL!!
You’ve certainly got some ingenuity in you! Awesome!
Hey RDT! Nah, just like to tinker. But thanks😆
Thank you. I on fire 🔥 101 degrees living in my van.
Oh no, Joy!! I hope it gets better 😯😊
You’re so creative! What genius idea!
Thank you, Jessica! 😊 And thanks for taking time to say hi.
Instead of your initials for a video logo, I think you should have, "Leave it to Leslie"! You have a very inventive mind! I've never seen one of these work, but the idea of pushing the air up from the bottom of the ice is ingenious! Like I've already said, "Leave it to Leslie"! LOL
Thanks for the kind words, Pat!🙂
You are very good at explaining...precise, clear and easy to follow!
Aw thanks, Lisa! You're the best. 😀 You building something at the moment?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Im still van shopping BUT I live in Texas so I'm researching portable AC units!
I saved a Pintrest idea with a similar DIY used outside a tent. I'm happy to see you do a video of your project. Let us know long term, cost of ice, etc. If you could find a block of ice it would last longer. Love your enthusiasm!
While the block ice would last longer, the space and cold water created by cubes would be cooler. Block ice works better for a static installation-like an icebox. It cools by the cold air dropping down and chilling the metal box. This little “AC unit” has the fan constantly blowing to force the air through the cubes, over the water, and into the tube-evaporative cooling.
I just love the creative brains here!! You rock!
My son made one of these with an old ice chest a couple years ago for the camp it did make there small room cooler floral falling asleep
Hi New Day! You got a smart kid, there. 🙂
Great idea...!!
You look so relieved : )))
Girl, YES! I was so giddy to get some cold air on me. Thanks for taking the time to say hi, lishana!😀 How are you doing?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Tons of progress! I was wondering if there is a way we commenters can share photos of our builds that have been inspired by your and other fabulous DIYers' videos? What do yo think?
I adore you! 😊 Your solution is brilliant; better than my fix. I’m going to make one- with a couple of upgrades. I will use a bigger fan and I will use an old, small ice chest instead of the foam one. If you keep yours as it is, you can use spray-on waterproofing on the sides and bottom to eliminate the leaking. I hope to post a video soon. I’ll let you know. Thanks as always Professor, I’ll always be your Gilligan. 🌿
Oh, thanks for the love Hope!! You GO with your badass project, I can't wait to hear about how it works for you.
I love the way you think!
Oh, thanks Nana! 😊
If you lined the foam cooler with a cheap plastic trash bag, it might not leak. However, there may still be some minor condensation (sweating) due to ambient temp differentials and humidity. Might even add a mild scent to the water that collects in the bottom. Good project!!
Hi Mike, I like how you think! Yep, it was a good project: one stop at Walmart with whatever I could find there. Next time it's that hot, we're grabbing a hotel for sure though! 😄🤣 Thanks for taking the time to say hi.
So unique, thanks
Super cool idea! 😎
Thanks Sara! "Cool" is key when summer camping, right?🤣
You are clever brilliant
Way to go. We did a similar set up with 5 gallon pail a piece of PVC and a fan at home. I thought it worked great, my son said not so much when he tried it. Your set up is a little more finely tuned in design. Relief for you is evident. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Jo! Yes, all I needed was a breath of cool air for some improvement. The 5 gallon pail idea sounds smart. Did you try it while camping?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Hi Leslie;
no we have an old house so not the greatest when it comes to heat and cool. So we tried this to see if we could improve the cool while sleeping. It worked okay probably much better in a van as smaller space. Very similar set up to yours but tubes came out the side and we hadn't worried about the air coming up from the bottom of the frozen milk jug of ice. FYI not our design found on line if I recall.
Awesome as always Leslie. Now we need a few performance details:
What was the temperature in the van before using it, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour later. How long did the ice last? Did the humidity it added make it less enjoyable or was it "worth it"? (I bet being able to doze off to sleep was wirth the $20) What would u do differently next time?
Thanks in advance. You go, girl!
Hi Tiny! Boy, I wish I had the energy and equipment to do a thorough analysis. You KNOW I love a good analysis! But at the time I just wanted a way to get some sleep. LOL!! If I were looking to use this more regularly, I would use a better cooler, get out the power tools for proper fittings, and use a more powerful fan for sure. Thanks for asking. And thanks for the encouragement.
Excellent tutorial.
Aw, thanks Clara!😀
Neat idea! I wonder if using an upside-down wire basket might let the air flow thru better underneath the ice pan?
I was thinking bigger, more uniform holes over a greater area would do better I think. A wire basket would shift as the ice melted. The aluminum cake pan will conduct the cold better and hold it shape on the inside of the foam cooler.
Ha. Good for you.
Hey Kristie, Thanks!😃
You are a very resourceful lady. Were you concerned about the added humidity it would introduce to the van?
Hey MJ, I thought about it but what's the worst that could happen... Oh, it could start raining in the van,I guess. LOL!!! I was so desperate for a good sleep, the next step was to scrap the campsite and get a hotel. So, what did I have to lose?? LOL!! Thanks for asking!
Can’t find your shower build for the mini van
Great video. What's the #1 thing you would change if you make another one of these?
Hi PaP! If Walmart had a more powerful small fan, I would have snapped that up. The engineer in me REALLY wanted to use a proper hard sided cooler but that would have meant power tools that I didn't have available. Thanks for asking. Think you'll try something like this?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Thanks for the response. Ya, I want to build a small one for my kids rooms as I am too cheap to buy another portable or get AC in our home. Just something to take the edge off that is kids friendly. Your design is going in the right direction. Thank you
Thank you so much for this! How long did it last until the ice was melted and it lost effectiveness?
HI Shannon! It was about 4-5 hours til we were iceless. By that time the temp dropped enough that it was comfortable to open the windows all the way and just use the fan. Thanks for asking. Are you considering trying this, by chance?
How long did it last?
Hey Carmel, It lasted about 4 or 5 hours before all the ice melted. By then the temps cooled down enough to just run the fan and we were fine. Thanks for asking! 😀