Calling all redneck engineers
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 774
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From: Plano, Tx.
Calling all redneck engineers
our A/C went out this weekend, and unless it's something inexpensive to fix my folks can't afford to fix it. well I came up with a grand idea. I made a coil out of copper tube, and started a syphon that sucked water through the coil, then dumped ice in the water so the coil got real cold. then I set up a fan blowing accross it and sat on the other side. and the air is less than a whole degree(.6 F) cooler. I don't have much money to dump into this project but what're some ways I could improve my redneck a/c??
here's a picture.
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1223630/i/cuz/IMG_0485.JPG
here's a picture.
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1223630/i/cuz/IMG_0485.JPG
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,458
Likes: 722
From: Calgary Canada
Your problem here is surface area. You'd need a radiator or something to make the air much cooler.
Although, I'd say this setup probably won't make your house any cooler no matter how much surface area you have.
- Your freezer which I assume you are using to make the ice, heats up the room it is in with the coils on the back of it. That heat is far greater than the amount you can cool down by making ice (poor efficiency)
- The fan you are running is pumping out heat. Actually, that's probably far less than the heat your freezer is putting out.
You need some way to get that heat outside, which is why the outside of a real AC unit is really hot when its running.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Although, I'd say this setup probably won't make your house any cooler no matter how much surface area you have.
- Your freezer which I assume you are using to make the ice, heats up the room it is in with the coils on the back of it. That heat is far greater than the amount you can cool down by making ice (poor efficiency)
- The fan you are running is pumping out heat. Actually, that's probably far less than the heat your freezer is putting out.
You need some way to get that heat outside, which is why the outside of a real AC unit is really hot when its running.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,653
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From: in the adirondack mts
can't we take up a collection and buy this poor dude a new a/c. i hate to see that much good copper and duct tape wasted for less than a º of cooling.
Last edited by lenny1carl; Oct 3, 2005 at 06:46 PM. Reason: spelling
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
Well... here's an idea. it's going to be really expensive in the long run (electricity) and not very efficient at all, but here ya go.... The way an AC system works is basic physics. You compress a gas and it gets hot, you expand a gas and it gets cold. So a commercial AC system (very basic explaination) compresses freon (or whatever they use these days), and it gets hot. It uses fans and radiators to remove that heat from the freon (which is why the outside of the AC gets hot). Once the compressed Freon is cooled down to normal temps, it is expanded and gets really cold. Again fans and radiators remove the cold from the freon (by blowing cold air into your house) and the cycle is repeated.
Now, what might you have around that compresses gasses? Maybe a shop air compresser? If the compresser is outside the house, let it fill up and cool down, then use an air nozzle to blow the air into the house. When it expands it get cold, and cools the house.
Like I said this would be VERY expensive and probably not efficient enough to do any good, but in theory it would work.
Now, what might you have around that compresses gasses? Maybe a shop air compresser? If the compresser is outside the house, let it fill up and cool down, then use an air nozzle to blow the air into the house. When it expands it get cold, and cools the house.
Like I said this would be VERY expensive and probably not efficient enough to do any good, but in theory it would work.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Plano, Tx.
well when I was in scouts there was a leader that is a A/C Heater guy, owns his own company. He taught me how an A/C and Heater unit works. well he came by today to look at the A/C, and just for grins he looked at my redneck A/C, he said I needed much more copper hose and make the coils way closer together. I don't have the money, and as it turns out we just needed new start and run capaciters. gonna be back tomorrow with the right parts. any suggestions would still be apreciated, I'm not ready to get rid of it just yet.
thanks
-woogs
thanks
-woogs
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: fremont ohio
Hey regardless of how efficient it is....its a perfect example of some great redneck engineering....I give ya lots of credit for thinkin this one up. 
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
LOL, it would probably be cheaper to buy a bunch of those "compressed air" dusters and go to town with those. Same concept, expanding gas.
On the down side, most of those compressed air things are actually CO2, so you probably wouldn't live very long if you tried it.
On the down side, most of those compressed air things are actually CO2, so you probably wouldn't live very long if you tried it.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 800
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From: Ontario, canada
redneck??
a few ideas come to mind..
First idea...... use all that ice to cool off a huge amount of really cheap beer. drink all the beer.
now you'll be really smart and can solve all the engineering problems that have been pestering mankind.
second idea......use the ductape to stick all that copper directly to your body. THen blow something through there that will really cool you off.
I'm thinking you could experiment with something like compressed air, or liquid nitrogen or propane, or even something from the freon family if you can find it..Of course proper ventilation would be in order so that frostbite would come before suffocation.
a few ideas come to mind..
First idea...... use all that ice to cool off a huge amount of really cheap beer. drink all the beer.
now you'll be really smart and can solve all the engineering problems that have been pestering mankind.
second idea......use the ductape to stick all that copper directly to your body. THen blow something through there that will really cool you off.
I'm thinking you could experiment with something like compressed air, or liquid nitrogen or propane, or even something from the freon family if you can find it..Of course proper ventilation would be in order so that frostbite would come before suffocation.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,007
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From: Oregon
Go to the wrecking yard and buy and old radiator out of a car or truck. Doesn't have to hold pressure. A little PVC and epoxy putty and you're in business. Inlet from a cold water fauset, and run the outlet side to a sprinkler on the roof with garden hose and be really efficient. (I've done this, it works.)
You got the right idea, just need more surface area and cooling agent..
You got the right idea, just need more surface area and cooling agent..
Last edited by Howdy; Oct 3, 2005 at 11:40 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 22
From: Murphysboro, IL
I designed somethgin very similar to cool down my dog box in theback of my truck if i haul my dogs in the heat.
Except it looks more like a portable meth lab.
Iused an old cooler full of ice and water, a bilge pump for a boat, an old heater core and fan unit out of an old truck and some ruber hose that I insluated with armaflex to keep it cool. And two gate valves to control water flow.
Doesn't work too bad, knocks it down enough to keep them cooled a little while I'm sitting still.
Of course i use to be a sheetmetal worker and have a few dieas based on knowledge in my noggin.
Woogs, if you can find a heatercore/fan assembly out of a Bronco II try that with a cooler full of ICED water and re-evaluate your results.
Except it looks more like a portable meth lab.
Iused an old cooler full of ice and water, a bilge pump for a boat, an old heater core and fan unit out of an old truck and some ruber hose that I insluated with armaflex to keep it cool. And two gate valves to control water flow.
Doesn't work too bad, knocks it down enough to keep them cooled a little while I'm sitting still.
Of course i use to be a sheetmetal worker and have a few dieas based on knowledge in my noggin.
Woogs, if you can find a heatercore/fan assembly out of a Bronco II try that with a cooler full of ICED water and re-evaluate your results.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 22
From: Murphysboro, IL
I used the two valaves at each end of the heater core to control the flow of the water so that it stayed in the coil long enough to absorb heat. If the water moves through it too quick it won't absord as muchinf any heat, if it is stalled there for just a bit it will absorb some heat.
I had mine set up to continually flow on the pump but I never evolved the valves to regulate themselves depending on water in/water out temps. But if I had a power inverter it could have been done.
Don't start the process using a lot of water, as the water absorbs heat and goes back into the cooler it will melt some ice and create more water, so not alot is needed at the start. Thats why I said LOTS OF ICE!
I had mine set up to continually flow on the pump but I never evolved the valves to regulate themselves depending on water in/water out temps. But if I had a power inverter it could have been done.
Don't start the process using a lot of water, as the water absorbs heat and goes back into the cooler it will melt some ice and create more water, so not alot is needed at the start. Thats why I said LOTS OF ICE!
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 966
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From: Hudson Florida.
I can donate you the AC unit from my truck, seeing as how I never use it anyhow. all ya need is some coolant, and a pump to run it, plus a power source and you're in business. that, and some R134 from the auto parts store, total price would only be around $100 in all, including motors, converters, and wiring.
By the way, your concept is VERY well created, you just need to get a pump to circulate the cooling agent through the tubing, and a system to cool the system somehow. for home engineering, I'd say you know the basic idea, jsut gotta refine it some. if you'd like, I can give you some advice, and ideas to make it work for you at almost no cost.
By the way, your concept is VERY well created, you just need to get a pump to circulate the cooling agent through the tubing, and a system to cool the system somehow. for home engineering, I'd say you know the basic idea, jsut gotta refine it some. if you'd like, I can give you some advice, and ideas to make it work for you at almost no cost.
Last edited by JD717; Oct 4, 2005 at 03:32 AM.