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Mini Solar Air-Conditioner (a.k.a Swamp cooler)

Mini Solar Air-Conditioner (a.k.a Swamp cooler)
Here's an Instructable to make a simple, cheap, and energy efficient air conditioner with basic materials, and should cost less than $5. How it works is evaporating water in the
A/C (air-conditioner) pulls heat away, making the inside cold. The fan sucks air through the A/C, making the air cold. The warmer it gets, the more effective this A/C gets.
And it's easy on your wallet!

The materials are:
-popsicle sticks (about 20)
-cooling fan from computer
-solar panel, batteries, or other low voltage power source
-cloth that absorbs well
-scissors
-hot glue and a glue gun
-water
 
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Step 1Cooling fan... Meet the popsicle sticks.

Cooling fan... Meet the popsicle sticks.
You can get cooling fans free from computer repair shops and are in power supplies.
Once you find a suitable one (bigger ther better), stick six popsicle stick like the picture below.
You can trim the round ends with scissors if you want.
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160 comments
1-40 of 160next »
May 23, 2011. 10:58 AMsolpredator says:
There is a company right now selling "water making" machines that work best in hot, dry climates. I don't fully understand how it works yet (currently studying it) but am wanting to design my own version of this for home use. I live in Florida (Gulf-side) and from what I can see this machine would work here too.
I know it has something to do with De-humidifier and air conditioning condensation. I'm not soliciting info from other users or selling this product, just wanting to stir up some interest in our community for different design builds and open-source instructions for such a thing. ;)
Mar 15, 2012. 6:11 PMZPritz says:
The only problem with that type of cooling unit is that it requires the hot dry air to evaporate the water in your system. Sometimes those units use a corrugated material that absorbs water. Air passes through the holes in it and that air evaporates the water soaked into it. The water that is evaporating cools the air passing through.

I was in the USCG at a small boat station on Fort Myers Beach. We tried this type of cooler when turning wrenches in the hot engine room. Only problem was that with the HIGH humidity on the gulf coast, the cooling effect was minimal at best. Basically we used it as a $600 fan. These evaporative coolers wont work when the humidity is high (which is about 90% of the time on the Florida Gulf Coast).

Hope that helps!
Oct 8, 2011. 7:58 AMugv7821 says:
Sounds cool, I´ll try to find some info and come back :)
Oct 1, 2011. 8:49 PMwkahlich says:
how do you connect the fan from a power source? i pulled one out of an old computer(laptop) and the connecter is just a white plug....
Nov 14, 2011. 12:46 PMcasey321b says:
5v is what you need. If you're not too handy with electronics, try using 3 AA batteries, and attaching them to it in a linear sequence..
Batteries should look like [+||||||||||-][+||||||||||-][+||||||||||-]
It should say on the battery, but the positive end is the one with the nub, and the negative is the one without it. Make sure the ends are touching and using some packing or duct tape to keep them together. Then, use some wire to connect it to the fan. It should have two or three wires on it. Red or white are positive, and black is negative. If there is a third wire, like you said in the other post, it is ground. Those are typically green, or in your case, yellow.
Ignore that wire.
It should work when you attach the wires. If you would want it to be more powerful, you can most likely use four AA batteries to get 6 volts. It will be fine. Don't use any more than that, though.
Oct 4, 2011. 3:28 PMwkahlich says:
what should i do if there are three :) there is one yellow one black and one red
Jul 15, 2011. 10:00 AMteenuvibhav says:
Verry Good EXP. I like your exepiriment verry much.
Exelent
Sep 5, 2010. 8:14 AMjignesh shah says:
does this thing work in humid areas, in mumbai we have more than 85% humidity all round the year so it's importamt to know .can anyone please inform me.
Jul 14, 2011. 12:15 AMSwix says:
no it wont work for you... humidity must less then 50% because of evaporation try to make one like mine: http://youtu.be/jla5s_A11Pc
Jul 13, 2011. 7:49 PMHibiscus says:
I personally add a small amount of detergent to the water before soaking the cloth. Then the breeze is not only cooler, but it is also fresher smelling!
Mar 1, 2011. 8:41 AMMadScientist101 says:
is there a more effective way or is using clothe the best?
Nov 22, 2010. 9:31 AMmsageng says:
Determining the effectiveness of evaporative cooling systems is quite simple. Psychrometrics is the study of moist air interactions, and simple calculations will allow you to determine operating characteristics over a range of condtions. The wet-bulb temperature determines the effectiveness of evaporative cooling. Effectiveness is negatively correlated with wet-bulb; as wet bulb increases, the achievable temperature drop decreases.

Using a thermometer and hygrometer, determine the temperature and relative humidity of the ambient air feeding into the cooler. Find a psychrometrics calculator or chart (like ASHRAE #1) online and use it to determine the wet-bulb temperature. You'll likely see a temperature drop of 50-75% of the wet bulb depression.

These don't work well in humid climates (coastal areas, especially). In the southern U.S. where cooling design conditions are in the range of 95 F (dry bulb) with a coincident wet bulb temperature of 77 F, the theoretical best you could achieve would be 77 F, but is usually in the range of 80 F, depending on the cooling efficiency of the system. I'd suspect that this system would be quite inefficient, owing to the ill-defined flow paths and heat gain from the fan motor.
Nov 14, 2010. 8:28 AMMoonlight27 says:
where does the fan blow?
May 14, 2009. 2:52 AMdrbill says:
Ya did alright Andy. Ya got the right idea. I saw one of these on a much larger scale being used to keep food refridgerated and right now mine is keeping me nicely refridgerated.
Oct 24, 2010. 6:40 AMbeehard44 says:
terra cotta beverage cooler...
i built one before
May 29, 2009. 6:04 PMdiylover_1234 says:
I made this entire thing and I used hot glue and after about 2 hours the whole thing fell apart. DON'T USE HOT GLUE!!!!
Jul 10, 2009. 8:06 PMNinjaJay says:
Just an aside about hot glue--after various little projects, I've concluded that silicone (as purchased in a caulking tube for ~ $2) is far superior glue to hot glue. Yes, hot glue goes on fast, but the big drawbacks are: 1) pain, and 2) it rarely holds.
Give silicone a try. It generally dries to a workable hold in a couple hours, completely in 24 hrs (probably overstating drying times). Another nice thing about a tube of silicone is that, even if you leave half a tube sitting for months, only the tip is dried out. Give a squeeze to the caulk gun, and it comes flowing again.

Oct 24, 2010. 6:39 AMbeehard44 says:
dude are your projects very greasy? hot glue works! maybe you use the glue while the gun is not yet hot enough
Jun 7, 2009. 8:19 AMtalkingjazz says:
Use elastic bands! Fix a couple around the fan and sticks at the top and it will hold the shape well enough (as long as you don't kick it or anything) and of cause you can re-use all the bits after.
Jul 18, 2009. 2:10 AMlemminggenocide says:
"Use elastic bands" stick to jazz. just kidding, although I don't think that they would be strong enough without glue or another joining medium. But I'm probably wrong LG
Oct 24, 2010. 6:32 AMbeehard44 says:
i made the same thing except i used a plastic cup with a tissue core (fancy way of saying putting a roll of tissue in the center) it cools! which is weird here in the humid conditions of Philippines.
Jul 17, 2010. 9:54 AMgreenlife says:
funny idea. we have solar air conditioner for sell. Solar Air Conditioner CE Certification Electricity-saving 60% to 70% in Summer Electricity-saving 30% to 40% in Winter Running at -5 to 53 celsius degree Superior to frequency conversion air conditioner Solar Air Conditiner Cooling only/cooling&heating O-zone friendly freon 1,High efficiently,energy-saving,comfortable and money saving. 2,Durable and long-lived,smooth running. 3,Low-loaded operation of the compressor to extend its duration. 4,Healthy and comfortable 5,It is not frequency conversion air conditioner but superior to it. 6,Super luxurious appearance 7,Automatic open and close dustproof air outlet. 8,Easy installation
Sep 22, 2010. 6:08 PMringo1 says:
how much is your solar air conditioner Is this actualy an air conditioner or a swamp cooler
Oct 20, 2010. 9:44 AMgreenlife says:
our solar air conditioner is actully air conditioner
Aug 10, 2010. 6:07 AMgafar musa says:
very interesting,i av bn lookin for some like this. i will try to build min.cooooool
Sep 22, 2009. 5:59 PMpancho del rancho says:
i have a fan from a ps2 the fats but im not sure what is its voltage can u help me out SOMEONE PLZZZ
Jul 19, 2010. 11:31 AMtoogers says:
run it at 5v or less. i suggest using a POT switch (a turning switch) to save battery/use max performance.
Oct 1, 2009. 1:06 PMChromatica says:
any voltage beneath 3v and slowly move your way up stop when it doesn't get any faster
Jul 9, 2010. 8:17 AMnutsandbolts_64 says:
my friend made one of these once, and it began to work, but then it failed :( I guess all the evaporated water began to build up the humidity in there. Hmm, he should have opened the windows!
Jul 8, 2010. 6:58 AMderyan97 says:
that looks like a shamwow (kaboom shamwow)
Jun 8, 2010. 11:46 PMFaquad says:
does the fan blow UP or DOWN into the cloth?
Jan 26, 2010. 2:10 PMZem says:
 Just using hot glue I would assume?
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i like ice-cream.