DIY Cooler

Wouldn't it be nice to have a cold beverage right next to you? In this project I will show you how to achieve this luxury by building a homemade cooler which decreases the temperature of your beverages down to 8 degree Celsius. Let's get started!

Step 1: Watch the Videos!

The two videos give you all the information you need to build something similar. For further reference see the following steps.

Step 2: Buy Your Parts!

Here is a list which contains the most important electronic parts for this build (affiliate links):

Aliexpress:
1x Arduino Nano: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dULoNXh

1x 2 Channel Relay Board: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYKlm2b

1x DS18B20: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYda47H

2x TEC1-12706 Peltier Modules: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_BfA3NXvN

2x CPU Heatsinks: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTHbUfd

Amazon.de:

1x Arduino Nano: http://amzn.to/1VAMOeT

1x 2 Channel Relay Board: http://amzn.to/1VAMOeT

1x DS18B20: http://amzn.to/1VAMOeT

2x TEC1-12706 Peltier Modules: http://amzn.to/1VAMOeT

2x CPU Heatsinks: http://amzn.to/1VAMOeT

Ebay:

1x Arduino Nano: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

1x 2 Channel Relay Board: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

1x DS18B20: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

2x TEC1-12706 Peltier Modules: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

2x CPU Heatsinks: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

Everything else (MDF, Styrofoam, brackets, hinges, bolts & nuts,.....) can be found in your next home improvement store.

Step 3: Build the Case!

Here you can find the measurement for my three layer case design. Feel free to build your own like this or get creative and change it in one way or another.

Step 4: Wire Up the Electronics!

Here you can download my Arduino Code and the schematic that I created during this project. If you build everything like it is described then there shouldn't occur any problem.

Step 5: Success!

You did it. You successfully built your own cooler.
Feel free to check out my YouTube channel for more awesome projects:

http://www.youtube.com/user/greatscottlab

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for news about upcoming projects and behind the scenes information:

https://twitter.com/GreatScottLab

https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlab

Comments

[marky0000]

If i will using arduino uno, where can I put the D4 and D3? i still beginner in this type of work. and It will still affect the codes ?

[KonradK8]

Hi Scott!

What kind of unit are in step3 on the first picture?

[MadushanJ]

Hi scott I have problem
I think that you controlling two coolers with Arduino and relay by on & off but not fans. Why is that? Is there any reason to switch on fans all the time? or is it ok to make it off with the cooler?

[MilanK14]

Hi scott I have problem

Arduino code is broken. This Error log

C:\Users\I'mUserC:\Users\Koudysik\Downloads\Cooler_Sketch\Cooler_Sketch.ino:1:21: fatal error: OneWire.h: No such file or directory

#include <OneWire.h>

^

compilation terminated.

exit status 1

Error compiling for board Arduino Nano.

[MotownM]

Be sure to install the necessary libraries, otherwise the code wont compile. just search OneWire and DallasTemperature in the Manage Libraries panel in the Arduino IDE, and install them from there. I had a similar issue, only to realize that the libraries aren't installed by default.

[MilanK14]

New Arduino: 1.6.12 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Nano, ATmega168"

lto1.exe: internal compiler error: resolution sub id 0xde907f8f not in object file

libbacktrace could not find executable to open

Please submit a full bug report,

with preprocessed source if appropriate.

See <http://gcc.gnu.org/bugs.html> for instructions.

lto-wrapper: C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-gcc returned 1 exit status

c:/program files (x86)/arduino/hardware/tools/avr/bin/../lib/gcc/avr/4.9.2/../../../../avr/bin/ld.exe: lto-wrapper failed

collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status

exit status 1

Error compiling for board Arduino Nano.

Invalid library found in C:\Users\\Documents\Arduino\libraries\examples: C:\Users\\Documents\Arduino\libraries\examples

Invalid library found in C:\Users\\Documents\Arduino\libraries\examples: C:\Users\Documents\Arduino\libraries\examples

This report would have more information with

"Show verbose output during compilation"

option enabled in File -> Preferences.

[KonradK8]

Welcome. But what aboat with source of dc? How to use how much AMPERS?

[bigyabbie]

cool project:
I am surprised that it takes so long to cool your device, so a couple of quick suggestions/questions.

Surely it makes sense to make the fridge top opening as cold air falls and you can best guarantee the seals of the non-opening faces and joint (basic chest freezer principle). It would also surely make sense then to place the peltier system in the opening door at the top, as hot air rises and cold air falls. I would also presume it make sense to paint the alluminium plate on the inside of the fridge black and or have a larger surface area so that it can absorb more heat from inside the fridge more quickly. Also using extruded polystyrene foam as used on construction sites to insulate floors would be more effective then standard ball foam, Often easy to get from a construction site as they throw away off cuts.

Final comment is that the real inefficiency of this must surely be the aluminium spacer blocks reducing the heat transfer to the inside of the fridge and the small air holes through the foam reducing the air flow over the heatsink at the back. Understandably these are needed because of the thinness of the Peltier plate and the thickness of the foam insulation. So why not use a water cooling block and small induction pump to move the heat through pipes, may be much more efficient. Just a thought, love to know your response

[bigyabbie]

cool project:
I am surprised that it takes so long to cool your device, so a couple of quick suggestions/questions.

Surely it makes sense to make the fridge top opening as cold air falls and you can best guarantee the seals of the non-opening faces and joint (basic chest freezer principle). It would also surely make sense then to place the peltier system in the opening door at the top, as hot air rises and cold air falls. I would also presume it make sense to paint the alluminium plate on the inside of the fridge black and or have a larger surface area so that it can absorb more heat from inside the fridge more quickly. Also using extruded polystyrene foam as used on construction sites to insulate floors would be more effective then standard ball foam, Often easy to get from a construction site as they throw away off cuts.

Final comment is that the real inefficiency of this must surely be the aluminium spacer blocks reducing the heat transfer to the inside of the fridge and the small air holes through the foam reducing the air flow over the heatsink at the back. Understandably these are needed because of the thinness of the Peltier plate and the thickness of the foam insulation. So why not use a water cooling block and small induction pump to move the heat through pipes, may be much more efficient. Just a thought, love to know your response

[KapnisisBladeworks]

if i dont use the 4.7 k resistor and use a 0.12k resistor what will hapend?

[liangxin]

the cooler down to 8 degree, not -8

[xrobevansx]

I find it hard to believe 2 peltiers will cool down to -8 C....really?

[GreatScottLab]

Who said -8 C?

[xrobevansx]

Sorry thats what it said on the facebook link

[DanielGustafsson90]

Just as an FYI to your previous comment I just today used a peltier (TEC1 12706 I believe) and a serious heatsink/fan combination and managed to reach -30C on the surface of the peltier. I don't know how easily that is to fill a larger space though. :)

[Yonatan24]

I think he said 8, not negative 8

[martinsebas77]

Can
this project be solar powered? Maybe a little bigger for storing more than a
beer... how big do you think it could be using a 160w solar panel to keep it at
a 10 to 5 degrees centigrade?

[mleo1]

I get an error message when I verify your sketch:

Arduino: 1.6.5 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Nano, ATmega328"

Build options changed, rebuilding all

Cooler_Sketch.ino:1:21: fatal error: OneWire.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
Error compiling.

Am I missing something here? I'm looking forward to adding this to my current cooler fridge project.

[mleo1]

Okay found what I was missing in another instructable. I needed to
download the OneWire and DallasTemperature libraries and add them to the
Arduino library folder. Also noticed that you left off the 4.7k
resistor in your list of items.

[rania_abdulhadi]

may i ask where to find them?