As everyone knows, if the car does not have a complete set, then installing it there is very problematic, and often it is not possible at all due to technical reasons. However, every year the heat forces people to develop their ingenuity.
There is one way to “air condition” your car, which, despite its complexity, is attracting more and more experimenters. Meaning thermoelectric cooler based on Peltier elements. The most important advantage of such cooling using the thermoelectric effect is minimal amount moving parts and the absence of a complex and expensive compressor.
Such a car does not require freon, it does not need many pipes and radiators, which must be sealed. To work, it will be enough to supply 12 volts to a very thin plate and remove heat from one side by blowing with a fan, and on the opposite side receive cold, even with the formation of frost or ice.
Creation of a thermoelectric air conditioner
For example, we can consider the operation of a conventional car refrigerator made in China, powered by a cigarette lighter. The refrigerator itself consists of two parts - a lid with a thermoelectric cooling system and a thermal insulation box.
The lid contains a 65-watt Peltier element plate, to which a 12-volt wire from a regular car cigarette lighter is connected. Fans blow on each radiator, causing air flows to mix, creating a cold breeze inside the box.
Based on this simple design, you can easily make “air conditioning”. The most interesting idea for creating a cigarette lighter is to make a panel of Peltier modules and insert it into the glass back door car.
The glass is lowered, and a model with thermoelectric modules is installed in its place, then it is raised to fix the resulting glass. The most important advantage of this simple system is that it is very easy to separate the cold and warm sides.
WITH inside cold flows are removed by additional fans, and with outside- air flow from vehicle movement. In traffic jams, naturally, heat dissipation will deteriorate, but at speed you will clearly feel the cold air. To do this, you need to connect the module to the on-board 12 volt network, or to the cigarette lighter.
An air conditioner is a system that allows you to maintain the best temperature conditions in a building and eliminate harmful particles from the air. You can consider a number of options that are considered an excellent alternative to an expensive device for a refreshing effect in stuffy rooms.
Fan and water for a homemade air conditioner
Very effective method in times of absence of air conditioning, it was considered the use wet towel. In particular, they were used to wrap a bottle, after which it was placed in a place with a draft, where the room was cooled during water evaporation.
The main components for such an air conditioning system are:
- simple fan;
- a container filled with water, a towel;
- fastening wire;
- a body that is suitable for this.
Such a homemade air conditioner can be made even in office space. It is placed in the window vent. It works according to the following principle. The fan creates air movement to where a towel hangs on a wire, which is partially lowered into a reservoir of liquid. To regulate the air flow, you can equip this design with a certain filter at the air intake point.
And if you build in a speed mode, during which the fan and incandescent light bulb switch, you can achieve the effect of installation different temperatures, and the liquid consumption per hour will be approximately 1 liter. It should be noted that such a homemade air conditioner works almost silently and anyone can make it with their own hands.
Conditioner made from plastic bottles
For this design you will need:
- plastic bottles;
- plain water;
- fan.
The optimal result can be achieved when containers filled with liquid turn into ice by placing them in the refrigerator for a certain time. The way the bottles are arranged is quite important. They are placed in front of the fan, which supplies air flow to the row through small gaps. It is advisable to update the water in homemade tanks from time to time.
Homemade air conditioner from a hose and copper tube
To make such an air conditioner we will need:
- a simple rubber garden hose;
- a sufficiently thin copper tube;
- fan.
A radiator is made from a tube along the surface of the fan grille, leaving intervals for air flow, after which the whole thing is securely fixed. One side of the tube is connected to the tap, and the other goes to the drain. After turning on the cool water faucet and the fan, the air flow of the desired coolness is carried out.
Refrigerator compartment in the form of an air conditioner
If you have an outdated freezer lying around somewhere at home, it can serve as a great fan to freshen the air in the building. To do this, the refrigerator is placed in a window opening, at the same time insulating all the cracks and openings. And the reverse side is facing out. After all, this is where the radiator is located, generating heat.
Since when the freezer is running, all the cold accumulates in the inside, a simple fan must be installed in the door so that the cold air is blown out. You also need to drill several holes on the side so that the warm air. Such a system also guarantees cool freshness during the hot season.
Car radiator device
A homemade air conditioning structure can be equipped with special handles for ease of movement; a fine mesh is used in the form of filtration. The different electrical voltages generated by the power supply unit allow the air conditioner to be used in a number of cold air supply modes, which is controlled by the high-speed switch mechanism.
The radiator device has a plate appearance. Rubber hoses are placed on the tubes that extend from it and secured with clamps. Water is supplied through one hose, and, on the contrary, it is discharged through the other. The main indicator in such a system is the speed mode, within which water passes through the radiator device, and at the same time the operating speed of the fan motor. This is what determines the achievement of rapid cooling of the building and such an air conditioner is not so difficult to make. Positive side This invention consists in the fact that condensation does not form both on the radiator device and on the hoses that are built into the housing.
Cars at the present stage are stuffed with a variety of electronic devices, but nevertheless, budget ones are still being created, which, naturally, have the potential for further improvement.
If you own such a cheap car, it contains only the essentials for movement in the form of wheels, engine and body. It is quite possible that you are missing just the smallest thing - the comfortable climate provided by air conditioning in more expensive models. This is especially noticeable when it is hot outside. That’s when the question arises: is it possible to improve a personal car and install air conditioning in the car with your own hands? Naturally, you must first choose necessary equipment, deciding how it will be installed. Install air conditioning in your car yourself (cost of such services specialized companies quite large) is a bit difficult, but still possible.
Choosing air conditioning equipment in a car
To avoid mistakes, choosing a system to create climatic comfort must begin by analyzing the instructions for the car - it contains all the information about the possibility of installing additional equipment in the car. The next step in the operation called “air conditioning in the car” will be a trip to a specialized auto store. There you need to consult with sellers and familiarize yourself with catalogs of car air conditioners.
Because you have to choose the device that is most suitable for your car. It's good if you understand a little about how air conditioners work.
Options for climate control devices for cars
There are two main options for air conditioners: with automated and manual (mechanical) control. Air conditioners in cars with automatic control can be either monozonal (cooling is carried out throughout internal space), and polyzonal (creating an individual climate background in the front and rear parts of the cabin, or in more modern and improved versions - in each individual passenger seat).
Of course, installation is more complex type air conditioning will force the technician to better prepare for installation, but all this knowledge will pay off in terms of guaranteeing and creating climate comfort on future trips.
Manual control will require the simplest control devices: a thermostat adjustment knob with two sections (cold and warm), a fan rotation speed switch, and an air flow distribution lever.
The air conditioner automation consists of sensors and an electronic control unit. Thanks to them, driver intervention is limited; it is enough just to set the necessary air temperature parameters in the cabin .
To install an air conditioner in a car with your own hands, there is no need to cut or adjust anything, since most of modern car models are made from the very beginning taking into account the subsequent installation of air conditioning in the cabin.
Complete set of car air conditioner
Depending on the selected type of air conditioner, the location of the receiver-dryer will be determined. It is often installed in the space between the air conditioning radiator and the air mass control valve.
Difficulties often arise with installing control devices on the dashboard due to the lack of mounting space and removable plugs on its surface, because the car manufacturer did not envisage such an option at all. In this case, you need to prepare the panel yourself by cutting out the necessary holes in it that would be suitable for further installation of car air conditioner control devices. NB: Do not forget to fill the air conditioner with refrigerant before initial start-up.
Advantages of installing an air conditioner yourself
When an air conditioner is installed in a car (the price of the device when purchased in special stores will depend on the control method, in total it will range from 60,000 to 200,000 rubles), several goals are achieved in a row: the owner receives climatic comfort (especially in the heat), significant savings finances that could have been spent on expensive services. After commissioning with your own hands installed air conditioner It is not recommended to forget about its maintenance, which consists of cleaning it and subsequent timely refilling with refrigerants.
Cleaning the air conditioner in the car
The first step when making a decision self-cleaning air conditioning in a car, you will need to familiarize yourself with and study the instructions for the climate control equipment installed in the car, since there are many models of air conditioners that still differ from each other.
The second step is cleaning the air conditioner evaporator heat exchanger. Often for this purpose it is necessary to dismantle certain part the instrument panel near the glove compartment, because this is the only way to get from the passenger compartment to the evaporator. This option is applicable when it is not possible to penetrate through the engine compartment. If cleaning the filter is practically impossible, it is necessary to replace it with a new one. It is recommended to clean the drainage system as well, but this may complicate the task.
The third step is drying the heat exchanger; for this, the engine is turned on to warm up at full power. It is recommended to place some kind of container under the outlet drain tube to drain the liquid accumulated in the system.
Fourth step - after 2-3 minutes of operation, the heater must be switched to fifty percent power and directed air masses in the "legs - face" direction.
Fifth step - use previously prepared "Lysol" (diluted with water in a ratio of 1:100) or other mixtures. It is desirable that the solution has a pleasant aroma ( similar means available for sale). The product is poured into hand sprayer, with the help of which the liquid is distributed over the surface of the evaporator. In ten to fifteen minutes, pathogenic microbes and fungi will be destroyed.
Sixth step - the engine is turned on again at full power to thoroughly dry and clean the evaporator.
Additional list of air conditioner cleaning products
It is also possible to purchase specialized mixtures to clean the air conditioner in the car. Their price can range from 400 to 700 rubles. These products are aerosols. At the moment of spraying, they foam, and the resulting foam is introduced into the space for subsequent cleaning through a certain tube through the deflectors.
After injection, the engine starts, the heater is set to full power, exposure - fifteen minutes. The waste product is disposed of in a natural way- through drainage holes.
The most effective means for cleaning ventilation units and, therefore, popular among car enthusiasts - aerosols produced by three brands: Loctite, Liqui Moly, WYNN's.
Another way to clean the ventilation unit
It is also acceptable manually clean the climate system from internal contaminants. For this purpose, it is necessary to dismantle part of the panel to gain access to the structural elements of the air conditioning system. But this method applied when the previously listed measures were unsuccessful.
Thus, setting ventilation unit followed by manual maintenance, the car owner answers the question that arises at first: why is air conditioning in the car necessary? The answer is banally simple - creating comfortable and favorable conditions for ordinary (if he is a car enthusiast and the car is a means of transportation) or work driving (if we're talking about about driving like production process- taxi).
DIY mini air conditioner: photo instructions for making it yourself.
I often go by car to the dacha and have picnics in nature; there is no standard air conditioner in the car, so I decided to make a homemade mini refrigerator air conditioner.
The original idea was to cool the refrigerator bag with food (for example, cold drinks or meat). After assembly and testing in real conditions, it turned out that such a mini-air conditioner does an excellent job of cooling the air.
Operating principle and manufacturing.
The design uses a dual-circuit cooling and humidification scheme for the supplied air:
- Chiller (Water cooling system).
- Fancoil (heat exchanger for air cooling).
- Evaporator (performs 2 functions: cooling and humidification).
- Power supply from the on-board 12V network (via the cigarette lighter).
Mini air conditioner diagram.
Principle of operation:
First phase.
Water is sucked into the motor by a pump from the bottom of the container and supplied to the chiller (a coil from a pipe at the bottom of the container). The water passing through it is cooled due to the evaporation of the liquid. Evaporation is formed due to the cooler blowing constantly moistened (irrigated with water) material (absorbent cloth) wrapped around the tubes, simultaneously humidifying the air during evaporation.
Second phase.
After passing through the chiller, the cooled water enters the fan coil (heat exchanger) upper coil, where the heat exchanger is blown with a directed air flow, while the outlet air is humidified and has a lower temperature. Water, having passed through the heat exchanger, exits through the open hole of the coil and, using a spray nozzle, irrigates the chiller’s absorbent napkin. The cycle becomes closed.
The calculation showed approximately 19-20% efficiency. Anyone who is “more or less” involved in calculating performance will confirm that this is a high indicator for a “handicraft” product... during the test 6 minutes the temperature dropped by - 6.5 ° C, and after 20 minutes the temperature on the thermometer dropped to - 11 ° C from base T°
Of course, it can be improved by using radiators for water cooling systems in computers, as well as more powerful motors.
BUT! this will undoubtedly increase the cost and the point of doing something yourself will disappear, since the cost of the costs will exceed the bar for calculating the cost.
In general, here we can talk endlessly and come to the conclusion that it is “easier to buy a ready-made” refrigerator (car refrigerator), but the goal was not to assemble a factory unit, but minimal costs achieve maximum benefit in use.
Most of the elements in the design were purchased at Auchan for pennies, the rest in stores like Stroitel and Auto Parts:
- 1) Plastic container, 1 piece =110 rub.
- 2) plastic container, 1 piece =56 rub.
- 3) washer motor pump, 1 piece = 75 rub.
- 4) main brake pipe for VAZ “classic”, 2 pieces = 65 rub.
- 5) flexible hose (silicone type), 1 m = 28 rub.
- 6) pipe + ventilation corner, 1 piece + 1 piece = 130 rub.
- 7) non-woven absorbent napkin, 1 piece = 18 rub.
- 8) computer coolers: were in stock.
- 9) plastic caps (legs), plastic clamps, button, wire, plug into the cigarette lighter.
Costs for materials amounted to = 482 rubles.
Making an air conditioner from a refrigerator, and even with your own hands, solves three problems at once: cool down in the heat, save on purchases new technology and beautifully get rid of the old one. It’s especially nice that even a beginner who has a couple of hours of free time can handle the task.
Benefits of a homemade air conditioner
1. Refrigerator air conditioning saves a lot of money cash. This is especially important when neither the dollar exchange rate nor the Ukrainian salary contribute to a comfortable summer microclimate.
2. Allows you to create comfortable and cool conditions in rooms where you do not visit very often and where installing an expensive independent air conditioner would be too expensive or impractical, for example, in a country house, and perhaps in an office.
3. By making an air conditioner from a refrigerator yourself, you save yourself from the need to decide on a model, resort to the help of professionals to install the unit, and you also a priori cease to need specialized maintenance and possible repairs technology.
4. There is no need to purchase and replace special filters, which are usually used in air conditioners and require replacement from time to time. (And this, by the way, costs a pretty penny). It’s just that the refrigerator simply does not provide such a detail as filters.
5. It’s pleasant to use cool air on a hot summer day, but receiving cold air from a device designed by yourself is doubly pleasant. In addition, you will always know the design of your air conditioner and if it breaks down, you can quickly fix it yourself.
How does an air conditioner work and how does it work?
The air conditioner works according to one of the well-known physical principles: due to liquid, which absorbs heat during evaporation. In fact, the air conditioner is a completely sealed box, the cooling inside of which occurs largely due to a special refrigerant (as a rule, the main component of the latter is freon gas). Everything is simple here: the refrigerant “pulls” heat from the room and inside the air conditioner compresses it and transforms it into condenser liquid.
In a refrigerator, refrigerant gas under pressure from the compressor is pushed into the condenser, where its gas state changes to liquid, and after that the process of heat release begins. Passing through a special capillary tube, the refrigerant gas returns to its gas state. During this process, the pressure created by the compressor is lost, and the remaining refrigerant liquid enters the evaporator and boils.
The corrector, in turn, is connected to, where the production of cold occurs. This is the center from which the cold is distributed along the inner walls refrigeration chamber. The refrigerant is returned to the compressor, after which the procedure with compression and evaporation is repeated in a circle.
Subsequent cooling of the air occurs using special copper tubes with thin aluminum plates. These tubes are called heat exchangers; with their help, the refrigerant exchanges air and, in fact, heat.
Tip: To speed up the process, the air inside the air conditioner is accelerated using small fans.
During air cooling, the evaporator indoor unit The air conditioner performs its functions while the condenser operates outside. If the room needs to be heated, then the air conditioner and condenser simply change their tasks.
Any one has a similar principle of operation, only all the cooling does not go outside, but remains inside and already cools food products. The refrigerator and air conditioner operate in a closed circuit using warm air processed using refrigerant.
The process of converting a refrigerator into an air conditioner step by step
After you have obtained a suitable refrigerator to convert it into an air conditioner (the device can be accepted as a gift from friends who decided to replace the unit with a new one, or find a suitable device on the Internet). Now we need to arm ourselves necessary tools. You already have some of them, the rest can be borrowed from friends or bought at a hardware store:
- Electric household
In progress self-assembly air conditioner from an old refrigerator, you will need to cut metal fragments of the unit body. Household jigsaw It is specifically designed for metal carving and will allow you to process it without much difficulty.
- Sewer corrugated pipe
Could be anyone convenient color and diameter - its main function in this case is to remove cooled air from the housing former refrigerator directly to the premises
- Polyurethane foam or special insulation
Needed for insulation - when creating an air conditioner with your own hands, it is extremely important that the body of the refrigerator not only does not allow cool air to pass through in places where it is not needed, but also does not absorb heat - because then it turns out that your device is running almost idle and not manages to cool the air.
- Two small
They will be needed to create the correct air flows of cold air - after all, as you know, the air conditioner works on the principle of blowing - fans in this case will serve as guides for this air. The size of the fans must be chosen relative to the refrigeration chamber itself, but, as a rule, the most popular choice in this case is small fans for kitchen hoods.