Anyone else tried a redneck AC in a 914?, hope my terminology doesn't offend anyone |
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Anyone else tried a redneck AC in a 914?, hope my terminology doesn't offend anyone |
michael7810 |
Mar 20 2017, 01:22 PM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,078 Joined: 6-June 11 From: Scottsdale, AZ Member No.: 13,164 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I will be driving my 914 from Phoenix to WCR in June without AC. It will be 100F+ across the desert anytime the sun is up and 90F+ at night. Since the passenger seat will be empty I decided to make a foam cooler AC unit (aka redneck AC) to help on the drive. There are many youtube videos and they are all basically the same. Cut 2 holes in the top of a foam ice chest; stick a fan in 1 and a PVC nozzle on the other. Fill the chest with ice, turn the fan on and enjoy the coolness.
I had an old tower PC fan and the foam cooler and PVC cost about $10. It was 95F on Saturday so I let the car sit in the sun for a while, inside temp was 101F, loaded the RNAC unit with 30 lb of ice and went for a drive. I didn't check the outlet air temp but it was slightly cool at best. While traveling north the inside temp dropped to 94F after about 25 miles on the highway which was still uncomfortable but with the slightly cool air blowing on my face it felt doable. Holy crap, when I turned south to head home and the sun was on the windshield (original glass with zero tint/UV protection) the inside temp jumped back up to 101F and after a while I thru up the white flag and rolled the windows down. Temp with the windows down was a pleasant 97F. After many hours of R&D while measuring the outlet temp I found that adding a second outlet hole gained a -2F improvement. I then moved the 2nd outlet close to the fan inlet to allow some recirculation and got another -2F improvement (-4F total). I put a 2nd fan inside the cooler to stir up the air inside but that did not reduce the outlet temp; neither did adding additional outlet holes or a second fan. I got another -3F improvement by adding a piece of pipe on the outlet hole inside the cooler to pick up the air closer to the ice...so now I'm at around 7F lower outlet temp and ready for another test drive. My wife thinks I'm a total idiot for even thinking about driving my car across the desert in June and even more so once she looked at the contraption in the passenger footwell. I commented that she didn't have to worry about me picking up anyone along the way since there's no room beside the 40 Qt ice chest, to which she replied she never worries about me picking up anyone while driving my 914 even when the passenger seat available...ouch. Any other ideas or experience out there? Is my wife right? |
db9146 |
Mar 20 2017, 01:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 953 Joined: 21-December 04 From: Atlanta, GA Member No.: 3,315 Region Association: None |
Have you ever through about using one of the racing cool shirts" that work on the same principle but circulate cold water in tubes instead? I think the problem is the "transfer" from the ice to the air.
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Andyrew |
Mar 20 2017, 01:48 PM
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#3
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Spooling.... Please wait Group: Members Posts: 13,376 Joined: 20-January 03 From: Riverbank, Ca Member No.: 172 Region Association: Northern California |
I built an icechest system a long time ago that worked decently with ice, OK with ice packs.
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Andyrew |
Mar 20 2017, 01:50 PM
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#4
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Spooling.... Please wait Group: Members Posts: 13,376 Joined: 20-January 03 From: Riverbank, Ca Member No.: 172 Region Association: Northern California |
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...chest&st=40
Im sure there are aftermarket things that are similar and much nicer. |
zipedadoo |
Mar 20 2017, 02:21 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 135 Joined: 23-January 14 From: Arizona Member No.: 16,921 Region Association: None |
This time of year with the low humidity, I'd think a swamp cooler system would work better, at least while you're at speed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/172374330492?...p;ul_noapp=true https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q...XZqX6NwdlB5PnMA |
dlkawashima |
Mar 20 2017, 03:08 PM
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#6
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 9,749 Joined: 1-October 10 From: San Jose Member No.: 12,234 Region Association: Northern California |
I used a FlexiFreeze Ice Vest with an extra set of blue ice packs to use on a trip. Temps were in the mid-90's through some sections of the trip but I was fine. The first set of packs lasted about 60-90 minutes, somewhere in that range. The second set (the blue ice packs), even though I had stored them in a cooler, lasted only about 30 minutes. So I was able to stay cool for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Not bad, but then there's the problem of how to refreeze them.
One thing that might work with this method is buying bulk crushed ice along the way and putting the ice in extra large ziploc freezer bags. The vest has 3 large pockets where the freeze packs go, so I would think the freezer bags could act as a decent substitute (might not be very comfortable on your back, however). (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com-12234-1490044122.1.jpg) |
Mowog4 |
Mar 20 2017, 03:28 PM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 283 Joined: 2-November 15 From: Mesa AZ Member No.: 19,325 Region Association: None |
I tried the ice chest thing years ago in an original Mini Cooper, didn't work well at all. I would go the swamp cooler route. If the trek through the desert is at night shouldn't be too bad
ed |
Dave_Darling |
Mar 20 2017, 04:12 PM
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#8
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,974 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
Swamp cooler might work; the desert is dry enough that the water should evaporate pretty quickly!
When I drove through the desert to Parade 2014, I had an ice-chest with ice (and drinks) in the passenger's footwell. I had a washcloth that I would put into the chest and it would absorb the 32F meltwater. Put that on the back of my neck, and it kept things livable. Not super pleasant by any means, but I did survive. I should have used a dish towel or a hand towel; the washcloth didn't seem large enough. And taking two so you can switch them might be a decent idea. It was still hot as f**k, but I got through it. I had the roof on, and the windows partly open. Not doing the many-hours-of-driving with the roof off thing again. Earplugs were also a brain-saver, BTW. All of the wind noise in particular gets to you. --DD |
Andyrew |
Mar 20 2017, 04:13 PM
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#9
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Spooling.... Please wait Group: Members Posts: 13,376 Joined: 20-January 03 From: Riverbank, Ca Member No.: 172 Region Association: Northern California |
I found with my ice chest you needed to have a flow path for the air, thats why I used wire mesh. If you could do a large chest with a spiral and and fill it with 10lb ice bags every couple hours you would probably be able to stay pretty cool. Also I found direct air to be the most effective.
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Elliot Cannon |
Mar 20 2017, 05:52 PM
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#10
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None |
Try one of these. http://www.b-kool.net/
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mgphoto |
Mar 20 2017, 05:56 PM
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#11
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"If there is a mistake it will find me" Group: Members Posts: 1,330 Joined: 1-April 09 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 10,225 Region Association: Southern California |
Try dry ice much colder, don't close the windows all the way, CO2 you know.
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PanelBilly |
Mar 20 2017, 06:08 PM
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#12
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,788 Joined: 23-July 06 From: Kent, Wa Member No.: 6,488 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
This looks good. Not too big either. Little more $ than I'd like to spend, but if I was planning a drive in the hot sun, might be worth the investment. |
JmuRiz |
Mar 20 2017, 06:20 PM
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#13
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,414 Joined: 30-December 02 From: NoVA Member No.: 50 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I came expecting a VW swamp cooler too. You can always sell it to a beetle or bus guy when finished with it.
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tom.esh |
Mar 20 2017, 07:00 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 62 Joined: 6-March 14 From: Canton Ohio Member No.: 17,083 Region Association: North East States |
My daughter's softball team love the froggtogg cooling pads. They really seem to cool the girls down between innings. We keep a small cooler of ice water to wet the towels.
.https://www.froggtoggs.com/cooling.html |
bfrymire |
Mar 20 2017, 07:59 PM
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#15
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Salsaholic Group: Members Posts: 590 Joined: 1-August 04 From: Sunnyvale, CA Member No.: 2,431 Region Association: Northern California |
When I saw the title, I thought this was what I was going to see...
Attached image(s) |
Elliot Cannon |
Mar 20 2017, 08:40 PM
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#16
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None |
Try dry ice much colder, don't close the windows all the way, CO2 you know. For some of these to work efficiently, you should add a little water. Adding water to dry ice in a closed environment? Maybe not such a good idea. Unless you want to pull over and (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yellowsleep[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) |
thelogo |
Mar 20 2017, 09:38 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Retired Members Posts: 1,510 Joined: 6-April 10 Member No.: 11,572 Region Association: None |
Shouldn't you be more concerned with
The car running hot in those high temps roads Sun beating down in the middle of no where? Thats me but I would say your using icebox is better then straining The engine even further so (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) there But i would just use a cold mister and fans instead Or Install a corvette air conditioning in it , coldest strongest a-c I ever felt Or better yet Get a old covette with a cold ac And put the 914 on a trailer and tow it with the vette. Should have plenty of power to tow Ac is killer And you could pull up to wrc and im sure everyone would be like wtf (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) |
michael7810 |
Mar 20 2017, 09:38 PM
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#18
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,078 Joined: 6-June 11 From: Scottsdale, AZ Member No.: 13,164 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Damn you Elliot - I was all set to make the best of my foam ice chest and now, thanks to you, all I can think about is I want a B-Kool. I can use it in my 914, 944 if (when) the AC craps out, garage, tent, workshop, house when the power goes out, dog house when the wife sees how much I paid for it...plus it supports an Arizona business (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
thelogo |
Mar 20 2017, 09:42 PM
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#19
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Senior Member Group: Retired Members Posts: 1,510 Joined: 6-April 10 Member No.: 11,572 Region Association: None |
Have you ever through about using one of the racing cool shirts" that work on the same principle but circulate cold water in tubes instead? I think the problem is the "transfer" from the ice to the air. +1 on that And this will make you feel faster too Especially if you car is yellow + |
Elliot Cannon |
Mar 20 2017, 10:02 PM
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#20
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None |
Damn you Elliot - I was all set to make the best of my foam ice chest and now, thanks to you, all I can think about is I want a B-Kool. I can use it in my 914, 944 if (when) the AC craps out, garage, tent, workshop, house when the power goes out, dog house when the wife sees how much I paid for it...plus it supports an Arizona business (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Always glad to help. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) |
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