DIY Off Grid AC for my Budget Camper Van

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Make Everything
Video that inspired this project: • The BEST DIY Off Grid ...
Parts/Tools:
12v Cooler/Fridge: amzn.to/3Tyv9ts
Computer Radiator: amzn.to/3eIgduc
Computer 12v Adjustable Fan: amzn.to/3eKmGor
12v DC Water Pump: amzn.to/3TOWGr1
DC to AC Adjustable Converter(For Waterpump): amzn.to/3gkY71T
DC Power Connector (for pump): amzn.to/3TblABa
90 Degree PVS Elbow: amzn.to/3TBnOcR
9 Quart Mini Cooler: amzn.to/3TbnTE1
4Inch PVC Adapter Mount: amzn.to/3eKmGor
Power Consumption Monitor: amzn.to/3D5LQqY
20ft copper (I used around 15 ft): Lowes
Copper Tube Bender: Home Depot
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You'll have behind the scenes access and more!
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I have a website:
AutoMotoNation.com
#BuildsUnited #DIYAC #Astrovan
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Builds United, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Builds United assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Builds United recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Builds United, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Builds United.
Furthermore, the links posted within the description may or may not contain affiliate links. If used, I trully appreciate the support!

[@alsheppard9479]

You should exit the heat of the compressor to outside the van. It's a physics rule that applies when generating hot or cold. You have to remove the unwanted.

[@ayaand988]

You could always use freeon like cars do and use a power drill to run the compressor

[@youngb6651]

I love this video because it show trial and error of your invention. We need more video like this.

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Love trying new things out. Maybe someone can use bits of it and make it 100x better

[@ratgreen]

Yeh as others have said, fridges / ac compressors all work the same, they compress refrigerant in a cycle (compressing it which makes it hot, cool it off (using ambient air) and then drop the pressure through a vavle to let it expand, which makes it super cold. So you need to get rid of the waste heat from the fridge, and get it outside. Otherwise your fridge is cooling but also heating up the van at the same time.

[@richardstthomas9726]

Yes, the fridge hot exhaust needs to be vented to outside. Also, the mini radiator is designed to exchange heat with fan moved air. Just setting it in a cold space isnt eniough. They do make aluminum and copper heat exchangers. No fins, uses conductive cooling so can put at bottom of fridge, then cover with insulation to increase thermal isolation. I got some excellent large heat exchanger blocks off of ebay while back, they work great. Also id be concerned about overlaoding the fridge compressor. They arent designed to move lots of heat. They are supposed to cool insulated compartment and then stop. Maybe with high efficiency venting to outside would help. Its possible to water cool the fridge condenser so it wont burn out trying to air vent the heat.

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Overall, I ended up getting it to the work just a bit by the end of the video. I know I am missing a concept to make it better, so any insight is welcome! Thank you everyone for stopping by! I have a Patreon and I would love your support: www.patreon.com/BuildsUnited You'll have behind the scenes access and more! Merch (more coming out soon): www.etsy.com/shop/buildsunited

[@katreilly3094]

Why don't you just use the fridge if the fridge can get to a freezing temperature if you kept it at such a low temperature with everything built into it maybe it would work I'd love to see you try it

[@alis.4121]

You can use same ac system of the car to extend the ac to the rear universal evaporator with flexible pipeb

[@plantstho6599]

I see this after just posting the other comment and it got me thinking. The problem is because you're not evacuating the hot air. So it will never work, because thermodynamics. Although it did get me thinking that you could possibly build a 12V ac from an old 12v fridge. But with all the labor involved... just take the plunge and buy one, because it's probably not worth it.

[@cesarperez10]

this vented to a sleeping bag would be more than enough

[@devinhartleben1522]

One principle to always keep at the front of your mind when designing is that you are building great exchangers. It makes one area cold by exchanging the heat to another location. So your fridge is taking the heat out of the inside and dumping it to the outside. Your water pump will also generate heat. Any cold that your system is outputting will be fighting the warm that your system is also producing. The best way to separate them so that they are not fighting is to move all heat-generating components outside of your van. If you move your water pump onto your fridge, and extend your tubes so that you can run your fridge and pump outside of the van. Your ice-water and copper tube exchanger was excellent, that way the coolant can transfer its heat to the water quicker than air. I also think the initial cooler is not helping to suck heat out of your van. Think of it like the opposite of a radiator: it's not putting cold into the air, it's actually taking the hot out of the air. So isolating your radiator inside the cooler won't help to take the heat from your van's air, but hinder it. You want as big of a radiator as possible (and fan) so that you are pulling as much of your van's air as possible through the radiator, this transferring the heat from the air into the coolant. I'm not sure the best way to run your tubes outside of your van while keeping all windows and doors closed. But keeping the inside of your van as enclosed as possible will help the temps drop lower. Covering the tubes in insulation outside of the van will help not suck heat out of the outside air. Thanks for reading my suggestions! You've been a huge inspiration to me and I hope you keep iterating on your design- don't give up!

[@devinhartleben1522]

*heat exchangers I knew I should have proof read

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

I really should have started to tackle this project a while ago since it is already getting cool out. My goal was to see if the system could even produce consistent cold air. If it worked as intended, I was planning for a way to dissipate the hot air outside the van some how. The copper and ice is definitely the way to go. I should have use both of the radiators in the smaller fridge, could have made a difference. I think something to think about with this particular system is just how long will it last? The compressor isn't meant to run 24/7 and with the AC system running it would be. Next summer I think I may want to try to tackle a diy mini split system. Seems a kind of fun

[@devinhartleben1522]

@@ImChrisDeDecker You're right, it's smart to consider the operating conditions that the compressor was designed for. It won't last long if the fridge/freezer is working 24/7. And it's not easily replaceable. When the hot weather returns I hope you take another stab at this! I'm a big fan of your Astro projects.

[@jairramos88]

More videos please

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Currently working on the finale storage spot in the interior before I start to do all the finishing touches! Projects arent cheap!

[@SRDragon1]

Nice try. Hey FYI I got one of your Stickers from Mike Z and it’s on my Van. I’ll highlight it in my next video watch out for it.

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Dude, heck yeah! I appreciate that!

[@TRAVISVANZUIDEN]

Try using a vehicle AC compressor from the junk yard

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Interesting Idea. Takes a lot of force to turn that over.

[@richardstthomas9726]

The new rotary scroll compressors are way to go. Small, superefficient. Just need vacuum pump and refrigerant bleeding tool to charge it. Hm, maybe remove the ac system from the fridge and mount it where its next to outside and vent it. Attach heat exchanger for water directly. Those low power fridges have efficient rotary scroll compressors which dont need much power. it is just necessary to vent alll the heat from the condenser very well. Liquid cooling of the condenser might do it, then vent heated water to outside. go thru the floor. problem is, the mini fridges dont have lots of btu hour capacity. If you only have a few hundred btu hrs on the mini fridge system, well, that wont do it for you anyways. Maybe a large enoiugh fridge.

[@michaellin7313]

I knew this would not work 10 sec into your vid: the heat generated from the compressor is exhausted inside the van.

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

If I was able to get the temp down, I was going to pump the exhaust out the van.

[@malikchams3932]

who dont you just get the actual ac working in the van will get much colder and its easer for you

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Running the van all night isn’t ideal to keep it cool.

[@malikchams3932]

@@ImChrisDeDecker yes of course but wouldn’t you want the ac to work when your driving so you can conserve the other ac unit for when your camping

[@ImChrisDeDecker]

Of course, but my main goal was to produce cold air during the night because it is a bit miserable to sweat while I sleep. I am planning to fix the front ac in the can, probably when it gets hot again.

[@malikchams3932]

@@ImChrisDeDecker can’t wait to see that love this channel