Ice Chest Air conditioner

[Chuck Bauman]

Anyone ever use one? I made my own our of frustration with Sportys. (Never admitted out of stock and on back order) Seems to work pretty well. Cost less than $100, took less than three hours to make and is pretty sturdy, if I might say. Anyone have experience with the Arctic-Aire? I'm a big boy(250) and the Michigan heat and humidity gets the best of me.

[Andrew Foster]

I'm laughingbecause I just finished mine. Same deal, less than 100 dollars in parts, although I pimped mine up a bit and took more than 3 hours to build. Mine is in a 52 quart igloo coller, with a pep boys heater core(20 bucks) west marine bilge pump(15 bucks) west marine 4" duct fan( another 20 bucks or so) I also wired in two switches, one for the fan, one for pump. Hooks into the cig lighter. Draw is 4.7 amps with fan and pump on at same time. With the free ice from rich guy FBO, mine will last about 1 to 1/2 hour running all the time. Cools the cabin from 95 to 70 in less than ten min. Although it does take up the whole back seat. It does work very well, albeit for a short time. I'm going to experiment with a melody of block ice, free fbo ice, and dry ice on top to see how long that lasts. My friend who I copied from( the most sincere form of flattery) uses a auto power pack, sets it up in his 182, cools the cabin during pre-flight, takes off, climbs. shuts it down at altitude for cruise, the turns it on again for the descent. Somehow a couple of cold ones magically apear at the bottom. In all sincerity though for the do it your selfer it's definiety worth the 100 bucks in parts. If I had paid 500 or so for it I would have been bummed.

[John Wedge]

I have a 38qt that I purchased from Brett in Phoenix Az,- Kat's Cooler. It also has the marine pump and fan and works good. Draws 5amp. With the cube ice it only lasts slightly over hour, I have some block ice however have not had time to try it but am told it will last several hours with block. After looking at the Artic cooler in OSH I think Kats is better and what you have built is probably better also especially for the cost.
John

[Tony Scarpelli]

[Tony Scarpelli]