Today we will talk about car air conditioners, but not ordinary stationary ones, but mobile 12/24V ones powered by a cigarette lighter.

The article will address the following questions:

1. What are 12V car air conditioners and do they really exist?
2. Design features and operating principle;
3. Advantages and disadvantages;
4. What the market offers;
5. Selection criteria and what they influence;
6. How not to buy a fan instead of the desired mobile air conditioner;
7. Is it possible to make such a device with your own hands?

We hope that the article will be useful to you.

Where there is demand, there is supply

When driving a car in a traffic jam in the summer, what bothers drivers the most is the heat. The car gets so hot from the sun's rays that it is almost impossible to sit in it. This problem is very well solved by car climate systems, the design of which includes an air conditioner.

But such equipment is an additional “headache” for the driver, since it requires periodic maintenance and elimination.

But still, such a device allows you to feel comfortable while in the car even in extreme heat.

But not all cars are equipped with air conditioning. And this applies not only to older models.

New cars in the budget segment are rarely equipped with an air conditioning system as standard. So drivers either have to suffer, enduring the heat, or look for an alternative.

It is interesting that the fight against this problem has been going on for a long time, using technical means.

Perhaps the very first device was a small one, driven by a 12-volt electric motor, which was powered through a cigarette lighter.

And although the fan is not of much use, since it only provides air circulation throughout the cabin, it is still in great demand.

And where there is demand, there is supply. And since technology does not stand still, the car accessories market has been replenished with another gadget, which, according to manufacturers, is capable of keeping the cabin cool in the summer.

This device is called a portable air conditioner, which operates from a cigarette lighter.

Cigarette lighter air conditioners

Naturally, this wonderful device was developed in China, which has long distinguished itself by producing various outlandish things. But such devices are already being made in other countries.

According to the manufacturers, such an air conditioner can provide coolness in the cabin, and for this there is no need to change anything in the car, we simply purchase the device, connect it to the car’s on-board network, set the operating parameters and enjoy the coolness. But let’s try to figure out whether this is really the case.

So, wandering around the trading floors, you can come across an advertisement for the sale of mini-conditioners for cars operating on a 12-volt network.

The most interesting thing is that many models do not have a specific name, which already leads to certain thoughts. Several models of such equipment are shown below.

Option #1.

First representative:

The description for it states that it is a portable heat fan with dehumidifier and air conditioner. It connects to the cigarette lighter and has a power of 150 W.

This is one of the most common types of portable car air conditioners.

But let us immediately note that, first of all, it is indicated that this is a fan, and that is what it is, but in addition it has a heating coil installed, that is, in principle it cannot cool the air.

That is, when choosing such a device, you need to carefully read the description of it, ignoring the name.

Option #2.

The second model offered on trading platforms looks like this.

But after looking at the description and technical specifications, you can understand that it differs from the first version only in the body, but the “filling” is the same.

That is, this is also a scam, and for some reason an ordinary fan is called an air conditioner.

Option #3.

The third option offered by the manufacturers is this.

There is nothing special to write about it, since it is also an ordinary fan, and even heated, which will obviously be superfluous in the summer.

It is more massive than the first three representatives. And all because its design uses not only one fan, but also a water evaporator.

It works like this: a fan drives air through a special fabric filter, which is constantly supplied with water, that is, it is wet.

This really allows you to cool the air, but very slightly, so there is not much use from such equipment either.

There are a number of other options (with a water evaporator), which differ only in appearance, but work the same.

Option #5.

But here’s a really interesting option, no longer made in China, but in Italy:

This is really an air conditioner, and it works from the on-board network of the car, but it is intended for trucks, and it will not work for cars, since the equipment consumes a large amount of energy and the on-board network of the car simply cannot withstand it.

In addition, it is located on the roof, and only the control panel enters the cabin.

Model SW CUBE 12V.

The model deserves attention because it has its own compressor.

But if you study the technical characteristics of this model, you begin to understand that this mini air conditioner is suitable for trucks, since the current consumption of the device is 36 Amperes.

If you put this model in a passenger car, then not a single fuse will be able to withstand such a load, even though the device has a battery protection system.

Why can’t it be possible to make a portable air conditioner for a car?

In general, the idea is very interesting, but at the moment it is impossible to implement it. To understand everything, let’s look at the design and operating principle of a standard car air conditioner.

The main elements of a car's air conditioning system are a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser.

Additionally, the system includes a dryer and an expansion valve. All this is connected into a single sealed system through which the refrigerant circulates.

Moreover, these components are scattered throughout the front part of the car, most of them are installed in the engine compartment, and the evaporator is located under the dashboard.

It all works like this: the compressor is driven by the power plant (and it takes a lot of power). When working, this element circulates refrigerant through a closed system.

First, it enters the condenser, where it turns into a liquid state. Moreover, this transition is accompanied by active heat transfer to the environment, which leads to a change in the state of aggregation of the refrigerant.

After the condenser, the refrigerant flows through pipelines, through additional system equipment, into the evaporator.

There the process of changing the state of the substance takes place - it again becomes gaseous. In this case, everything is accompanied by active heat absorption.

And since the evaporator is located under the dashboard, it takes heat from the cabin. And the heat intake is the release of cold, which is then distributed throughout the cabin due to fans installed in front of the evaporator.

After the evaporator, the refrigerant enters the compressor, and the whole process is repeated completely.

The diagram clearly shows the principle of operation of a standard car air conditioner:

From the foregoing, it can be understood that for normal operation of the air conditioner, there must be a refrigerant - a substance that can very quickly change its state of aggregation (usually freon), and in sufficient quantity.

It must also be circulated through the system, which, in general, is not very small, that is, it must have good power.

And most importantly, the refrigerant needs somewhere to put the heat taken from the cabin.

There are, of course, monolithic systems. A representative of this design is the Italian mini-air conditioner for trucks. It has all the components of a standard air conditioner, but they are enclosed in one housing.

Let's assume that it is possible to create the same monolithic structure, powered by a cigarette lighter, filled with freon, which will be even more compact and can be installed in the cabin.

But this will only make it worse - when the refrigerant condenses, it will release heat into the cabin, and the equipment will, on the one hand, cool the air, but on the other hand, immediately heat it. And taking into account the fact that it is impossible to power a powerful electric motor from the cigarette lighter, which will drive the compressor, therefore the circulation of the refrigerant will not be fast enough.

What benefit can there be from the presented “car air conditioners”?

Based on the information provided, it is possible to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the presented models of “mini car air conditioners” (according to the manufacturers).

The first four models have only one advantage - installing and connecting them is really not difficult - they installed it on the dashboard or any other convenient place, inserted the plug into the cigarette lighter and that’s it.

But there are much more disadvantages, and the main one is that they are useless and cannot cool the interior due to their design features.

Only the fourth model presented - with a water evaporator - can still improve the situation a little, but very slightly. But the installed filter will have to be cleaned regularly from dust.

Note that the first three models are also useless as heaters. And all because it will not be possible to heat the installed coil well from the cigarette lighter, and the devices will blow slightly heated air.

The fifth model presented is really an air conditioner that can cool the air in the cabin, and it operates from the on-board network. This is its main advantage.

Its main drawback is that it is not portable, and the main part of the air conditioner is located on the roof of the car. On a minibus it looks like this:

Only the control unit and deflectors are brought into the cabin, through which cooled air is supplied:

But if such equipment looks acceptable on trucks and minibuses, then on passenger cars everything will look out of place.

And to install such an air conditioner, if there is no hatch, you will have to make a hole of the required size, that is, in fact, you will have to ruin the body of the car, forever, so installing such equipment is not an acceptable option for everyone. In addition, the cost of such an air conditioner is significant.

So it turns out that the “cigarette lighter air conditioners” on the market for passenger cars are just a publicity stunt; in reality, an effective device does not yet exist.

The existing gadgets, except for the version installed on the roof, are just plastic boxes with simple fillings that will not bring any benefit if installed in a car.

A conventional fan will be more efficient due to the larger size of the blades and the absence of a housing - fewer elements will impede the movement of air.

How can you solve the problem yourself?

And yet, the problem of heat in the cabin remains relevant. A fan is an ineffective means, but it is still better than the presented “car air conditioners”.

Only a full-fledged air conditioner using refrigerant can truly provide coolness.

In this case, you can fight the heat only by equipping the car with a standard one, which is very expensive and you will have to make changes to the design, or by purchasing a car with an installed air conditioner, which is even more expensive and not everyone has the money for it.

But you can do it even simpler - make your own “air conditioner” for the car, powered by a cigarette lighter.

There are several options for such equipment, some of them are very easy to make, others are a little more difficult.

How to make a mobile air conditioner for a car

Option #1.

The first one will be very simple. To make it you just need:

• Container with a tight-fitting lid;
• Fan powered by 12V;
• Elbow from a plastic pipe.

Then everything is very simple - we make two holes in the lid. In one of them we install and secure a fan, and in the second - a plastic elbow, which will act as a socket for the outlet of cooled air. The result should be a design like this:

That’s it – the “air conditioner” is ready, but to cool the air you will need a refrigerant, the role of which will be ice. Before the trip, pour it into a container, cover it with a lid and place it in the car.

It all works like this: the fan will pump air into the container, upon contact with ice, it will cool and exit into the cabin through the socket.

Such an “air conditioner” is very simple to manufacture, and the financial costs will be minimal, but its efficiency is also not high, and the operating time is insignificant until the ice melts and the water in the container heats up. But it's enough for a couple of hours.

Option #2.

To make it you will need:

• Portable;
• Fans (you can use large 12V coolers from the computer);
• Radiator from the cabin stove;
• Pump (aquarium or from the glass washer system);
• Wires;
• Silicone tubes;
• A plug for connecting to the cigarette lighter (can be taken from a car phone charger).

Having all this, you can start assembling:

1. We attach the prepared pump to the bottom of the cooler bag and connect a silicone tube to its outlet. It is advisable to place a small mesh filter on the pump intake;
2. We cut a hole in the lid of the bag to the size of the prepared radiator;
3. We install the radiator into the slot from the inside and secure it;
4. We place a fan outside. It can be one or several (for example, computer coolers), connected into a single structure. It is important to ensure that the air flow created by the fans is directed into the cabin and not into the bag;
5. We connect the pump and radiator with a silicone tube. The second pipeline should be put on the radiator outlet and lowered to the bottom of the bag;
6. Let's do the wiring. We connect the wires from the pump and fans and connect them to the prepared plug. It is important not to confuse the polarity, otherwise electrical appliances will work in the opposite direction.

The end result should be something like this:

After assembly, you can “ennoble” it a little, making it more presentable in appearance.

Now let's talk about how it all works. The refrigerant in this “air conditioner” is also ice, as well as ordinary water. That is, we add a layer of ice to the bottom, and then add water, after which we can turn on the device.

At the same time, the pump will begin to pump cooled water, and the filter installed on the intake will prevent small particles of ice from getting inside.

Water will begin to flow into the radiator, where heat exchange will occur, during which the air near the radiator will be cooled. This is what the installed fans will supply into the cabin.

After passing through the radiator, the water will flow back to the bottom of the bag.

Since such a cooler bag has thermally insulating walls, the ice will not melt as quickly as in the first version of the “air conditioner,” that is, it will be able to cool the air for a longer period. The presence of a radiator will provide improved heat transfer.

Additionally, such an “air conditioner” can be equipped with devices that allow you to change the fan speed, that is, it can be configured to have several operating modes.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade air conditioners

Such air conditioners can really provide coolness in the cabin, and they are not difficult to make. But such equipment also has enough disadvantages:

The design, due to the use of a container, is voluminous. That is, you will have to practically “sacrifice” one seat in the car;

The article is even for those whose hands grow in the wrong place.

Preamble: I was away from the Capital of All Russia for 5 weeks. Upon my return, the heat greeted me in Pskov, and the smoke - in Tver. But in Moscow another surprise awaited me - a rush for fans and air conditioners. Attention! There are a lot of pictures and traffic under the cut.

There were no fans anywhere, nor any air conditioners. Even if you manage to find something, the markup will be x4 or more. And the queue for installation of air conditioning exceeded 3 weeks of waiting.

Well, not a disgrace, you say? No, it's not disgraceful. Having thought about it, on the day of arrival it was simple I already had an air conditioner in my apartment..

However, you will have to work not only with your brains, but you will also need money. So if you, the reader, are a glamorous blonde, urgently look for the nearest geek to implement the gadget written in this article.

So, bad luck.

Given:

there is money, there are hands, there is a desire to get a fan or air conditioner, but there is no fan and air conditioner. What to do?

Solution.

If there is no fan, then one needs to be made. So. We go where “ordinary” people wouldn’t think to look for fans, but they are there. That's right - to the nearest auto parts store. Better than domestic ones 8-)

We unscrew the gander or filter from the water tap so that we can use it to select pipes in the store.

And we buy at the drive-thru:

1. Radiator. Anyone larger than Okovsky will do (for Oka). Ask for no unnecessary automation, otherwise you will have to hack. I bought a cooling radiator 21082-1301012, the price is about 1290 rubles.
2. Fan car radiator, powered by 12 volts, for VAZ, GAZ, AZLK, IZH, ZAZ and ZIL cars, power 110 watts. Price 1190 rub.
3. Frame for this fan (don’t forget about it!), 250 rub. (fan shroud)
4. Set of fastenings for the fan, bolts for the radiator (price is cheap)
5. Buy reinforced ones right there on the spot. rubber tubes, which can be cut to any length. You may need a large auto parts store. Select the length based on the planned location of the air conditioner and the source of cold water. The following characteristics suited my placement:
The tube to the radiator inlet and radiator outlet (the thickest) is a total of 1 m long. The tube from the tap to the radiator pipe and back is 3 m long (thinner).
6. Set of clamps(4 pcs.) for the diameter of the radiator tube. You can take a couple of clamps for a small tube (which will be put on the tap).
7. Regular blue electrical tape (10 rubles?)
8. The cheapest sealant (~50 rub.)
9. Connector for connecting power to the fan (15 rubles)
10. Any power unit at 12 volts (DC), I took it from an old computer (AT form factor), at 230 watts. It is convenient because it is turned on with a toggle switch, and not through the motherboard.
11. Optional - you can take an electric heating pump from a gazelle and a set of pipes for it with small clamps (800 rub. + 300 rub.), if you want to save running water.
12. 6 hours personal focused time.

A small sheet of thick plywood, wooden slats, a wood saw, bolts, nuts, self-tapping screws, a drill and wood drill bits - all this was already on the farm and is needed to make a radiator clamp. This is where you can get creative. As a last resort, whatever is at hand will do, as well as rope and tape.

Electrical tape is needed to adjust the radii, since the tube from (and to) the radiator is larger in diameter than the tube from the water tap.

Let's put it all together. We place the radiator horizontally, having previously plugged the hole for the temperature sensor with something. I plugged it with a self-tapping screw coated with sealant. When connecting the fan to the power supply, we change the polarity (we connect the minus to the plus, and vice versa) so that the fan changes the direction of rotation.

This device takes coolness from tap water; excess water can be drained into the bathroom or washbasin. Gives cool air. The power is not high, so it is advisable to cover extra rooms, especially the kitchen. Usually there is a malicious heat generator in the apartment - a refrigerator. This also needs to be taken into account.

It actually made it possible to reduce indoor humidity and temperature by 3 degrees. For some reason, the radiator works on 50% of its surface due to air locks, until this problem was solved.

If you also decide to use a computer power supply, then know that all yellow wires are +12 volts, all black wires are (minus), or “ground”. The wires from the fan connection can simply be exposed, plugged into the power connector for the hard drive and wrapped with electrical tape. Sometimes the wires fall out, I also fixed them with a small nail. But for some reason it only worked for me from the red wires (5 volts), maybe the unit is not standard.

Here is a photo of the resulting monster:

Internals:

Connection of tubes of different diameters:

And here is the first satisfied user of this system:

There is not much noise. Disadvantages of the system - due to the inversion of the fan, its power has decreased, and deploying the structure is technically a pain in the ass. It also collects condensation; you can put a towel or basin under it. What can be improved? Make a case, invert the fan back and turn the air flow from it to %username%, get rid of air pockets in the radiator. And the wires are finally soldered normally.

I wish you, reader, to experience such a summer exclusively at sea and on vacation  Feedback on improving the design and funny, non-constructive criticism are gladly accepted in the comments to this post.

UPD: If you repeat my feat, please send photos to mail dog netAn.ru or here in the comments.

UPD2: Water must be supplied to the radiator downwards and taken from above. There is also a tap for “deflating” the air cushion. It works effectively only with maximum water flow - it lowers the temperature by 5 degrees! At the entrance 30.1, at the exit 24.9 Celsius. I tried to connect a pump to save water, but the power supply does not have enough power - I will select a more powerful power supply and report back. I sealed the side cracks of the fan frame with rubber tape to insulate the windows in winter, and the blowing became noticeably more efficient.

Installing an air conditioner in a car with your own hands is a task for those who are diligent and attentive, because several wrong actions can lead not only to a lack of the desired comfort, but also to poor health from the operation of such a unit.

How to install an air conditioner in a car - choosing equipment

Nowadays it is impossible to imagine a car without air conditioning. This is due to the extremes that our weather likes to go to, especially in the summer, and, of course, the large amount of time we spend behind the wheel of a car in the summer. Most car configurations provide for the installation of air conditioning or climate control. But some car enthusiasts install it themselves. Before you begin installing an air conditioner, you need to choose the right one.

Expert opinion

Ruslan Konstantinov

Automotive expert. Graduated from Izhevsk State Technical University named after M.T. Kalashnikov, specializing in “Operation of transport and technological machines and complexes.” More than 10 years of professional car repair experience.

The main purpose of a car air conditioner is to create a comfortable microclimate in the cabin. According to scientists and doctors, a comfortable microclimate in the cabin is ensured at an air temperature of 22-26 degrees and a relative humidity of 50 to 65%. The standard ventilation and air recirculation system cannot create such conditions, especially in hot weather, but the air conditioner is fine. In addition, a favorable microclimate has a beneficial effect on the driver’s well-being, and traffic safety depends on this. But you have to pay for comfort and it’s not just about money; unfortunately, air conditioning systems also have disadvantages.
The main disadvantage is a decrease in engine power, a drop in dynamics and, as a result, an increase in fuel consumption by an average of 0.7-0.8 l/100 km. However, the higher the engine power, the more these factors are leveled out.
A car air conditioner consists of several main components that take up space in the engine compartment, causing poor engine cooling and increasing the risk of overheating. If the car is equipped with a standard air conditioning system, there are fastenings and places for installing air conditioning elements in the engine compartment. If the design does not include the installation of an air conditioner, independent installation can lead to negative consequences.
The disadvantages include the possibility of catching colds. In hot weather, when getting into a car whose interior is very hot under the scorching rays of the sun, any driver always turns on the cooling system, which is called to the fullest. Cold air flow provokes the proliferation of viruses in the upper respiratory tract. Experienced car owners know how to avoid this, so the problem of colds is relevant for most new drivers.
If the air conditioner has been used for a long time, the appearance of unpleasant odors is normal; for a long time, bacteria died in the aggressive environment of the refrigerant. To eliminate odors, the evaporator is disinfected. Well, and, of course, in order for the car air conditioner to last longer, it needs to be serviced regularly.

How to buy this equipment specifically for your car?? Yes, it’s very simple, most air conditioners are suitable for almost all cars. But it is also important to take into account the principle of operation. There are two types of air conditioners - manual and automatic. The latter are divided into two subtypes, which work only on one zone or on several. As a rule, they work for two zones; this is the best option, which is why it is the most popular. Although this will be a problem for particularly sensitive passengers, then a caring car owner purchases equipment with greater separation of zones.

Manual air conditioners are the simplest option. A regulator is installed on the panel, with which the supply of cold air into the cabin is controlled. You choose how hard the air will flow. The advantages of this type are that it is easy to install and inexpensive. Automatic air conditioning is a monitor on the dashboard, with the help of which you regulate what temperature should be in the cabin, and everything else is done automatically. Also, depending on the design, as we already mentioned, you can control the temperature in certain areas of the car interior.

As a rule, the more zones, the more expensive the air conditioner. A manual air conditioner will be the cheapest and easiest to install, but you will have to evaluate and regulate the supply of cold air yourself.

Getting ready to work according to all the rules

To install it efficiently, you need to provide yourself with professional equipment. To ensure the correct operation of future climate control equipment, you will need an air conditioning kit and installation tools. This should include: a set of keys, as well as a standard set of screwdrivers and various pliers; high-quality drill, as well as drills for metal and plastic; You also need a specialized place with a lift or pit so that you can get under the car if necessary, but this may not be necessary.

Before you begin installing the air conditioner, carefully read the instructions and make sure that all parts are included. If you notice that something is missing, immediately contact the store where you purchased the device; do not start work. Also, when organizing a place for activity, grab the owner's manual for your car, because some of the structural elements that you have to work with will need to be found first. It is unlikely that you know exactly every bolt in the car.

Installing an air conditioner in a car - how to organize the work correctly?

Now let's discuss how to install an air conditioner in a car without the help of qualified mechanics. We put the car on a flat surface, turn it off, turn off the ignition and get to work. Now find the location of the old heater and remove it, also partially unscrew the dashboard of your car, because there you will have to install a panel to control the air conditioning functions. Next, drain all the antifreeze and remove the housings. Then you need to remove the bumper, fan and air filter from the engine.

After dismantling is completed, we attach the supports for the compressor. They are installed on the engine, and this is done differently for each car model; there are also nuances for each type of air conditioner. We recommend that you clarify this information in the instructions for the installed equipment and the technical description for your car. Now we fasten the bracket for the tension roller. To perform this step, you need to drill two holes in the timing belt cover. Next, we connect two housings to each other: the evaporator and the standard furnace, and the process can be considered complete. All that remains is to carefully install all the fans and radiators, as well as the compressor.

A small problem may arise when installing the air conditioning controls in the instrument panel. If there are no plugs on the panel, then you will need to manually cut the required hole for the regulator. If you have never dealt with a car’s heating system before and generally have little idea how exactly all the “internals” work, then it is better to entrust this matter to professionals. Moreover, it often happens that when purchasing an air conditioner as a bonus, installation is done free of charge.

Unfortunately, a significant part of the huge army of Russian motorists are owners of cars. And during the summer heat, their suffering is difficult to describe in words. The problem is that most of these car owners simply do not have the money to buy a car air conditioner and install it correctly. Or they consider it inappropriate to spend money on this very thing - after all, there are so many temptations around! One way or another, they have to drive with all the windows open, experiencing the ability of solar radiation to melt subcutaneous fat in dense city traffic, and when driving at high speed, being exposed to drafts.

How to create a car air conditioner yourself.

They say that today even budget models are equipped with . Perhaps no more than ten years will pass until a car without air conditioning will be perceived as complete nonsense. But for now, vehicles without a climate control system traveling across the expanses of our vast homeland are a harsh reality, and the native auto industry is in no hurry to implement Western standards. So, with the onset of heat, the multimillion-dollar armada of drivers is forced to come up with and test ever new ways of cooling hot iron, and among them only a few can boast of more or less satisfactory results.

For real Kulibins, we have prepared a selection of the most common ways to try to make an air conditioner for a car with your own hands. Perhaps some of these designs will seem naive to you, some - funny, but they all work, although with varying effectiveness. Of course, it would be nice to get at least basic information about what types of air conditioning systems are, what they are, what tools and consumables are required for technical creativity.

A little theory

At the moment, the classification of air conditioners by cooling method contains only two large categories:

• compressor air conditioning systems;
• evaporative devices.

Compressor air conditioners operate on the principle of forced circulation through a closed, sealed circuit of a special refrigerant, which, when it gets to the right place, cools it. But since the laws of physics state that if a substance (in this case, a gas) heats up in one place, then in another it must cool down in order to be able to work continuously. Therefore, the design of compressor air conditioning systems is quite complex, and the compressor itself is far from the only and not the most important component.

Assembling a compressor accumulator is a difficult task not only in technical terms. Here you also need to take care of safety, since the refrigerant will circulate in the system under pressure, which in itself is dangerous. So home craftsmen have only the second option at their disposal - evaporation devices. They are much simpler in design, which is why it is the evaporation of water that is used as the basis for most home-made air conditioning systems.

What materials and tools will be required

What is required to construct a functioning one, spending an order of magnitude less money on it than on purchasing a standard device:

• a plastic container of small capacity (a cooler bag can be used as a guide, and if you have a non-functional bag lying around somewhere on your balcony or attic, feel free to use it);
• radiator of a car heater, for example, VAZ;
• several computer fans, the dimensions of which must correspond to the volume of the container;
• not very powerful bilge pump;
• fastening elements;
• hoses/wires;
• cigarette lighter plug.

If your car has an audio player equipped with a USB port, the task is simplified. This version of a homemade car air conditioner will require even fewer parts:

• a small container (metal or plastic, even a two-liter drink bottle will do);
• computer fan (for example, for a power supply);
• adhesive tape, several sheets of paper;
• USB cable.

Finally, you can construct a car air conditioner from an old non-working refrigerator (we only need its freezer compartment). In this case we will need:

• jigsaw;
• several fans;
• drainage tube (can be made of corrugated one of suitable diameter);
• insulating material.

Which option to choose - decide based on what is available and what can be easily purchased at the nearest supermarket.

Making a car air conditioner with your own hands

Having chosen one of the proposed methods for making a homemade air conditioner for a car, strictly adhere to the assembly diagram - any deviation can turn a good idea into a farce.

Method using a container

The main component of such a homemade car air conditioner is a plastic container. We take two computer coolers and measure their diameter. On the top of the container we mark the places where we will need to cut two holes according to these dimensions. You can cut it with a stationery knife with replaceable blades, a sharp knife or even scissors - it all depends on the thickness of the plastic. As a rule, computer fans have four holes for fastening; we use self-tapping screws or screws of a suitable size and securely screw the coolers to the surface of our container (they can touch or stand apart, the main thing is that the fan blades look outward).

The second important task is to attach the stove radiator to the lid of the plastic container. This is also a fairly simple job that does not require any special skills - you just need to make holes around the perimeter and secure the radiator with bolts or screw connections. To separate the radiator, use a piece of any plastic similar in size to the container lid.

The next step is installation to the bottom of the bilge pump tank. We attach a hose to the inlet of the pump, the second end of which we put on one of the radiator pipes. If the top of the container does not have a lifting (hinged) lid, we need to provide this opportunity by using a piano hinge - such a design will be much more convenient, simplifying the operation of our cooling system. In this case, you need to try to make the lid as airtight as possible, for example, by using a special soft rubber gasket, installing it around the perimeter of the lid. This step will avoid water splashing through a loose connection - we want the interior to remain clean and dry, right?

The final stage is to provide power to the pump and fans. To do this, their wires must be connected to the car cigarette lighter wires (we hope you will take care of the safety of the connections by insulating them with electrical tape).

That’s it, the air conditioner in the car is ready with your own hands. All that remains is to fill it with water and ice, and then simply connect the cigarette lighter to the standard socket. Please note that it is not recommended to operate such a system with the engine turned off - you risk draining the battery. As for the effectiveness of such a system, you should not hope for a miracle, but you will be guaranteed a decrease in temperature by several degrees in the blowing area. Where to replenish ice supplies along the way is a completely different story. At least, gas stations do not yet offer such consumables.

Method using plastic bottles

This design is much easier to manufacture. And although it looks a little primitive, the efficiency of such a homemade air conditioner will not be much less than that of the previous option. So, the first stage of our design activity is to work with the bottle. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut off the top of the container (approximately in the middle of the top convex ring). We put the bottom aside, and we still need to work with the top part: divide it into approximately two parts and cut it again. We will get a watering can with a neck, as well as a small cylinder.

On the conical part of the watering can, you need to make a series of holes around the perimeter, for which you can use either a sharp punch or a soldering iron. If you have neither one nor the other, any other cutting tool will do, at least a knife with a narrow blade. We perform the same operation with the bottom of the bottle, namely on the convex rim located near the bottom. By inserting the cone into the glass (lower part), we get the body of our air conditioner.

Now it's time to start installing a fan equipped with a USB connector. It needs to be inserted into the third part of the plastic bottle. Adhesive tape (popularly called scotch tape) will help secure it securely. The next step is to make an analogue of the car ventilation system deflector. To do this, we make a socket from thick paper, gluing the edges with the same adhesive tape and cutting off the bottom to the diameter of the top edge of the bottle. This improvised design will help direct the flow of cooled air to its destination (for example, the driver).

All that remains is to put a few pieces of ice in the container (filling it at least halfway). We plug the connector into the car radio and enjoy the effect! If you have to park for a long time with the car engine turned off, so as not to drain the battery, you can use a Krona battery. Of course, such a design is unlikely to withstand at least a month of use, but if you consider that our costs for assembling such a design are almost zero, if you wish, you can always make another such car air conditioner.

Freezer method

Since we will be working with a metal container, it will take a little more effort, but the whole structure will look more solid and reliable. First you need to make a hole in the camera door. To do this, use a jigsaw, cutting out a circle with a diameter of about 10 cm.

To ensure air access from the passenger compartment, it is necessary to remove the rubber seal from the underside of the door. We insert a drainage tube into the slot, carefully seal the rest of the space using a pre-prepared sealant and polyurethane foam, which will require very little. Now you need to attach two fans, one of which is designed to cool the compressor, and the second is to exhaust cooled air outside. Where to install the structure does not matter. The main thing is that it does not interfere with either the driver or passengers, and directs the cooled air where it is needed. In principle, nothing prevents, if you have free time and “direct” hands, from making and trying all three options, choosing the most suitable one.

Of course, if you are absolutely not satisfied with the unsightly appearance of such a homemade air conditioning system, no one forbids you to install a universal (even non-standard) air conditioner. In this case, you will receive a solution that is practically no different from the standard one (some dissonance may be caused by the difference between the device control buttons and the existing interior design of the instrument panel). The only “but” is that the cost of such a solution to the problem will be about 60 thousand rubles.

Therefore, the search for alternative ways to cool a car in hot weather does not stop, and craftsmen use any technical innovations to implement a more advanced, efficient and reliable design of an air conditioner made with their own hands from improvised materials. There is an opinion that good results can be obtained by using a window air conditioner in a car or its mobile equivalent. The cost of such a solution is almost an order of magnitude less - about 10 thousand rubles, and if you already have such a working device at your disposal, then it will generally cost you almost free.

The idea is to install such a monoblock air conditioner in the rear seat area, use a 220 - 12 V inverter to power it, and simply stick the corresponding pipe out the window to exhaust the heated air. However, such reasoning conceals a rather unobvious error. It turns out that even the weakest air conditioner needs to consume about 1500 W for normal operation. If at 220 volts this is, in principle, not a problem, then a 12-volt homemade air conditioner installed in a car will not be able to work due to the huge current consumption. Let us explain this with specific calculations.

Let's say the inverter provides minimal conversion losses. In this case, the on-board network will power the mono air conditioner with the on-board network voltage (14 V), and the current consumption will be 1500/12 = 107 A. To prevent the wiring from burning out from such a current, it must be one and a half centimeters thick. But it should be taken into account that many generators do not even have such a high upper current output limit. And the inverter must be designed to work with equipment of the appropriate power (1.5 - 2 kW) - and this is very specific and expensive equipment that is a great success to find on the open market. So, of course, you can try, but only if all of the above problems are solved, which, frankly speaking, is unrealistic.

Air conditioner based on semiconductor elements

Another idea circulating on the Internet is a homemade air conditioner for a car using Peltier elements. The idea is that a semiconductor element of a sufficiently large area, when connected to a power supply, heats up on one side and cools by about the same number of degrees on the other side. It is quite possible to purchase such plates, and their cost is not that high. By the way, mobile refrigerator boxes use exactly this principle. It would seem that what prevents you from building an air conditioning system on Peltier elements? Moreover, such a solution will be inexpensive and practically silent, without the use of a compressor, evaporator, pipe system, refrigerant and other attributes of a classic car air conditioner.

Unfortunately, the effectiveness of such a system will approach zero. The reason is quite banal - insufficient surface area that will transfer cold into the cabin. You simply won't feel the difference when the device is turned on and off. Unless you put your hand on the elements of the device. But there is another problem - difficulties with heat removal from the bottom of the semiconductor elements. You will not be able to solve the problem - even purely theoretically, the effect of such a device will be zero.

Perhaps the ideal technical solution would be to make the car's roof from semiconductor wafers - in this case, the problem of heat dissipation is solved, and the cooling area will be sufficient to provide airflow to the interior. But there are other issues that need to be addressed - for example, temperature control. In any case, you are unlikely to dare to remove the roof of your car, and for some reason automakers are in no hurry to implement such an idea.

Let's sum it up

Despite any tricks, a self-made car air conditioner can only serve as a demonstration of your ingenuity and technical savvy. There is no need to talk about the effectiveness of such devices, otherwise millions of domestic cars would have been converted long ago. Have you encountered such machines in your practice? So if you want to drive in comfort, without simulating air cooling in the cabin with homemade devices, you cannot do without installing a classic compressor-type car air conditioner.

Technical progress does not stand still, the world is moving to hybrid and electric vehicles, and the design of the air conditioner has remained unchanged since the middle of the last century. Don't expect to be smarter or luckier than the hundreds of professionals working intensively on this problem. So all your efforts aimed at improving the design of your homemade air conditioning system and increasing its efficiency will sooner or later be successfully forgotten, and the device itself will take pride of place in the garage. After all, the cooling capacity of a regular refrigerator box will probably be higher than that of your homemade one.

As everyone knows, if the car does not have a complete set, then installing it there is very problematic, and often not possible at all for technical reasons. However, every year the heat forces people to develop their ingenuity.

There is one way to “condition” your car, which, despite its complexity, is attracting more and more experimenters. This refers to a thermoelectric cooler based on Peltier elements. The most important advantage of such cooling using the thermoelectric effect is the minimum number of 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

As an example, we can consider the operation of a conventional Chinese-made car refrigerator powered by a cigarette lighter. The refrigerator itself consists of two parts - a lid with a thermoelectric cooling system and a heat-insulating 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 of the rear door of the 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.

From the inside, cold flows are removed by additional fans, and from the outside - by air flow from the movement of the car. 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.