Ever use a mini fridge as a source of cool air?

[mud1dnot2]

I found this mini fridge in the garbage and figured I'd ask if anyones ever tried to run duct work from the fridge to the intake fans to cool down a box? right now the temps are staying at about 86 so if anyone has done this let me know if it'll drop the ambient temps down to about 75 or so...thanks!

 

[chazel]

no but i did use 1 with the warm feature to make makeshift prop.
dont see why not man , hav a little scope around inside for its fans etc n u could maybe make it more efficiant to ur needs

 

[Landragon]

There would need to be sufficient work done to it. There is a site where a guy took one and ran coils of water through it which ran up to a fan and spiraled around the back of the fan. Cold water ran through via a pump and a heat exchange occured. It wasn't too efficient and if the pump ran constantly, the temp of the running water rose significantly.

EDIT: Also, these systems are designed to cool a well insulated space of a given size that has no interior heat load. It's not the tool for the job.

 

[tokinman]

i use snow in a 5 gallon bucket for cooling.. very very cost effective

 

[Florida Girl]

When it comes to this stuff FilthyFletch is the cat to read.

Here's a link to his homemade A/C (using a Styrofoam cooler): https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/22360-how-build-small-c-cool.html

And here's one to his Res. Chiller using a mini fridge:
https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/23028-diy-water-chiller-setup.html

Hopefully that will give you some ideas

 

[mud1dnot2]

i use snow in a 5 gallon bucket for cooling.. very very cost effective

lol, nice. doesn't snow much in FL though...maybe I could get a few bags of ice

When it comes to this stuff FilthyFletch is the cat to read.

Here's a link to his homemade A/C (using a Styrofoam cooler): https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/22360-how-build-small-c-cool.html

And here's one to his Res. Chiller using a mini fridge:
https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/23028-diy-water-chiller-setup.html

Hopefully that will give you some ideas

Thanks! Def. a good read!

 

[tokinman]

great info there FG
wanted to ad, another efficient way to cool, if you have some sort of ducting bringing in fresh air.. take a 1 quart or even 2 liter bottle, fill 3/4 full of water and put in the freezer.. once it is frozen, stick it in the venting and it will help cool the room for about 4-6 hours per container. when its melted throw back in freezer take out the other one and put that in the duct.. rinse and repeat. that way you arent buying ice, just making and reusing in a simple container plus a solid chunk of ice stays ice a lot longer than cubes
hope that gives u another cheap option!

 

[mud1dnot2]

Basically what I'm thinking is taking the top door off and covering the opening with a piece of 1/8" foam. Then cutting a hole big enough for the duct to go through and suck out the cold air...Also cutting a little "Intake" hole so it's still sucking in fresh air but cooler air as well... i went ahead and just hooked it up a few minutes ago so now I'm just waiting to see if it'll drop the temps...


should have probably posted this some where else other than the main forum.....dot.....dotdot

 

[Florida Girl]

great info there FG

Yep... FilthyFletch has tons of great threads with DIY builds... Aero, bubblers, cloners.... you name it... he's put up a thread showing the rest of us the way.

Go to his profile and click on "view all thread started by FF" It's all good reading

 

[mud1dnot2]

great info there FG
wanted to ad, another efficient way to cool, if you have some sort of ducting bringing in fresh air.. take a 1 quart or even 2 liter bottle, fill 3/4 full of water and put in the freezer.. once it is frozen, stick it in the venting and it will help cool the room for about 4-6 hours per container. when its melted throw back in freezer take out the other one and put that in the duct.. rinse and repeat. that way you arent buying ice, just making and reusing in a simple container plus a solid chunk of ice stays ice a lot longer than cubes
hope that gives u another cheap option!

dude...that's a really good idea...perhaps I was being a little over technical...