Portable Air Conditioners

[Brierpilot]

Does anyone know how to put together a portable AC unit for cooling an airplane? I have seen portable units at FBO's before just wondering what supplies are needed to assemble one.

 

[ajhbubs84]

I have seen models in the back of flying magazines going for anywhere from 300 to 600 bucks. All they look like is a cooler with a top cut out and a fan placed in the opening. Seems like it could be an easy homebuild project.

I tell ya what, the guy who markets one of these ideas at an affordable price will have his retirement paid for. Especially after how miserable it has been here in the Grand Canyon State these last couple of weeks.

 

[pilatus96]

the guy who markets one of these ideas at an affordable price will have his retirement paid for. Especially after how miserable it has been here in the Grand Canyon State these last couple of weeks.

I know we could use one at our house.

 

[Gorilla]

It seems like it'd be simple. Buy a $250 window AC unit and a cheap roll-about wheeled cart. Build a plywood box for the front of the AC unit so it isolates the OUTPUT side of the AC unit, leaving the input side open, or you can use a second duct for that from the airplane. From the output side, run a 6" or 8" flex duct that goes to the airplane.

I'd leave the AC controls on FULL COLD and HIGH, and wire a separate switch on a handy box outside the plywood. Attach the duct to the airplane and turn on your switch. Should work OK. Don't forget the AC unit will drip water, so be sure it doesn't accumulate anywhere that might cause damage.

 

[time builder]

If you're looking for a cheap, lightweight solution, I know pilots who use cooling devices that go on your seat or neck.

 

[FreightNazi]

The best and easiest way is to put the entire unit inside the airplane and close the door. That way you don't have to cut out any templates or get any support stands for the a/c unit.

 

[NuGuy]

The best and easiest way is to put the entire unit inside the airplane and close the door. That way you don't have to cut out any templates or get any support stands for the a/c unit.

And, um, exactly where is the heat that the AC unit removes going to go? All you're going to do here is make things hotter. You have to provide a way for the condenser heat exchanger to shed heat to outside "the system".

I've talked with guys that have used the cooler units that use ice. The the air that it puts out is only marginally cooler, and it runs through all the ice in no time at all.

I saw setups that some regionals used back in the day...get a wall unit and put in on a small dolly.Tape up some ductwork and stick the hose in the baggage compartment.

Nu

 

[mynameisjim]

The air conditioning company Fedders makes a portable air conditioner that doesn't drip.

http://www.feddersoutlet.com/600btuporair.html

$300 bones


How does it not drip you ask? I guess the air it blows out of the flexible tube is humid air.

 

[AngelKing]

It seems like it'd be simple. Buy a $250 window AC unit and a cheap roll-about wheeled cart. Build a plywood box for the front of the AC unit so it isolates the OUTPUT side of the AC unit, leaving the input side open, or you can use a second duct for that from the airplane. From the output side, run a 6" or 8" flex duct that goes to the airplane.

I'd leave the AC controls on FULL COLD and HIGH, and wire a separate switch on a handy box outside the plywood. Attach the duct to the airplane and turn on your switch. Should work OK. Don't forget the AC unit will drip water, so be sure it doesn't accumulate anywhere that might cause damage.

I don't knowing anything about using window unit air-conditioners. I have seen in the past, someone built one and ran the output hose from the top of the unit. How would that work? Would it just be diverting the cool air so it doesn't go out the front? The reason I ask is we are trying to build just such a unit.

AK

 

[FL420]

It sounds like what you need is a Ductless Split Air Conditioner System:

http://www.air-n-water.com/split_air.htm

 

[AngelKing]

It sounds like what you need is a Ductless Split Air Conditioner System:

[URL="http://www.air-n-water.com/split_air.htm"]http://www.air-n-water.com/split_air.htm[/URL]

That is exactly what we need. Thank you very much.


AK

 

[mtrv]

That is exactly what we need. Thank you very much.
AK

Ductless A/C units, are not actually portable. Linesets (tubing) needs to be connected between both units, and becomes a somewhat permanent installation.

The Fedders roll- round type, as in a previous reply, is totally portable, available at Home Depot, and comes in numerous sizes. You can get a full list on Home Depot's web site.

 

[Way2Broke]

Would putting a portable A/C in a plane not be considered hazmat? Maybe I am being a little over the edge here, and you would probably be okay unless something happened. I could be wrong, or you might not care but either way its a honest question. I personally think most feds would be impressed.

 

[FL420]

That is exactly what we need. Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Regarding split ductless vs. portable air conditioners. Pros and cons for each.

The ductless do require 2 small diameter flexible tubes to run from the heavy outside unit to the much lighter inside unit. It can heat in the summer and cool in the winter. Condensation is usually recycled for additional cooling.

Portable air conditioners are a single unit which can be quite heavy to lift in and out of the airplane. The heat must be vented outside the aircraft via a 5" diameter flexible duct. They can only cool, not heat. Condensation is usually collected in a tray which must be dumped. There may be restrictions on the length of the duct and the use of extension cords.

I imagine running the coolant tubing(ductless) or the vent duct(portable) into the cabin without leaving the boarding door wide open could be problematic. Like I tell my kids: "Close the door. We can't afford to air condition the whole town." I suppose you could fashion a Plexiglas "window" to temporarily replace an emergency exit window and the tubing or ducting could be run through the plug.

Jetways at warm destination airports like KLAS have huge air conditioning units under the jetbridge. They can cool the jetway and two large diameter flexible hoses can carry cool air from the units to the air conditioning duct system of docked aircraft at the gate for ground cooling. I doubt many(if any) GA aircraft have external connections to their interior air distribution system so you're probably out of luck there.

Sounds like a fun build. Good luck.

 

[agpilot34]

And, um, exactly where is the heat that the AC unit removes going to go? All you're going to do here is make things hotter. You have to provide a way for the condenser heat exchanger to shed heat to outside "the system".

I've talked with guys that have used the cooler units that use ice. The the air that it puts out is only marginally cooler, and it runs through all the ice in no time at all.

I saw setups that some regionals used back in the day...get a wall unit and put in on a small dolly.Tape up some ductwork and stick the hose in the baggage compartment.

Nu

What were the guys using that you talked to as far as the cooler units go?? Dont know what they've got or how they're using it, but I've got the Kooleraire unit, and have been using it every day out on my pipeline patrol routes for about a month now. I freeze my ice in small blocks, and it lasts all day. The air is not "marginally" cooler, it is MUCH cooler. It does state in the instructions, however, that block ice, or water or milk jugs filled with water and frozen will work better and cool better than just bagged ice dumped in the cooler.

 

[NuGuy]

What were the guys using that you talked to as far as the cooler units go?? Dont know what they've got or how they're using it, but I've got the Kooleraire unit, and have been using it every day out on my pipeline patrol routes for about a month now. I freeze my ice in small blocks, and it lasts all day. The air is not "marginally" cooler, it is MUCH cooler. It does state in the instructions, however, that block ice, or water or milk jugs filled with water and frozen will work better and cool better than just bagged ice dumped in the cooler.

Heyas Ag,

Yup. I think that's a case of RTFI, because they were using bagged iced, and they told me it would be all gone in a matter of an hour.

I think another concern was weight. If you have what is basically a big Coleman cooler filled with solid ice, it's going to be a weight hit. It might not be a problem solo, but if you are going to pack people in, it becomes more of an issue.


What kind of plane are you using for your run?

Nu

 

[NuGuy]

Would putting a portable A/C in a plane not be considered hazmat? Maybe I am being a little over the edge here, and you would probably be okay unless something happened. I could be wrong, or you might not care but either way its a honest question. I personally think most feds would be impressed.

Are you talking about using it in flight?

 

[agpilot34]

Heyas Ag,

Yup. I think that's a case of RTFI, because they were using bagged iced, and they told me it would be all gone in a matter of an hour.

I think another concern was weight. If you have what is basically a big Coleman cooler filled with solid ice, it's going to be a weight hit. It might not be a problem solo, but if you are going to pack people in, it becomes more of an issue.


What kind of plane are you using for your run?

Nu

Yeah, that's where I get lucky... all my runs are solo. My current pipeline bird is a Skylane. The only time I have someone with me is if I have to fly pipeline personel over their lines, and one day a week when I have an observer with me on one of the lines I fly in TX. The cooler I have fits in the top of a 25 qt. chest, which isnt the smallest one, but isnt the largest one, either. I havent weighed it to see what it weighs full and ready to go... I'll have to do that.

 

[AngelKing]

Are you talking about using it in flight?

We need ours for the ground to keep the specialized electronics n the back cooled down. We have freon air units that we added for in-flight.

AK

 

[Way2Broke]

Are you talking about using it in flight?

My thought was that simply carrying a a/c aboard the aircraft would consitute hazmat.