How To: Summer Heat Sucks! Here's How to Build a Personal A/C for Under $15

Summer is here, and temperatures are rising. Instead of shelling out for an expensive new air conditioning unit, why not build one yourself with a few bucks worth of old computer parts?

There's a number of ways you can go about doing this (and some really fun ways to make your design unique), but the concept is generally consistent. The main idea is to use a computer fan to draw warm air into ice, and then direct the chilled air out of your makeshift AC unit.

Here's the general plan, but feel free to experiment and get creative once you've got the basic idea down.

Step 1: Choose a Container

You'll need a container of some sort to hold the ice. Styrofoam makes a great insulator, so those cheap foam coolers are a great place to start. They'll run you anywhere from $5 to $15, but there are certainly alternatives. If nothing else, you can simply cut and tape together slices of Styrofoam to make the "walls" and use a thin layer of plastic to prevent leaks. Tape is preferable as some glues will not work or may even damage the foam.

If your container does not have one, also measure and cut a snug lid for it, to prevent the ice from melting too quickly. Any sized container will work (more ice will let you cool a larger space), but remember that the larger the container is, the bigger the fan you will need.

Step 2: Place the Fan

Mount or cut a space for the fan to go into in the Styrofoam. Mounting tape or similar is again preferable over glue, although there are many ways you can go about placing the parts. Just remember that you want the fan to be blowing into the container where the ice will be.

Make sure that the fan is properly working and that you have a way to give it power. Make sure any wires are placed outside of the unit so that they do not get wet. You may choose to run them to any outlet jack, or alternatively use a portable solution such as rechargeable AA batteries. This will depend on the size and power needs of your fan.

You might also want to consider using one or more heat sinks, and placing them between the fan and the ice. This will help to dissipate the cold air in the unit.

Step 3: Cut the Vents

You will now need one or more "vents" for the chilled air to exit through. Remember that you want the fan to blow warm air into the ice container and then through the vents.

Step 4: Customize!

At this point, you should have a good enough idea of the concept to start experimenting. Different sized containers and fans will give different results. See what works best for your needs and space. Perhaps even try to rig up a portable unit and take it with you next time you spend the day outdoors!

For more instructions and tips on building the two air conditioners seen above, you can read farhanians' "Personal Portable Spot Cooler" and "Mini Desktop Air Conditioner" on Instructables.