My Bucket is air conditioned

For modifying the Don Post helmet, adding the extras for a Crimson Empire helmet, as well as painting, padding, speakers, fans, etc.

Gallid
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My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by Gallid »

Squirrel fans just don't cool me off enough.. Our robes though are good for more than just making us even hotter; they hide things under them pretty well.

I mounted a couple of hand held air-conditioning fans to a back support belt and used some ribbed tubing to duct the air up my collar and under my bucket.

It has made troops so much more comfortable, however, I can't hear anything but the sound of wonderful cool air :)

http://fav.me/d52rx42
http://fav.me/d52rwwv

The second picture has them against a white shirt so you can see what is going on there.

Some updated pics, I painted the Handy Coolers to match my armor and bucket.

http://fav.me/d58v58i
http://fav.me/d58v504
http://fav.me/d58v4vl
Last edited by Gallid on Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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bdgr
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by bdgr »

That is awesome. I didn't even know a small portable hand-held "air conditioning" unit existed. Did a google search and they are super cheap. I just might have to try it. Thanks for sharing.
bdgr
TB/TS/TI/IC/IG/IS/CC/TR/TA/IN/TD 4468

Gallid
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by Gallid »

My pleasure, and they work really well too.

Next project is to try and mount it into a backpack for out TD brothers.
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FallenJedi
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by FallenJedi »

Awesome, thanks for sharing!
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NoslenLRAc
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by NoslenLRAc »

I'm very intrigued. I might have to try them...

Here's the site for those units:
http://www.myhandycooler.com/index.html
They are cheaper on other sale sites (amazon, ebay)

How long do the batteries work?
What type of batteries are you using?
Do you have to refill the sponge often? The web site says 30 minutes - 2 hours.

Are your fans mounted on your back or on your chest?
I assume they are under your inner robes, correct?
Do they protrude from under your robes?
In service of the Emperor,

TR-2275
Carl Nelson (aka Noslen L'Rac)
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Gallid
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by Gallid »

I am using some generic AA batteries and they lasted the entire troop, I left the fans on at home running for about 2 hours more and they still ran, I eventually just turned them off and decided a fresh set of batteries would get me through any day of trooping.

as far as how long the sponge stays wet, once I wet it and put it in I never check it again, the amount of air flow that comes from these two fans is cooling enough. Besides the process of getting the sponges re-wetted is a pain unless you have an extended break. The ambient humidity also plays a factor in how long they will stay wet, so that's completely up to your location.

I wear a bit of armor under my robes for non-cannon, and the fans are mounted to the belt for the armor (the armor plates are removable). They sit in the small of my back and when I stand up straight you can't tell they are there, but if I slouch a lot or bend over you can see the outline of them. For events where I need no armor or might be exposing them I just remove the armor plates and wear the fan belt under my inner robe. The robes don't seem to block too much of the air flow either.

Hope this all makes sense, I will try to get some pictures of the belt set up while I am wearing it, just need an extra set of hands for taking pictures first.
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NoslenLRAc
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by NoslenLRAc »

Thanks for the info.
More pics would be great! Still thinking of adding them.
In service of the Emperor,

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Carl Nelson (aka Noslen L'Rac)
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Gallid
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by Gallid »

Added some updated pics.
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Deimos
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by Deimos »

H there I was wondering how you modded these?

I just got my self 2 of eBay for $50 Australian

cjfrancese79
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Re: My Bucket is air conditioned

Post by cjfrancese79 »

After reading this I went ahead and bought one. It works really well. I mean when it's really hot out there's not a whole lot you can do, but it does a really good job at keeping the fogging down. I just used the black split tubing used for wiring in a automobile and taped the hell out of everything to seal it up.
Christopher Francese
TR/TI/IC/IG 89620
Northeast Remnant

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