Camping Air conditioner

I know you didn’t know that the air conditioner was not invented for the sake of comfort, it was invented to control the humidity in a room full of papers that would shrink due to the humidity. Read the full thing here. Little did Willis Haviland knew that his invention would bring such great comfort to mankind, that his invention will make it to camping tents. It’s crazy, right?

Yes, of course, you need an air conditioner in your tent to maintain a proper sleeping atmosphere in your tent. Temperature drops in nature can be pretty harsh, and anyway who doesn’t like a little comfort while they sleep. Here is our article on how to insulate the tent.

I know there are a ton of tent air conditioners available in the market, but don’t you love the satisfaction of DIY items and all the money you saved and maybe some electricity. Who knows?

Imagine coming to a well-cooled tent after a long, tiring, strenuous day of mountain climbing or hiking. You will have to have a sound sleep to restore your energy and reward yourself by relaxing in your tent colled by your portable air conditioner. Who doesn’t want this feeling?

DIY for an air conditioner for camping tents might require some technique and some thinking, but it will give the results.

Let’s get started, shall we?

How To DIY An Air Conditioner For Camping Tents?

Since we are talking about air conditioners, the DIY might be tricky, but not with our easy steps to follow. If you can cool your tent and save money as well, then why not?

1. Carry Your House Window Air Conditioner With You

This method has to be the easiest and probably very effective one. You cannot forget about the convenience of this method.

• Just bring your small house window air conditioner with you on your camping trip.
• Keep it on some elevated ground such as a stool or a stand.
• Plug it into your RV or a generator. Here is how to ground your generator for camping.
• Place it at the entrance of the tent with the zip open as much as needed to fit it and not leave the zip open wide.
• Ans there you go the house cooler will do its job of keeping the heat outside and keep your tent cool.

2. Build Your Own Solar-Powered DIY Air Conditioner

Building this only takes you an icebox cooler, a small 10$ fan, and a modest solar panel that can be run on batteries as well. And also try to take the ice with you.

Step 1: Find the right icebox for the air conditioner.

• You can either use the old one you have and no longer use it. Or you can easily buy a cheap icebox online.
• Try to find one with a styrofoam lining ice chest and it is easily available for around 2-3$.
• The basic idea is to prevent heat transfer from the atmosphere.
• The cooler should be able to prevent the ice from melting and no other container will do the job.

Step 2: Mark out the holes for the fan and duct on the lid.

• These measurements for the fan and the small duct should be exact or at least near to perfect for preventing the heat to enter the icebox.
• You should be able to seal the holes after you fix them with the fan and the duct. Leave enough space to seal the hole.
• The hole for the duct is easy to make but the hole for the fan should be able to hold it in the right place. The fan should not go fully inside the icebox.
• Consider buying a fan with mesh covers in it, because they come with a frame around that can rest on the hole and stay in place.

Step 3: Drill and cut the holes

• Now that you have marked these holes accurately, you need to cut them out.
• You can either use a jigsaw or a drill to cut them out, or you can use a combination of both to make it easier.
• The plastic lid can be a bit tricky to cut, but the right tools will get you through it.
• First, drill a hole with the drill, and then the rest of it can be cut out with the jigsaw or a hand saw.
• If you are using a styrofoam icebox, just a hot knife is enough to cut the holes out.

Step 4: Fit the fan and the plastic duct

• If the holes are of the right size, both the fan and the plastic duct pipe will be fitted just fine.
• If not you can use some kind of clay or duct tape to fix them right or seal the holes.
• Sealing the holes is necessary, to prevent heat transfer.
• Sealing with clay might make it a bit bulky.
• Here is the amazon link for the duct pipe that can be useful to you.
• The fan should be fitted with the face inside the cooler, this will bring air inside the cold surface and make it cool.

Step 5: Put the ice inside

• The more ice you put the more cool air you get.
• Using a whole block of ice is a practical thing to do.
• Using cubes of ice will get the air in the touch with more ice and the ice will melt faster.
• If you find carrying blocks of ice to the campsite is impractical, then you may also use frozen water bottles with water-filled instead of ice.

Step 6: Connect the fan

• The last step is to connect the fan to the solar panel.
• It is an obvious thing to mention about placing the solar panel exposed to the sun.
• Make sure the chords of the wire are long enough to easily set up your air conditioner to the panel kept outside in sun.
• If the weather has been cloudy, or the sun keeps hiding behind the clouds from time to time, then you can replace the solar panel with any kind of battery strong enough to run the fan.
• A 12V battery is enough for a small fan.

How Does This Work?

This DIY air conditioner works on the mechanism of heat transfer. The fan brings in air and the air after coming in contact with ice, gets cool. This cool air then finds an escape through the duct pipe we attached beside the fan.
You just have to place the open end of the duct pipe towards you and you are good to go.

3. Mini Milk Carton Air Conditioner

Well, this sounds a bit weird, but it works like magic. It is portable and you can even carry it around when you go hiking or climbing. The steps to build are elementary, but the requirements may take you a trip to the nearest hardware store.

Requirements-

• Computer fan
• 12V AC adaptor
• Empty milk carton
• Cardboard cutter
• Hot glue gun
• Battery
• Wire stripers

Steps:

• Take an empty milk carton or any juice carton that has a round mouth like plastic bottlenecks.
• Wash/ rinse the carton to get rid of the smell of the beverage.
• Make sure the size of the computer fan that you use should be smaller than the carton.
• Place the side of the carton up, that has the round opening.
• Mark the hole for the computer fan to be fixed.
• Keep the hole smaller so that it can stay put in the place.
• Place the computer fan with the help of a hot glue gun in place.
• Connect the computer fan with the battery and stick the battery on the base of the carton. (not the base in the correct position, but the original base)
• You can disconnect the battery whenever not in use.
• Put the crushed ice or the small ice cubes through the mouth of the carton.
• And you are ready to go!
• The working is same as the previous one. You can drain out the ice if left extra from the mouth. Isn’t it nice to have a personal air conditioner?

FAQs

Conclusion

I hope now you can consider taking some pain to build an easy AC for your tent when not compromise your sleep and comfort. Getting a sound sleep while you are on a camp is necessary.

Even if you are on a small camping trip with your family to a nearby campsite, and just want to enjoy a barbeque in the outdoors, wouldn’t it be nice to sit and chill in your air-conditioned tent?

If you have any new ideas on how to DIY AC for a camping tent, do let us know in the comment section. We would love to hear those.

Check out other useful guides on camping on our website.

Until then happy camping!

For humans, the most ideal power would be the ability to control the weather. Just imagine how easy it would be and you can avoid so many disasters. Unfortunately, it is in the hands of God.

But one thing mankind had learned is to control the weather, or more accurately temperature, inside a room. This is done via AC, and since its invention, it has been one of the most popular electronic items and one that provides you with comfort.

If you are also someone, who can’t live without AC and want it inside your tent as well, you will have to make some adjustments to your tent first.

So, in this article, we will guide you through everything you have to know for How To Insulate A Tent For AC. Let’s jump right into it.

When Do You Need Insulation?

Whether you are camping on a campsite or somewhere off the grid, you will need insulation throughout the year. At the beginning of the year, in January and February, it is winter in most places, so you need to insulate your tent for winter camping. As we go around the year, in June and July, it comes to summer, and you again have to insulate your tent for operating AC. The clock ticks and in October and November, you again have to prepare yourself for winter.

So, throughout the year, you need means to insulate your tent and that is why, we can advise you that if you are a regular camper or even a camper who goes once a year, to buy the necessary insulating materials.

Accessories Needed For Insulation

Firstly, let us begin with what accessories you will need for a good insulation of your tent for AC to work properly. Let’s see what you will need.

1. Tent

You might be wondering that obviously, you know that you need a tent. But actually, you need to have a tent that can be ripped. The tent you will be buying will have to be cut in a certain area so that you can connect the AC to it.

Also, the material has to be thick enough to provide some sort of insulation as well. Nylon tents and polyester tents are the most common tents, but if you want our advice for the best tent out there for insulating for an AC, you should look at canvas tents.

For the best canvas tents out there, you should have a look at them on 10 Best Canvas Tents For Camping: Your All-Weather Partner.

Another way is that some tents have an AC port inbuilt in the tent, so you can look at that option too.

2. Reflective Tarp

As you can guess from the name, the tarp has the property of reflection. They can knock back the sunlight falling on it. You will need reflective tarps to cover your entire tent from the outside. If you don’t have a reflective tarp, your tent will get heated by the sunlight and you will need more power from your AC. The tarp also has to be waterproof and windproof.

Depending on the size of your tent, you can buy different sizes of tarps and even buy tarps at different prices. The costlier tarps will be of better quality while the cheaper ones will be a little less durable and heat resistant.

3. Insulating Sheet

Even if you cover the entire tent, you won’t still be warm and insulated if the base of your tent isn’t insulated. When you camp on the ground, the dampness of the ground makes it cold. The cold temperature seeps from the ground to the base of your tent. If you sleep on the ground, you will realize how cold it gets and how susceptible it is to let the air conditioning gas escape.

So, you need an insulating sheet to cover the base of your tent. The sheet has to be either glued or taped. When it comes to buying an insulating sheet, you should always buy a good quality one, because this is kind of your last line of defense against the cold and also the air conditioning gas can seep through the ground. 

4. Duct Tapes

This is easily portable, and small in size. It can be carried by anybody. But despite the small size, for insulation of a tent for AC, this is one of the most important components.

For, attaching the tarps and groundsheets to the tent, you will need duct tapes. You can also use glue but most campers use tapes. Also, for sealing minor leaks inside your tent, a duct tape can come in handy.

You can use both double-sided tapes or single-sided tapes for attachment, but for sealing leaks, you will need single-sided tapes only.

5. Emergency Blanket And Vapor Barrier Lining

From now on, the accessories aren’t necessary, like you have to carry them, but it is good to have them for a good trip.

The emergency blanket is a good option to keep the air conditioning gas inside the tent. You can attach it to the interior of your tent and enjoy the conditioned air.

The vapor lining can either be polythene or plastic. This goes on the outside of your tent, over the reflective tarp. It will keep the vapor from covering your reflective tarp.   

6. Pool Noodles

Finally, the last accessory on the list is pool noodles. As we know, a minor leak can be enough for the air conditioning gas to escape to the environment and ruin your stay inside the tent. So, you need to take care of all the leaks, and for that, you need pool noodles. You can also use duct tapes, but duct tapes are a temporary solution, and pool noodles do a better job in sealing gaps.

How To Set Up AC Inside Your Tent

Now that you know, what you have to bring to your camp, for having AC inside your tent, let us get to the steps you have to follow to fix your AC and insulate your tent properly.

Step 1: Pitch The Tent And Set The AC

First and foremost, you have to pitch the tent over a dry place and a level ground. Try to pick a shady area for pitching. Make sure that the tent is clean so that glue and duct tapes can stick to the tent. Also, there has to be an electric port nearby for the AC to work. Next, is to set up the AC. Measure the size of the AC and cut the tent in the same size, in the direction in which you want to place the AC.

If your tent already has an AC port, the cutting doesn’t have to be done. Make sure that there are no gaps between the tent and AC otherwise all the das can go out through the holes.

Step 2: Insulate The Outside And Inside

After you have successfully set up the AC, you have to set up the reflective tarp. Cover the entire exterior with the tarp and attach it to the tent with duct tape or glue. Similarly, attach the insulating sheet to the ground of the tent as well.

If you have emergency blankets, you can attach it to the interior lining and finally use vapor lining to cover your entire tent, just the AC excluded.

Step 3: Check Your Tent

After you are done with the insulation, close the door of the tent, plug the Ac into a power source, and switch it on. Now, run your hand all over the tent and check if there is any leakage.

If you find any leakage, use the pool noodles or duct tape to cover them.

Step 4: Get To Your Tent And Enjoy

After you have sealed all possible leakages, turn the AC off, open the door and get inside the tent. After you close the door, you can start your AC again. Remember that you shouldn’t use a fan inside the tent or the AC won’t work.

Finally, enjoy a cool air-conditioned atmosphere inside your tent on a hot scorching day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

On a hot burning day, it almost gets impossible to camp without an AC and so you can follow these steps to easily install an AC inside your tent.

Try to maintain a temperature of 76-degree F at all times to optimize the costs and experience. Also, you can wear light clothes inside the tent so that you don’t need to lower the temperature too much.

As campers, we can advise you to keep the temperature close to the normal temperature outside, because having too big of a gap in the temperature affects your health and also make it difficult for you once you step out of the tent.

Please share your wonderful camping stories with us through the comment section and tell us how you like to insulate your tent for AC.

Happy Camping Everyone!