Is there any way to buy/build a thermoelectric air cooler for the car?

Question

I am trying to find out how to build/buy a cooler to keep my car cool when parked or while driving without the trouble and expense of an air conditioning unit (fuel pricing also involved). I live in So. California and the heat I could never take too well. Is there some type of portable cooler or air conditioner I may not know of that is on the market? I do want to stay away from evap coolers, because I have heard that the moisture content affects the interior. I have heard of the thermoelectric cooling system. Do you think there is one or maybe I can build one that could possibly cool a car? Thank you very much.

Eggie.

Answer 1

Tell me about it - last weekend's 108 had me sweating in boxers w/ the wimpy AC on full at my girlfriend's in Van Nuys.  I keep trying to come up w/ something for the truck myself, and it is possible, but pretty expensive.  Those thermoelectric modules cost a small fortune in the capacities needed for effective cooling of an auto interior on a hot day. Plus, since you would not want to deplete your car's battery when the engine is not running, you would need an auxillary power source.  A logical one would be a solar panel, also pretty expensive in the capacity needed, and it would be physically large and have to be mounted somewhere like the exterior roof - and thiefs like those things, I've heard of the ones used on freeway emergency call boxes get ripped off every now and then.  Together, you're talking at least $1500 plus labor on up for something acceptably effective, even after adding reflective window film, a chrome-finish windshield screen, and, if you car is a darker color, a white paint job.  If that's an acceptable amount for you, email me and I'll provide more info.

There just isn't no really cheap way to cool things below ambient temperature; even at the limit of physics ( even with a theoretically 100% - efficient cooler), it takes quite a bit of energy to cool large masses, just as it does to heat, and that energy costs money, even if it's solar-derived.