Converting a portable dehumidifier into an air conditioner

[Jed Lau]

Hi,

Air coolers remove humidity from the air by collecting the condensation on the
cooling pipes. Most portable dehumidifiers on the market today are simply air
coolers that heat the outgoing air back to room temperature. Doesn't this
mean, though, that if you can disable the air heating mechanism in the
dehumidifier, you have yourself a portable air conditioner? If this is
possible, consumers can save a pretty penny. I bought my Kenmore dehumidifier
for $170. A portable air conditioner, on the other hand, on the market starts
around $500. Why the price difference? Has anyone "hacked" a dehumidifier to
convert it into an air conditioner before? Thanks.

Jed

[clare .ca]

On Thu, 26 Jun 2003 13:38:31 -0700, Jed Lau <jed...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

There is no air heating mechanism. The refrigeration cycle has a hot
side and a cold side - on an air conditioner you pump the heat to the
outside, on a dehumidifier it is returned to the room.
A dehumidifier will work as an air conditioner, but at less than 1000
BTU so you would need at least 5 to equal a (small) 5000 BTU air
conditioner.

[CM]

> Air coolers remove humidity from the air by collecting the
> condensation on the cooling pipes. Most portable
> dehumidifiers on the market today are simply air
> coolers that heat the outgoing air back to room temperature.
> Doesn't this mean, though, that if you can disable the air
> heating mechanism in the dehumidifier, you have yourself a
> portable air conditioner?

Air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers all work by "pumping"
heat out from one place and dumping it somewhere else.
A dehumidifier pumps heat out to cool and remove humidity, and dumps
the heat into the outgoing air.

> If this is possible, consumers
> can save a pretty penny. I bought my Kenmore dehumidifier
> for $170. A portable air conditioner, on the other hand,
> on the market starts around $500.
> Why the price difference?

Most likely, capacity. A dehumidifier can use a small heat pump and
low air flow to do it's job. An air conditioner unit must handle more
heat and more airflow.

Best bet is to go with a high efficiency window mount unit. Window
units tend to be less expensive and more efficient than portable units
on casters.

> Has anyone "hacked" a dehumidifier to
> convert it into an air conditioner before? Thanks.

It might be possible, it would require rerouting the airflow inside.
However, you would violate the warranty, and you'd risk serious damage
to the refrigerant system and a refrigerant leak, leading to an
expensive repair. There is also likely to be a large capacitor in
there that could give you a nasty shock, even with the power
disconnected. It's not worth the risk.

CM

[Tim]

Jed Lau wrote:

I build large ducted dehumidifiers for installation in homes. Basically you have
an air conditioning unit that uses the heat normally rejected outside to reheat
the dried air. One could move this condenser coil(the hot side) and blow air
through it to outside and have an air conditioner. The down side and the reason
they are $170.00 is that even the large ones are only about 3000 BTUs. I have
dismantled some that are in the 1300-1500 BTU range. Not much cooling potential
there.

[bipin.h...@gmail.com]

I am fromumbai ,
have dehumidifier ,want to use as Airconditioner .

[Jim Wilkins]

wrote in message
news:40297e20-ef02-4915...@googlegroups.com...

I am fromumbai ,
have dehumidifier ,want to use as Airconditioner .

================================

The difference between them is that an air conditioner puts the condenser
(hot) coil outdoors with its own fan and a barrier separating it from the
indoor evaporator (cold) coil. A dehumidifier has both coils indoors so the
condenser reheats the air the evaporator cooled and dried, saving some
electricity.

An air conditioner is also a good dehumidifier if you drain the water that
otherwise pools under and helps cool the condenser but turning a
dehumidifier into an air conditioner may be much more trouble than it's
worth, unless you can do it without cutting and extending the refrigerant
tubing.

[Moses Bedibo]

It's possible to convert dehumidifier to air conditioner but then you need involve an electricians to disconnect the power first. Because dehumidifier uses both the condenser and the evaporator in its process converting into air conditioner, you have to remove the condenser at place it outside the frame (the back) reverse the air flow of the fan towards the condenser. Note that the condenser always produces heat therefore, you must block between the condenser and the evaporator and then grand a fridge square fan to the condenser to throw the heat that emits from the condenser outside.

In doing so, you would have extend the capillary tube since you are bringing the condenser outside and ensure that the capillary tubes are soldered well to avoid any leakages as it may diminish the refrigerant of the condenser. If you want to know more, contact me via email address bedib...@gmail.com. Regards

[Jim Wilkins]

"Moses Bedibo" wrote in message
news:05478440-ca8d-44cb...@googlegroups.com...

---------------------------

You will be jailed for life and damned for all Eternity if you crack the
tubing and let the refrigerant escape.