How to: A/C in console

[kevinpt]

so a few months ago i got the idea i wanted a way to keep drinks cold when going on trips. so i got to thinking of ways i could buy or make something that was cheap but worked and this is what i came up with.


closed

open

back side

things you need a PVC bushing, a drain plug, and a whole saw

Step one: remove console from truck
Step two: disassemble console so you have just the main compartment tub and A/C vent
Step three: separate tub and A/C duct
Step four: locate the location your going to drill the whole in the console tun
Step five: cut hole in console with whole saw
Step six: remove whole saw from main drill bit
Step seven: reassemble console tub to A/C duct
Step eight: take whole saw without main drill bit and insert into the hole and cut into A/C duct by hand
Step nine: clean up holes drilled and insert pvc bushing
Step ten: cut pvc bushing to desired length( i took the drain plug and inserted it into the bushing and put it all in a drill press and cut with metal lathe tool to make chamfer
Step eleven: put everything back together
Step twelve: if you want you can insulate the console or add Styrofoam divider to console


when all done you can close all A/C vents and open the one in the console and keep your drinks cold

 

[earthrealm]

.................nice mod

 

[kevinpt]

more pics please.................nice mod

what would you like pictures of?
nice thing about this mod is drinks stay in low 30's and i think if you insulate you might get stuff to freeze. cheaper then arb fridge

 

[A/V1]

Interesting mod. However only problem with it is You need to keep the A/C going to keep the compartment cold.

You can actually make your center console a cooler by installing thermo-electric devices, which are fairly cheap, and easier to control.

Peltier Thermo-Electric Cooling Module 6 Amp 320-253

 

[zopperman]

Interesting mod. However only problem with it is You need to keep the A/C going to keep the compartment cold.

You can actually make your center console a cooler by installing thermo-electric devices, which are fairly cheap, and easier to control.

Peltier Thermo-Electric Cooling Module 6 Amp 320-253

Can you elaborate? this would be sweet in the bottom of a cup holder.

edit, looks like it needs a heat sink which would be a PITA under the cup holder, too much cutting

 

[kevinpt]

Interesting mod. However only problem with it is You need to keep the A/C going to keep the compartment cold.

You can actually make your center console a cooler by installing thermo-electric devices, which are fairly cheap, and easier to control.

Peltier Thermo-Electric Cooling Module 6 Amp 320-253

yes i could do this but my mod was less then half that cost so thats what i did

 

[mikebontoft]

Wholly crap, that's brilliant!

 

[kevinpt]

Interesting mod. However only problem with it is You need to keep the A/C going to keep the compartment cold.

You can actually make your center console a cooler by installing thermo-electric devices, which are fairly cheap, and easier to control.

Peltier Thermo-Electric Cooling Module 6 Amp 320-253

so what would you do about the heat from one of these? you could not have both in the console

 

[LTDSC]

GET OUT OF MY HEAD. I've been thinking about doing this and routing to the cup holders. Nice mod.

 

[kevinpt]

GET OUT OF MY HEAD. I've been thinking about doing this and routing to the cup holders. Nice mod.

its an easy cheap mod and could be done with the cup holders. fir that i would use tubes to each side of the cup holders

i also get a lot of questions about it when i have people in my truck. fun to tell people that not only do you have heated seats but you can cool drinks

 

[LTDSC]

its an easy cheap mod and could be done with the cup holders. fir that i would use tubes to each side of the cup holders

thats what i was thinking, should be easy because the vent tubing is right there. could easily make it slide into that tubing.

 

[kevinpt]

thats what i was thinking, should be easy because the vent tubing is right there. could easily make it slide into that tubing.

do it

 

[810moto]

I'm really confused on this. Is there a pic from further back? Can't tell where this is.

 

[kevinpt]

I'm really confused on this. Is there a pic from further back? Can't tell where this is.

its the back wall of the center console

 

[zopperman]

Instead of removing the whole console couldnt you just pop the back off and access the AC duct from there and drill into the back?

 

[kevinpt]

Instead of removing the whole console couldnt you just pop the back off and access the AC duct from there and drill into the back?

only way is to drill from inside the console into the a/c duct or take it all apart. it does not take long to do this, i had it done and back together in under an hour

 

[kevinpt]

Wholly crap, that's brilliant!

i think its one of the few mods i have been the first to come up with

 

[zopperman]

only way is to drill from inside the console into the a/c duct or take it all apart. it does not take long to do this, i had it done and back together in under an hour

Ya, i just pulled the CC for my CB install yesterday, bit of a pain due to my sub-par wiring jobs on my USB charger and radar detector. I need to clean it all up one day...

What temp do you usually set it at to chill drinks?

 

[kevinpt]

Ya, i just pulled the CC for my CB install yesterday, bit of a pain due to my sub-par wiring jobs on my USB charger and radar detector. I need to clean it all up one day...

What temp do you usually set it at to chill drinks?

i turn the temp down all the way and if i have all the vents closed i keep it on low. i dont use it that much but it comes in handy when needed

 

[thegame]

So whats the point of the pvc piece? Could you not just leave the hole?