I need some design help and ideas for my dog box

[General of Darkness]

Since summer time is upon us, where I train it get's up to about 100 before we stop training the dogs. Heat exhausting is very dangerous so I was thinking that building an A/C like system into the dogs boxes would be awesome. I already have fans set up, but just moving hot air won't be enough. I was thinking that I could do one of two things, ice to cool the air either before the fan or after the fan would be great.

Here are pictures of my set up.

This is inside the box.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2951/dogboxinside.jpg

This is the outside.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5480/dogboxoutside.jpg

I was thinking of purchasing one of these. You freeze it and the fan blows across it and cools the air.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MPqCLviOL._SS400_.jpg

Any ideas would be appreciated. Also, what about dry ice?

[Libertytree]

Without seeing a larger pic of the setup I think you should place styrofoam sheets in the inside of your box to mitigate the radiant heat.

[osoab]

Portable Air Conditioners (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Air-Conditioners/Portable-Air-Conditioners/abcat0907004.c?id=abcat0907004)


Don't know if your alternator can handle a load that small one would require power wise.

[solid]

What's the outside of the box made of? You could use this stuff, Henry's solarflex, for the roof. I used it to coat the rooftop of my RV, and it made a very noticeable difference in keeping the inside cooler when parked in the sun.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TG9GWY/ref=asc_df_B004TG9GWY2029799?smid=A2ENTBEZKGXKVW&tag=nextagusmp0395763-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B004TG9GWY

Edit: Don't buy this stuff from Amazon! It does not cost $528, with $180 shipping. You can get it at your local hardware store for $60.

[gunDriller]

one option is to put a metal tub or 5 gallon bucket in the enclosure. i gather this is for when you're driving to the training area ?

then to put a 20 pound bag of ice in the tub/bucket right before you hit the road. the phase change of melting ice takes (absorbs/ consumes) a lot of heat.

i also suggest putting a digital thermometer ($20 about at Radio Shack) in the enclosure and testing it before putting the dog in there. i have one that has 2 thermocouple's, including a remote one on 15 feet of cable. so you could run a cable into the Canine Enclosure & monitor the temperature to make sure El Poocherino is comfortable.

[General of Darkness]

Great Idea's guys.

[General of Darkness]

OK this is my plan. This for the dogs.

Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0014/6342/products/graph_tater.png?100601



Vendor:
Chilly Buddy (http://www.planetbluedog.com/collections/vendors?q=Chilly+Buddy)


Type:
Dog Misc. (http://www.planetbluedog.com/collections/types?q=Dog+Misc.)








2007 Editors’ Choice Award from Pet Product News International

Shipping/Handling is only $5.95


Reduce your dog’s coat temperature by an average of 40% during hot weather with the Chillybuddy!

Chillybuddy is a light-weight mesh cooling jacket designed specifically to keep a dog comfortable in hot weather and reduce the effect of exposure to the sun. The jacket’s outer layer is made of woven synthetic with an aluminized finish. The twisted strands of the fabric function like thousands of tiny mirrors, reflecting all wavelengths of light away from the surface. The jacket is lined with a cotton mesh. Both layers allow air to pass freely through. The cotton mesh liner can be wetted to provide substantial evaporative cooling. Unlike other wet jackets, the evaporation occurs in the shade of the outer layer, creating an unusually cool environment on the hottest days.


Facts:
Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket can significantly lower coat temperature and provides a shield from direct sunlight.

On a 90° F day, wearing a Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket can lower the coat temperature from 145° F to 103° F, a reduction of almost 30%.

Soaking the Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket in water to dampen the cotton lining before use can lower a dog’s coat temperature by a further 20 degrees—from 103° F to 83° F. Cotton has been repeatedly shown to be the best fiber to hold water for evaporative cooling. Synthetic wicking fabrics are useless in this application because dogs do not sweat.


For light-haired dogs, a Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket also protects the underlying skin from sunburn.


Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket can protect coats of show dogs from bleaching by the sun — which often occurs as summertime reddening or browning, especially at the tips of the coat.

The Chillybuddy Cooling Jacket was field-tested in mountain terrain and open-field hunting.

And this is for the dog box and truck.

SilverShadecan reduce enclosed area temperatures by up to 20%! Eliminate the heat build-up problems of conventional shade tarps and tents that absorb the sun's rays, generate heat and trap it inside.This highly reflective fabric acts like a mirror reflecting away the sun and it's heat,while facilitating any cooling air flow. The fabric is durable, light weight, easy to use, rot and mold resistant; it won't run or unravel and can be washed with a garden hose.


http://www.silvershademesh.com/Dog/X-Pen17Sm.gif (http://www.silvershademesh.com/Dog/X-Pen17Med.gif)
Note the supple, high quality finished edges on SilverShadeproducts as opposed to the plasticbindings of other tarps! We are unbeaten in shade and cooling because we use the highest quality mesh reflectivefabric made. Our rolled-rim toothed grommets are hand set in heat-cut holes for life time placement with 12" spacings for convenience, improved strength, and easy match-up with other tarps.



I figure if I can keep the dogs temperature from the get going and keep the boxes cool I should be good to go. I let you guys know what I find after I test this out.

[madfranks]

Definitely insulate the dog box, rigid insulation panels would be the easiest. I can't tell from your OP, is this a crate in your vehicle, or a box at home? You could always get some flex duct and a couple in-line fans to duct cool air in from elsewhere. Just a few ideas, I have more...

[General of Darkness]

Definitely insulate the dog box, rigid insulation panels would be the easiest. I can't tell from your OP, is this a crate in your vehicle, or a box at home? You could always get some flex duct and a couple in-line fans to duct cool air in from elsewhere. Just a few ideas, I have more...

MFer, the box itself is insulated and it's in the back of my truck

[carpathian]

No dry ice, when it melts it releases alot of carbon whatever.
i remember some storys about ppl found dead in the basement because of it.
and when i was a kid, we used to make a "mineral water" with some other kids, just put a piece of a dry ice in the water and watch pretty bubbles for 2-3 minutes, voila - icy cold carbonated drink.
stay away from it

[ximmy]

http://gold-silver.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2864&d=1338451205
2864

[gunDriller]

No dry ice, when it melts it releases alot of carbon whatever.
i remember some storys about ppl found dead in the basement because of it.
and when i was a kid, we used to make a "mineral water" with some other kids, just put a piece of a dry ice in the water and watch pretty bubbles for 2-3 minutes, voila - icy cold carbonated drink.
stay away from it


if you use dry ice to re-carbonate beer that's gone flat, how does it affect the taste ?

[Awoke]

Depending on how much money and how settled into your house you are, you could make a pipe circuit that circulates water through some buried pipes, and the fan could blow across the pipes/hard hoses. Like a Geo-thermal system. You don't have to go too deep either.

[Horn]

I was thinking that I could do one of two things, ice to cool the air

I was thinking of purchasing one of these. You freeze it and the fan blows across it and cools the air.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Also, what about dry ice?

Some of that Evap. cooler material at the hardware store, before the fans suck side

the Ice will only make a slight difference, its the evaporation that cools the air.

Get little fish pump to wet it from a gallon jug recirc. tube with pin holes in it. Or some how get it wet every hour without wetting the fan.

The ice could get it wet.

http://www.google.com/search?q=small+evaporative+cooler&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=small+evaporative+cooler&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=uE7&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=b3vHT7PrIYai8gTY_um3Dw&ved=0CIUBEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=c9b5c269848a1290&biw=1280&bih=861

[madfranks]

MFer, the box itself is insulated and it's in the back of my truck

So the dog crate's in your truck? Just turn on the a/c, dummy.

[Libertytree]

http://www.batterysavers.com/person-aircondi.htm


http://www.batterysavers.com/images/portable-o2cool-air-conditioner-w301.jpg
http://www.batterysavers.com/images/battery-operaterd-air-conditioner_accessories-w275..jpg New Rechargeable
12 Volt - Portable
Battery Powered Air Conditioner
O2-Cool® Portable Battery Powered Cool Box Personal Air Conditioner

http://www.batterysavers.com/images/bestbatteries-175.jpg
http://www.batterysavers.com/images/rayovacd_battery_converter-h80.jpg http://www.batterysavers.com/images/rayovacd_battery_converter-h80.jpg
SHIPS WITH FREE BATTERIES
(A $12.95 VALUE)


Also Use This Portable
12 Volt Power Supply
http://www.batterysavers.com/images/powerpack-h109.jpg (http://www.batterysavers.com/O2Cool_Portable_Charger.htm) Click Here (http://www.batterysavers.com/O2Cool_Portable_Charger.htm)




O2 COOL® is the premier designer, producer and marketer of battery operated portable air conditioner and “cool”, creative, fun and affordable personal consumer products. We are the world’s leading manufacturer of battery operated misting and portable fans, water-cooling hydration products, outdoor accessories and novelty items. O2 COOL® Battery-Operated Air Conditioner and fans include multi-power sources, patented fan blades and compact designs that allow you to take the cool anywhere you want to go – inside and out.




Discount Alkaline Batteries (http://www.batterysavers.com/Best-Flashlight-Radio-Alkaline-Batteries.html)
By The Case In Bulk (http://www.batterysavers.com/Best-Flashlight-Radio-Alkaline-Batteries.html)!

http://www.batterysavers.com/images/PORTABLECOOLERAIRCONDITIONER-W400.jpg (http://www.batterysavers.com/portable-air-conditioner-cooler.html)


Portable Battery Operated Air Conditioner
Personal 12 Volt Air Conditioner w/ Misting and Ice Box
"The Coldest Breeze From A Battery Powered Air Conditioner Fan & Mister"




New SmartPower® Technology



Allows Four Ways To Power:
Built-In Rechargeable Battery, Plug In AC Adapter, Car Charger or 8 D Size Batteries




Stay cool all summer long with the O2Cool large portable battery powered air conditioner cool box with misting fan. This portable battery air conditioning fan operates on battery power or an AC home wall adapter (included) . http://www.batterysavers.com/images/portable-AC-o2cool-1086-w137..jpg A battery operated air conditioner fan is a must for those long hot summer nights or during those long days when the power goes out for hurricanes or earthquakes. This 12 volt O2Cool battery cool box fan goes anywhere and last for hours on a single set of alkaline batteries. Always plan ahead and stay cool! Great for portable RV air conditioner. This powerful long lasting battery powered fan has more cooling power than any other.

This battery air conditioner is great for: Camping, Earthquakes, Power Failures, Hurricanes, Outdoor activities, the beach, sporting events. Also good for stationary recreational vehicles, cars, and trucks.

(http://www.batterysavers.com/Emergency_Florida_Hurricane_Battery_Fans.htm)Porta ble Battery Operated/AC Powered 3-in-1 Cooling System: Ice Breeze, Water Misting and Powerful Fan. Upgrade your RV air conditioner to be battery operated independent of your car battery.

http://www.batterysavers.com/MORE-FANS-W110.jpg Bookmark This Page!





Battery Operated Air Conditioner Features:
Rechargeable, Plug-In Car or Home, or 8D-Size Batteries
Holds up to 4 pounds of ice for an ice cold breeze.
Excellent and powerful misting feature.
Portable 3-in-1 cooling system:
Powerful 12 Volt Fan
Ice Cold Breeze
Water Mister.
Dimensions (L x W x H): 12.31 x 7.04 x 11
Includes: AC Adapter and 12 Volt Car Adapter
Built in mist compartment can run with or without fan.
Great for power outages, camping, picnics, beaches.
Can be Used as RV Air Conditioner
Weight: 7.5 lbs 1097 / O2Cool Model 1086
SHIPS WITH FREE BATTERIES (A $12.95 VALUE)

[Libertytree]

Found this one too.

http://www.swampy.net/petairconditioner.html

[Neuro]

if you use dry ice to re-carbonate beer that's gone flat, how does it affect the taste ?
It shouldn't affect the taste at all IMO! Not that I have thought this as a great problem!

[osoab]

Lib, you found what I was looking for as my suggestion. I knew there were cheap versions. Thanks.

[Libertytree]

Lib, you found what I was looking for as my suggestion. I knew there were cheap versions. Thanks.

I think I like the 2cnd one the best, it has a venting option for piping in the cold air vs having the unit inside. Np, your welcome.

[Horn]

Dry ice might freeze the dogs eyes shut... I wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

[JohnQPublic]

No dry ice, when it melts it releases alot of carbon whatever.
i remember some storys about ppl found dead in the basement because of it.
and when i was a kid, we used to make a "mineral water" with some other kids, just put a piece of a dry ice in the water and watch pretty bubbles for 2-3 minutes, voila - icy cold carbonated drink.
stay away from it

It releases carbon dioxide. As long as the stuff is not sealed in the box with the dog, it should be no problem. If it displaces the air, and this all the dog has to breathe he will suffocate. Put it on the outside.