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Adapt a radiator to 1/2 hose

trs71

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Oct 16, 2013
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HI I'm fabing a water cooler and was thinking about using a new radiator. The only problem is connecting a 2"? hose to the 1/2 hose and it must be "leak proof" so no duct tape, it leaks...eventually:)



I know they have step down adapters 1/2 at a time but id need like 3 or 4 of em lol
 
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Kaizen

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Also doing this. Bought a rad that fits my truck just in case I need one. Going to try and use pvc reducers down to the hose fitting. Basically just bushings. Probably going to use drain type rubber things to go from rad to pvc. Haven’t t messed with it to see if it will work but that’s my plan. Just can’t be under pressure. Not sure if hot should go in bottom or top


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gorilla

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Get a 2" diameter piece of aluminum or whatever drill and tap it for a 1/2" hose barb and your done. If you have a lathe you could turn it down to fit 1/2" hose.
 
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trs71

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Hate to ask but what are you gong to use the water for?
Hopefully not potable water....................

Oh yes I need ice cold water at bed time so I'm plumbing upstairs with pvc/rope/rubber & copper. Now where did I put my lead solder....





Or a H2o cooler for Hydroponics:bounce:
 

Wrench97

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Still need to watch the make up of the radiator lead isn't good for plants either :)

We use to use threaded PVC adapters clamped in the hose and adapted down to garden hose on oddball engine test setups.
 
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trs71

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was just a plain metal
buick encave or something, full size 19.99 on Amazon
 
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trs71

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I never thought of pvc for adapting. But the short of it I was planning of modding a window AC to drop into the "fish tank" res, bend evaparator in to water, toss the push fan etc. Pipes are too short and dont have new style house freon gauges. And too much hassel.

I read someone ran a window ac and put a radiator in front of it instead of moving the evap and said it was almost 85% as effective, IDK about that????

I have central air so I never even looked at a window AC. I thought it blew out the whole front, not just a little 2" vent on top. Car rad is prob overkill, maybe I'll try a ****** cooler, smaller tubes, and bolt it to the front.
 

jh87

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Indiana
What about taking a fernco cap and drilling a hole in the middle of it and installing a bulkhead fitting?
 

BD1

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Buy a sweat copper reducing coupling OR a extended neck bushing that meets your size.


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trs71

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Think it was $2.29
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlot...ERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-203825963-_-202268525-_-N


$13.25@ home depot for same-ouch! What the heck are these supposedly made for?




I know nadda about thermodynamics and only a bit on refrigeration in general, (auto AC I get by ).
3 questions I thought of-


Am I wasting my time by attempting to run the water thru a radiator that is in front of a window ac, instead of submerging coils?

Am I going to have to vent a fresh air intake or something?

I Also wonder if I need a full size radiator or if a smaller oil cooler would suffice, it is smaller surface area, but the 5000 BTU only pushes air out a 2"x12" slot.

I suppose I'll try it anyway, just hate wasting the effort if it's pointless.
 
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Modern Garage

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It's not so much the area (2"x12") but the thickness of the cooler. The cold air from the AC vent will pass thru the approx 1" thickness of an oil cooler quickly enough that you won't get substantial heat transfer. You could stack a bunch of coolers to gain thickness and plumb them in series but your original idea of submerging the evaporator coil in water would be much better, although I understand the difficulty. Instead of "unfolding" the ac assy could you build a sump/bucket around the evap and circulate water with a pond pump?
Oh, and as an aside, I haven't seen a car radiator made of brass, copper, and solder for decades. They're all aluminum, plastic composite crimped together.
Joe
 

Wrench97

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It's not so much the area (2"x12") but the thickness of the cooler. The cold air from the AC vent will pass thru the approx 1" thickness of an oil cooler quickly enough that you won't get substantial heat transfer. You could stack a bunch of coolers to gain thickness and plumb them in series but your original idea of submerging the evaporator coil in water would be much better, although I understand the difficulty. Instead of "unfolding" the ac assy could you build a sump/bucket around the evap and circulate water with a pond pump?
Oh, and as an aside, I haven't seen a car radiator made of brass, copper, and solder for decades. They're all aluminum, plastic composite crimped together.
Joe

Copper soldered rads are still out there> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0747T81NB/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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trs71

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Oct 16, 2013
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What about taking a fernco cap and drilling a hole in the middle of it and installing a bulkhead fitting?

That sounds like a great idea for reducing radiator hoses, as long as they have the right size in stock that is.
 
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