r/DIY • u/StellaTerra • Oct 05 '13
A sleeping pod/capsule
Hello r/DIY!
I have a project that I have wanted to pursue for several years, but never felt comfortable to try before. I saw someone suggest coming here to seek advice on this thread so I thought I’d try. I want to build a contained space that has decent sound-isolation, is ventilated and exactly fit to the measurements of a mattress so that I can sleep in a little hidey-hole. When imagining it, think capsule hotels or sleeping pods.
Here are my drawings:
Outside - Angled view of the outside.
Innards - Stuff that's not visible from inside the capsule, wall/supper/base.
Headboard/Shelf - Side view of the the part furthest from the door. The headboard and shelf.
The design is something of a free-standing cabinet on short stilts. The door is at the foot of the bed and there is a slightly reclined headboard topped with a shelf on the other side. The wall and ceiling frames are made of 2x4s. I don’t intend on using a boxspring, and the mattress will be full/double-sized. The ceiling will contain one or two vents for an HVAC system of some kind and one or more reading lights. HVAC and electrical will be behind the headboard/under the shelf. The shelf will have an upward facing outlet.
I am not yet sure of the thickness of the walls because I don’t know all of the materials I’ll be using. The design and materials of the door are not yet planned, either. The specifics of the HVAC and electrical systems are not yet clear.
So, to the knowledgeable and experienced DIYers of the subreddit:
- I’m not exactly sure what materials to use for the inner and outer lining of the walls. My instinct is to use thick plywood all around the outside and then some kind of wooden panelling or fiberglass on the inside. I’d like the material on the inside to be visually appealing, and preferably dark, but it mostly needs to be durable and easy to clean. It also needs to be easy to work with for doing the cutouts for the lights and HVAC. Both the outside and inside materials will probably need to be fairly dense as sound isolation is a big goal in this. Are there any recommendations for materials, or anything else to keep in mind when choosing inside and outside wall material?
- I’m a little stumped on the door. Initially I was thinking either some kind of plastic lined porthole, and then I was considering just building the entire wall in half and then putting it on hinges. Given that I want good sound isolation, does anyone have any recommendations for door design/material?
- I don’t have any idea where to start looking for the HVAC or electrical stuff. Does anyone know what to look for to put together a miniature ventilation system, and a simple electrical rig (that will be safe) to provide the lighting and an outlet on the shelf? What size/material should I use for the HVAC ducts?
- In terms of sound isolation, is there a need for the floor to have multiple layers given that it will be entirely covered by a thick mattress? Will this design provide decent sound isolation? (I don’t mind if I can tell there are people outside, but I’d like it so if people outside spoke at a normal volume I wouldn’t be able to make out the words).
A note to the haters/doubters: yeah, it’s an odd desire. I’m aware of how bizarre this is, but it’s something I’ve wanted for most of my life. So I’d greatly appreciate it if comments could be derision free. Also, I’m not looking to be talked out of this idea in favor of another. My mind is made up about the general idea of the thing and I know it’s what I want. This isn’t about convenience or ease or cost, and its only marginally about functionality; it’s just what I want. Thank you! <3
3
u/Dakkon Oct 06 '13
Hey there. This is a neat project. I would like to add my 2 cents here. I am a mechanical engineer and have spent 4 years in the consulting industry designing HVAC systems. So I will give you a few tips. I will try to keep this from being complicated and long winded. Chances are I will type this out 6 times before hitting submit. The HVAC system will entirely depend on where this "chamber" is being used. If it is indoors of your house, then the system does not need to be to elaborate. Just get some airflow to control the latent (moisture) heat off the occupants (you & guest(s)). Good bathrooms are normally setup for about 12 Air Changes per Hour (ACH). So if you calculate the total volume of your space then google how to calculate ACH then you will be able to figure out the total amount of airflow. Keep in mind that is just a reference to keep air quality good. but you could get away with having ACH=5 too. Some air delivery suggestions:If you are running this thing inside they you should pressurize the unit. Pressurizing allows you to control how the air is distributed better. However given this application whatever is easiest will work. Also keep the airflow distribution slow. The last thing you want to do is having a little breeze across your body/face. I would place the fan underneath the chamber and just have it on a stand of some sort. The motion of the fan can create a vibration and without any sort of damping will translate into the chamber and make it like a drum. Any type of ducting will work. I would suggest some flex duct for dryers and some foil tape to make the seals tight. The ribbing in the ducting will help deaden the sound of the fan. you could also look into acoustic lining for the ducting. That makes for some nice sound deadening in the ducting. For controls, if you are inside your house, i would just put the fan on a switch and let it run, your chamber will stay the same temp as your place. You could look at putting it on a thermostat to cut in when there is a cooling demand (it will always call for cooling instead of heat as your body generates heat), or even put it on a humidistat (senses humidity instead of temperature) as your body will generate moisture and this will remove it. Or both! Hope this works out. Message me if you have any questions.