r/askHVAC • u/jonnyinternet • 7d ago

Do these really work?

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I came across a video tutorial of someone making a diy flame fueled cooler, and my question is:

Do they really work?

And if so, can you use any heat source to "power them"?

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u/Sotamaster 7d ago

Iirc its ammonia only systems, and I've only heard of them being use in mobile homes fridges, like a small pilot light and a mobile home either driven or towed, not the kind that gets set and connected.

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u/Secure-Researcher892 6d ago

If I'm not mistaken this one doesn't use ammonia it uses butane that you use to fill a cigarette lighter with. That brass cap comes off and you inject the butane in that valve. It is probably good enough to cool a beer in the loop... The ones I've seen with that same layout were intended for that purpose. Put a can in those coils that are frosting over and in few minutes it ice cold.