I want to build a liquid cooling shirt

[Daox]

I searched ebay for 12v fountain pumps and found this:

Mini 12V Water Pump for Fountains CPU CO2 lasers - eBay (item 330449472401 end time Jul-10-10 17:00:50 PDT)

[Christ]

I just remembered that my Alienware computer came with liquid cooling in it... and it's pumped by a 12V pump.

If you don't like any of the ones you find on Ebay, check around your local computer stores and places like NewEgg.com and Tigerdirect.com.

[Thymeclock]

It sounds to me like you want a very complicated, homemade solution.

The most efficient and convenient way is to buy a car with A/C. IMHO it's worth every cent.

Short of that. you could drive shirtless (as a male, there is no law against doing so) AND get a simple cooling 12V cooling fan to aim directly at you to make you more comfortable. I know the suggestion isn't high tech (and probably not what you want to hear), but I grew up in a time before A/C was affordable or universally available, and I know what works as a practical substitute.

[Angmaar]

Any of these pumps would work well. They are designed for computer use (continuous) and are 12V.

[Frank Lee]

Clock said what I was thinking. Heck, most of my stuff doesn't even have a/c, my house included.

Another thought was, how long does this thing have to keep you cool? I'd be inclined to forget all the pumps, lines, and other Rube Goldberg stuff and just hang a few old water bottles with ice water in 'em from around my neck.

[Christ]

I tried something today.

I dumped a $3.99 20# bag of ice into a shallow tote (about 4 inches deep) and placed it in front of a box fan running on low speed.

I had hoped that it would be a quick way to cool down a ~200 FT^2 room. It didn't work. In fact, during that time, even though the outside temperature dropped, the sun was down, and the room was entirely closed up, the temperature inside that room never changed, all the way up until all the ice was melted, and there was, instead, 20# of water in said tote.

I'm not happy with today's experiments.

I still don't like A/C, though, and I fully support your attempts, Robert. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but who the hell said easy was best?

[texanidiot25]

What color is your car right now? (lol)

Painting the CRX white was the best thing ever for comfort. It's nearly as comfortable as my CST10, and that truck has several vents to cool the cab from the cowl, and also the vent windows. When the CRX was dark blue, I was exhausting my self, literally, at work (pizza delivery).

[NachtRitter]

Another thought... something I use on hot days is a neck cooler... essentially a bandana that has been soaked in water and placed on the back of my neck... as the water evaporates, it feels a bit cooler... some fancy ones available at neck cooler - Google Product Search.

Cooling the back of the neck and the head will help keep your body temp down.

[RobertSmalls]

I don't like A/C either, and ten months out of the year, I don't miss it at all. But at some point (8hrs at 105°F would certainly do it) it goes beyond comfort and becomes a matter of safety.

@Christ: That is disappointing. How long did it take to melt the ice? You should note that the air in that room weighs as much as you do, and the walls have mass, too.

Probably the most bang:buck would come from a simple seat cover with four pockets sewn in for those $2 gel bottles, and maybe I'll just do that. But the chilled water seat cover would eliminate the problems where the bottles are too cold at first, then fine, then too warm, then you pull over to change out the bottles. Besides, tubes and a pump aren't THAT complex, and you can re-charge the system at a gas station.

[wyatt]

Don't forget to insulate the lines. I know how bad anything "cool" sweats in my car, I imagine with cold lines, you would have lots of water pooling. They make shirts like what you are describing for race car drivers and astronauts, the protective gear they have on the outside is actually a good thing, because it keeps the cold water lines from condensing. At the minimum, I would try to figure out a way to have some insulation between the cooling lines and the seat, you at least want the cooling effect to be directed toward you, right? A material I would recommend is wetsuit material. I got a seat cover made out of it when my seats started to rip, and it's great. If I spill water, I just open the door, and wipe it out. Maybe you could find a way to use foam to make a molded back support, and put the cooling lines on the driver's side, and cover with wetsuit material.
One of the biggest helps I have found is the beaded seat cover. Not perfect, doesn't prevent me from sweating, but does help airflow to my back and under my legs.