Anything interesting to do with a dehumidifier?

[XOIIO]

Hey everyone, a free humidifier popped up on kijiji (like craigslist), and I figured it might be worth getting if there's anything interesting I might be able to do with the parts, I'm not really thinking of anything though, although maybe I could turn the refrigerant pump into a vacuum pump (or do dehumidifiers have a pump in them?)

Anyways, any ideas? Think I should grab it?

edit: I will grab it actually, if anything it's a free dehumidifier though we don't need them much here, but I hope I can make it into a vacuum pump, I guess it depends on how similar it is to one in a fridge. I guess we have an old fridge sitting in the back yard too now that I think of it. (land lords need to take it to the dump or something lol)

[NiHaoMike]

Put it in a closet, hang damp clothes in the closet, and run the dehumidifier with the door open just enough to prevent overheating. Now you have a very efficient clothes dryer.

[Zero999]

Yes, it's basically a refrigeration unit.

You shouldn't discharge the refrigerant into the atmosphere as it's bad for the environment and is illegal in most jurisdictions. If all you want is a fridge compressor to make a vacuum pump then buy one - they're not expensive.

[XOIIO]

Yes, it's basically a refrigeration unit.

You shouldn't discharge the refrigerant into the atmosphere as it's bad for the environment and is illegal in most jurisdictions. If all you want is a fridge compressor to make a vacuum pump then buy one - they're not expensive.

Yeah, I checked more into it and they don't really have a valve to disconnect the pump or anything, and the pump will be too small anyways.

[johansen]

i converted a dehumidifier into a heat pump without breaking the lines.

it takes some work but i folded the evaporator out and down, added a fan, built a box for it out of plywood and cut a hole in the wall of my shop and stuck it through it, sealed it up with expanding foam.

it doesn't have the greatest efficiency because the exterior fan is a 1/3rd hp induction motor from a dryer, and sucks up probably 300 watts, but it still delivers a lot more heat than the 1KW electrical power it consumes.

[G7PSK]

There are some dehumidifiers that are nothing more than a fan and a large bag of silica gel or fullers earth in a case.

[Zero999]

i converted a dehumidifier into a heat pump without breaking the lines.

it takes some work but i folded the evaporator out and down, added a fan, built a box for it out of plywood and cut a hole in the wall of my shop and stuck it through it, sealed it up with expanding foam.

it doesn't have the greatest efficiency because the exterior fan is a 1/3rd hp induction motor from a dryer, and sucks up probably 300 watts, but it still delivers a lot more heat than the 1KW electrical power it consumes.

Except he wants to use the compressor to build a vacuum pump, not a heat pump.

[NiHaoMike]

You could have someone recover the refrigerant, then you're free to hack it.

But if it works (and assuming you don't already have a heat pump dryer or line dry your clothes), your best bet is to turn it into a dryer by putting it in a closet, then buying a proper vacuum pump with the energy savings.

[lemmegraphdat]

Open the lines outside but be sure the nosy neighbors don't catch you. I'll plant a tree or stop driving my car for a month to make up for it.

[NiHaoMike]

Not sure if venting the refrigerant is illegal in your country (it is in the US, assuming it is a fluorocarbon refrigerant), but it's definitely immoral everywhere. In particular, if it's a CFC or HCFC, those pretty girls who enjoy sunbathing on the beach would be angry at you!

[ivaylo]

Get a humidifier, put them in the same room, and let them fight.

[ales22]

There are two problems with fridge compressors. The lubrication oil is mixed into refrigerant and circulating in closed loop. If you use the compressor in open loop it will run ouf of oil and get damaged. In the fridge, the compressor is cooled by refrigerator - low pressure refrigerator is sucked into compressor casing. Most fridge compressors don't have long life due to no lubricating and bad cooling. I would get a proper vacuum pump or air compressor. Vacuum pumps can be quite cheap if you can find some decommisioned from lab.

[XOIIO]

Not sure if venting the refrigerant is illegal in your country (it is in the US, assuming it is a fluorocarbon refrigerant), but it's definitely immoral everywhere. In particular, if it's a CFC or HCFC, those pretty girls who enjoy sunbathing on the beach would be angry at you!

Heh, picturing someone sunbathing in -30 weather right now, that would be funny.

I toyed with the idea of somehow clamping the copper pipe first, but I think it would be near impossible to get totally shit.

Get a humidifier, put them in the same room, and let them fight.

Oh man, that's an awesome idea.

There is two problems with fridge compressors. The lubrication oil is mixed into refrigerant and circulating in closed loop. If you use the compressor in open loop it will run ouf of oil and get damaged. In the fridge, the compressor is cooled by refrigerator - low pressure refrigerator is sucked into compressor casing. Most fridge compressors don't have long life due to no lubricating and bad cooling. I would get a proper vacuum pump or air compressor. Vacuum pumps can be quite cheap if you can find some decommisioned from lab.

Yeah they are only around $100 on ebay for good ones, it was less "I need one right now" and more "I need something to do right now". I do want to get a vacuum pump and somewhat large container at some point though, and stick a watermelon in it.

[lemmegraphdat]

Is there such a thing as fractional carbon credit ownership? I could by in for a small monthly fee and drive my car and feel good about it.

[XOIIO]

Is there such a thing as fractional carbon credit ownership? I could by in for a small monthly fee and drive my car and feel good about it.

I saw something in popsci a long time ago that had something like that. There are quite a few sites if you google "pay to reduce carbon footprint"

[NiHaoMike]

Is there such a thing as fractional carbon credit ownership? I could by in for a small monthly fee and drive my car and feel good about it.

I saw something in popsci a long time ago that had something like that. There are quite a few sites if you google "pay to reduce carbon footprint"

Most sure way to be sure you actually get the carbon offset and not a scam is to do it yourself. Plant some trees, install your own alternative energy, and/or transition to a sustainable diet. Or as mentioned, swap out your regular dryer for a DIY heat pump dryer.

[CarmenFuller]

I put a small dehumidifier in the closets for drying my clothes. It works great because I live near swamp and have problem to my clothes when the air is damp. Some small units you can choose from http://www.thegoodgears.com/Dehumidifier/