Description
Both Brewtunes and (The) Coolbox are half stereo half cooler; or “sterooler”. Coolbox had a great run with over 3 years of reliable service but I took it on a rafting trip and I thought the amplifier water damaged so I tore it apart attempting to find the problem. Turns out after I ruined the entire unit the RCA to 3.5mm audio cable was somehow water damaged causing distortion issues, albeit Brewtunes is born.
My preference is that a cooler stereo should be a stereo but, almost more importantly, be able to hold some beers! Maybe 1 in 20 cooler stereos in this forum double as a cooler, which makes me sad; also not drunk when floating down a river, playing an ultimate frisbee game, or chillin’ on the pontoon boat.
Amplifier, battery, wiring, and other electrical components are mounted on the inside left of the cooler while the speakers are mounted in the cooler on the right side. This is a water tight seal using the 3M marine sealant. A cutting board was used as the divider along with the cover for the wiring.
There is a double pole double throw (DPDT) relay which turns on the rear speakers which are wired in parallel with the front speakers on the 2 channel SSL amplifier. Each of the four speakers are 4 Ω so in parallel they are 2 Ω which is what the amplifier is rated at for 200 W Peak; so slightly under powered. Each speaker is 45 W RMS and 135 W Peak.
One of the switches will turn the amplifier and voltmeter on along with enabling the front two speakers and the other switch will engaged the DPDT relay incorporating the rear speakers. There are no problems I have encountered with engaging the rear speakers during operation.
I picked up an Electrolife battery from Lawrence Battery for $25 (it was a steal) in Lawrence, Kansas when I lived there years ago. http://www.electrolifebattery.com/
I carved the speaker cavities with a Dremel as you can see in the pictures to give the speakers more room to breathe since I silicon-ed them into the cooler. So far the sound quality is adequate; I was hesitant completely sealing them off.
If I were to redo this project I would use the 3M 5200 Marine sealant for everything. It is some serious shit.
Supplies
Igloo Marine 36 Quart Ultra Cooler:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088AYDYS/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
DB401 4” Polk Marine Speakers:
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-4-Inch-Coaxial-Speakers/dp/B000P0R6GQ
DB521 5.25” Polk Marine Speakers:
Cutting Boards for Plastic:
Sound Storm Labs H202.200 200W Marine Amplifier:
Oracle Lighting LSGQ16FB Blue LED Switches:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050VHRZA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Omron LY2-DC12 DPDT Relay:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T673K0/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
DROK Waterproof Digital Voltmeter:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CK3XN3G/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Blue Sea 12V Socket:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U4ZZPK/ref=oh_details_o07_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Waterproof Media Player Case:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096KBS7Y/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mediabridge RCA to 3.5mm Audio Cable:
3M 5200 Marine Sealant:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Adhesive-Sealant-White/dp/B0065HGC5O
DAP 100% Silicone:
http://www.harborfreight.com/white-silicone-sealant-65261.html
Pictures
Brewtunes 36-quart (before) and Coolbox 25-quart on left and right, respectively
Slot to place cutting board plastic divider for wet/dry portions
Slot to place cutting board plastic divider for wet/dry portions
Slot with cutting board to place cutting board plastic divider for wet/dry portions
Slot with cutting board to place cutting board plastic divider for wet/dry portions
Front speaker hole with foam cutout for audio
Left speaker in place with front speaker hole with foam cutout for audio
Rear speakers wired with foam cutout
Rear speakers
Rear speakers inside with hidden wiring
Rear speakers inside with hidden wiring
Rear speakers
Had to cut the frame of the left rear speaker to fit into under the rear right hinge
Front speakers with view to rear speakers through hole, plus speaker wiring view
Front speakers with lid closed
Rear speakers with lid closed
Inside view before sealing divider, plus speaker wiring view
Notch for speaker wiring on both front and rear speakers
Rear speakers silicon-ed in
Front speakers silicon-ed in
Divider sealed with 3M 5200 Marine Sealant
Divider and speaker wiring sealed with 3M 5200 Marine Sealant
Divider and speaker wiring sealed with 3M 5200 Marine Sealant
Divider and speaker wiring sealed with 3M 5200 Marine Sealant
Ghetto rig for overnight drying :)
Initial wiring
Initial front panel
Guts without the battery
Guts with the battery
Cutout for storage on dry (left) side
Cutout for storage on dry (left) side
Plastic clamped for securing storage plastic sheets
Cutout for storage on dry (left) side
Cutout for storage on dry (left) side with unit powered on
Unit powered on from front
Unit powered on from front close up
Rear speakers with amplifier mounted on right
Unit powered off from front
Unit powered on and charging from front during dark
