Chillbox evaporative cooler and an air conditioner have differences in the way they work. Air coolers take in hot water, pass it through wet absorbent pads, and cool the air. You have to fill them up to the capacity with water to be able to use them. On the other hand, air conditioners use a chemical coolant to condition the air and alter its temperature. Unlike an air cooler which simply cools the air to a certain degree, air conditioners make the air condition more favorable by providing facilities for customization of the temperature.