12 volt Swamp Cooler ( Evaporative cooler)

[VanGirl]

I have located this company in Tucson that makes 12 volt coolers for use with solar systems. I know of a guy that mounted one on his motorhome and had custom duck work to pipe it into a roof vent. http://www.macandchris.com/AirConditioning.htm) In the picture he needs to paint it but looks good. They say it uses 15 to 20 gallons of water per day.<br /><br />Question????? Has anyone used this model? What did you think?

 

[vokus]

I have not used this model, but I have good experience with evaporative cooling. <br /><br />In our machine shop we have a large evaporation cooler, it sucks air from the back door and pushes out the front door. <br /><br />I used a digital temp gun, and the outside temp was 104 and inside temp was 80. This is 24 deg below ambient, also its feels even lower with the breeze... <br /><br />This is in California, so im not sure how evaporation cooling works in other states with high humidity ..<br /><br />Also, also i think the key to evap cooling is the actual amount of air going thru the place being cooled, we found out that we have to open the door just the right amount, to slow down the air just enough to get the max effect... <br /><br /><br />

 

[offroad]

Just to be clear. If you have 70% humidity a swamp cooler will likely not work. Check your local weather forecast which will show humidity increases sharply at night. &nbsp;

 

[Vagabound]

Old thread, but recycling is a good thing, right?

So, in the last four years since this thread was started, any innovations in the swamp cooler realm?  Anyone using one?  Anything on the market yet that's smaller than that monstrosity on the RV at the macandchris website?

Seems to me that if someone could make one small enough for reasonable installation on a van, this person would make a killing off vandwellers in the SW.  You'd have the water storage to contend with, but still possible in the right locations.

Vagabound

 

[anewbiewannabe]

Look at the bottom of this page for links to fresher threads with more information.

 

[highdesertranger]

in a few more weeks you won't need one for 6 months. highdesertranger

 

[ZoNiE]

"Solar Swamp"

 

[Vagabound]

Look at the bottom of this page for links to fresher threads with more information.

Thanks, but none of those are really about swamp coolers, even the ones with that term in the title.  When I posted to this thread, I was trying to learn if a compact, commercially-made unit had yet been developed, and if anyone was using one.  Based on the lack of info and discussion in the forums, I'd say the answer is "no" to both.

Vagabound

 

[jimindenver]

compact and swamp coolers are not usually mentioned in the same breath.

 

[Vagabound]

compact and swamp coolers are not usually mentioned in the same breath.

   That was definitely the case with the one I used personally on a trailer way back when. Although very light because it was mostly an empty box, it seemed to be more than half the size of a large house refrigerator.  But it worked.   I remember being astonished at how well it worked.

At the end of the day, I think I've concluded that this isn't a technology suited to mobile applications.  That's a shame.

Vagabound

 

[jimindenver]

I used a huge one for 12 years on a house, it could freeze you out. In the trailer I have a limited water supply and where we camp, getting more is more expensive than the gas to run a A/C.

 

[Vagabound]

Guess I haven't given up all hope ...

Leaving water supply aside for the moment, this idea looks interesting and potentially useful to vandwellers:  

Homemade Evaporative Air Cooler - The "5 Gallon Bucket"


I wonder if anyone in the CRVL community has experimented with it?  What we really need is a "SternWake" (muffin fan addict) for swamp coolers.  That would surely get the R&D work done!  Maybe we can stealthy-like introduce him to a new addiction. ;-)

Vagabound

==============

For contextual reference, SternWake's main 2014 post on ventilation fans.  Fair warning -- go to the bathroom and get a sandwich before you start reading:

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-V...Tank-Calling-out-SternWake?pid=87077#pid87077

 

[blars]

Don showed one off at the rtr several years ago. A fountain pump dripped water on the pad covering a door opening on his rv, and the air was pulled through using the roof vent fan. A tray at the bottom caught most of the water for recirculation. I haven't seen him since his wife Linda (of "Raven's Roads") passed on.

 

[Tussah]

Some years ago, I lived in a travel trailer in southeast Arizona, in a desert area north of Benson.  At the foot of the bed was a standing evaporative cooler, basically a box fan with a place to pour water into the back.    I assume it was purchased at Home Depot or someplace similar.  It plugged into 110, and did a fantastic job of cooling the trailer, provided you kept the windows open, so the humidity didn't build up inside.

I don't know why hanging a wet towel in a spot that catches the breeze won't give you basically the same result.  Or just squirt yourself with a mister bottle.  It's the evaporation that cools the air.   I often use those neck thingies that you soak in water to get the crystals inside to engorge, then tie around your neck.  What are those things called?

 

[highdesertranger]

Tussah, I can't remember the name either, but they do work good. highdesertranger

 

[Tussah]

Tussah,  I can't remember the name either,  but they do work good.  highdesertranger

I'm sure mine came from a craft fair.  They probably sell them at RTR.  I did see a link to Kool-Tie on the REI website.

 

[Almost There]

I don't know why hanging a wet towel in a spot that catches the breeze won't give you basically the same result.  Or just squirt yourself with a mister bottle.  It's the evaporation that cools the air.   I often use those neck thingies that you soak in water to get the crystals inside to engorge, then tie around your neck.  What are those things called?

They're called 'Cool Ties'....

They are made with a polyacrylamide inside of them. Try Ebay or Etsy but make sure that the person making them is using the proper grade of polyacrylamide. It comes in craft grade for putting in flower vases etc and a cleaned up grade that can be used in cool ties.

 

[jimindenver]

The pad on the door is brilliant and using the exhaust fans solves a lot of issues. You wouldn't even need the pump, just spritz it with a spray bottle every so often.

Just hanging the flour sack towels in front of a open window after doing the dishes gives some cooling.

 

[Vagabound]

(Blars) Don showed one off at the rtr several years ago. A fountain pump dripped water on the pad covering a door opening on his rv, and the air was pulled through using the roof vent fan.

and

(jimindenver) The pad on the door is brilliant and using the exhaust fans solves a lot of issues. You wouldn't even need the pump, just spritz it with a spray bottle every so often.

Now we're using our heads for something other than a hat rack!  Great.  What else?

Vagabound

 

[highdesertranger]

a note on the material used. the more porous it is the better. the easier it passes air the better. cheese cloth would be excellent. just a thought. highdesertranger