More effective evaporative cooler

[Trebor English]

I saw this in the Yahoo van dweller group:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/VanDwellers/conversations/messages/179164
You need a Yahoo account to see it.  I will paraphrase.

Get an evaporative cooler that lets you connect a 2 inch or so hose to the outlet.  Get an oversize shirt and connect the hose to that.  This makes a 'personal air conditioning' space.  There is a bubble of cool air around you exiting around your face.  The rest of your space isn't cooled or humidified, just the bubble around you.  At night make a tent using a sheet and inflate it making a cool bubble around you.  It keeps the bugs away too.  If it gets too cold over night just put a little water in the cooler.  When the water runs out it is just a fan.  If it is too hot and humid it might help to put some ice in the evaporative cooler.

I have not tried it.  In Florida an evaporative cooler gets everything moist without cooling much.  This has the potential to do some personal cooling without getting everything wet.

Ice is not practical to cool the entire space.  Melting one gallon of ice, 8.34 pounds, will absorb 1200 BTUs.  A 5000 BTU per hour window unit air conditioner cycling 25% on 75% off is 1250 BTUs per hour, about 8 pounds of ice per hour.  If ice is used as part of the cooling of a bubble of cool air concentrated in an oversized shirt exiting around the neck it might work.  Most of the cooling would be evaporation of water, 890 BTUs per pound of water evaporated, with ice to supplement on the hottest afternoons.

If it works all credit goes to the Yahoo van dweller group member JC Gilpin.  If it doesn't work for you feel free to blame me, the messenger.  You know what happens to the messenger.

 

[FrenchOnion]

I'd be interested to know if anyone has used something like this with success.

 

[highdesertranger]

holy cow now I am connected to a 2 inch hose. I just rather move up in elevation. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

In Florida an evaporative cooler gets everything moist without cooling much.

The key word is evaporate. If it's so humid that sweat won't evaporate, so humid laundry won't dry on the line, so humid you have mold problems, then an evaporative cooler is useless, except for the fan.

 

[FrenchOnion]

This is pretty funny. I get it though, if cooling is a problem, like when driving through the desert with a baby and no AC, this may be a possible solution.

 

[BradKW]

Evaporative Cooling gone bad:

[img=400x400]http://orig14.deviantart.net/730c/f/2009/005/8/9/blown_up_boy_by_ozkangaroo.jpg[/img]

[img=400x400]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9b/a1/c7/9ba1c7bb2a7102172be554b760da4bdb.jpg[/img]

 

[FrenchOnion]

bradkw- Hilarious!

 

[TrainChaser]

It sounds like a good idea that has some serious catches to it.

You look like a space man in orbit. You have to sit up; if you lie down, you can't turn over w/o rearranging everything, and half your body will still be hot. You need electricity.

Try this instead (non-electric): Get a Thule Force L 628 roof pod (74" L x 36" W). Open, and fill the bottom about 6" deep with ice cubes. Lay a custom-cut panel of expanded mesh on top of the ice, and park yourself on it. When morning comes, dump the ice, dry the inside, fill the pod with stuff, and drive to a cooler place.

 

[johnny b]

i held off posting this when i found it due to the fact its a thermo electric power hog (11 amps cooling/14 amps heating)....but WTH it fits this thread OK.  

http://www.bikeairusa.com/bikeair-usa-home-page.html



Oh yeah, it's also 1500 bucks!!