Bird
Rest in Peace
And we're just glad it's only 95 today instead of 100+ like it was last week.
Staying cool in rural areas
- Thread starter txdon
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And we're just glad it's only 95 today instead of 100+ like it was last week.
kensfarm
Veteran Member
Phils said:
Do you have any pictures of the swamp coolers.. would be interesting to see your setup.. what kind of pump you use.. did you build it.. buy it?
Phils
Platinum Member
We bought the swamp coolers. They are available at all stores like Lowes, HD, Ace Hardware, Sears, etc. They've been used here for a long time.... I can remember how nice it was to sit in front of my grandmother's when I was little (well over 50 years ago).
I'll take some photos this weekend.
These things are big "boxes", usually about a yard cube or bigger. The bottom is a water reservoir that is a couple of inches deep. There's a water pump that sends the water to the top of the sides. The sides contain a medium that'll absorb water. Usually it's finely shredded wood, like aspen. It can be rigid foam although we've always preferred the aspen. The first few days with 'new pads' is always a pleasure because of the smell of fresh aspen in the air. Typically those pads get replaced every year, but I'm on the second year for the set I have now. They still work fine but eventually get pretty well coated in minerals from the evaporated water since we are on a well. That doesn't reduce the cooling unless it builds up the to point of restricting airflow.
There is a large squirrel cage blower in the center with its own multi-speed motor. It blows the air into the home either through the bottom (roof mount) or one side (wall or window mount). Our two are mounted on one side of our mobilehome, one in front coming out by the ceiling in the dining room. Our smaller unit is at floor level in the bedroom.
The large unit draws about 3.5 amps AC, which is about 35 amps from our 12VDC battery bank. The smaller one draws less and is one that we'll let run all night if necessary (can't remember the amp draw).
If you've never seen them then likely they don't work well in your area. Since they work entirely on evaporation you'll see them only in arid areas. We had some of the tropical moisture come this way from Mexico a week ago and our humidity was getting up to 40 - 45%, and these things don't do well at that. Normally we are at 15% or less and they are fine.
I've looked at some small refrigeration air conditioner specifications this last week. A unit large enough to cool our home is too big of a power draw. The smallest units (4 - 5000 btu) have a draw of 5 amps AC or less, so I could power one but it'd be too small to cool the house. I may install one anyway (through the wall) in the dining room, my thinking is it could keep the two front rooms cool when the humidity is high or when it's over 100 out.
That is a moot point now tho since all stores are OUT of air conditioners at the moment but DW is "suggesting" we persue this for next year (or even later this year).
Phil
I'll take some photos this weekend.
These things are big "boxes", usually about a yard cube or bigger. The bottom is a water reservoir that is a couple of inches deep. There's a water pump that sends the water to the top of the sides. The sides contain a medium that'll absorb water. Usually it's finely shredded wood, like aspen. It can be rigid foam although we've always preferred the aspen. The first few days with 'new pads' is always a pleasure because of the smell of fresh aspen in the air. Typically those pads get replaced every year, but I'm on the second year for the set I have now. They still work fine but eventually get pretty well coated in minerals from the evaporated water since we are on a well. That doesn't reduce the cooling unless it builds up the to point of restricting airflow.
There is a large squirrel cage blower in the center with its own multi-speed motor. It blows the air into the home either through the bottom (roof mount) or one side (wall or window mount). Our two are mounted on one side of our mobilehome, one in front coming out by the ceiling in the dining room. Our smaller unit is at floor level in the bedroom.
The large unit draws about 3.5 amps AC, which is about 35 amps from our 12VDC battery bank. The smaller one draws less and is one that we'll let run all night if necessary (can't remember the amp draw).
If you've never seen them then likely they don't work well in your area. Since they work entirely on evaporation you'll see them only in arid areas. We had some of the tropical moisture come this way from Mexico a week ago and our humidity was getting up to 40 - 45%, and these things don't do well at that. Normally we are at 15% or less and they are fine.
I've looked at some small refrigeration air conditioner specifications this last week. A unit large enough to cool our home is too big of a power draw. The smallest units (4 - 5000 btu) have a draw of 5 amps AC or less, so I could power one but it'd be too small to cool the house. I may install one anyway (through the wall) in the dining room, my thinking is it could keep the two front rooms cool when the humidity is high or when it's over 100 out.
That is a moot point now tho since all stores are OUT of air conditioners at the moment but DW is "suggesting" we persue this for next year (or even later this year).
Phil
rox
Veteran Member
Curious does DW mean, "Da Wife?"
Phils
Platinum Member
Yeppers! Or "Dang Wife". or other things I've used during 36 years of marriage.
BUT.... if she asks, and the standard for most forums is, "Dear Wife".
Phil
BUT.... if she asks, and the standard for most forums is, "Dear Wife".
Phil
monkeymonk
Silver Member
Check out Costco for the Misters
They cost $26 are about 25 feet long and have around 16 misters on the string. Work great!
They cost $26 are about 25 feet long and have around 16 misters on the string. Work great!
midlf
Platinum Member
Kensfarm - if the expression most often heard regarding hot weather is "it's not the heat it's the humidity" then a swamp cooler will not work. If the expression is "it's hot, but it's dry heat" then you are in swamp cooler territory.
Phils
Platinum Member
Here's some photos of "swamp coolers". They are cheap to buy, cheap to operate, and cheap to maintain. These two are about 20 years old. One photo shows the inner workings: pump, blower, pads. Pretty simple.
In my case (off-grid) the "cheap to operate" is the most important point. To get enough solar power to operate refrigeration air conditioning is beyond most budgets. And MOST of the summer, swamp coolers are just fine here. It's only the past couple of weeks with over 110 degree heat that have been killing us. Good news, it's gonna be under 100 for the next week or so.
About every other year the water pump needs replacement, about $20. As I said earlier, the pads should be replaced every year, maybe $15 buys all the pads I need for both. The blower motors (whether direct drive on photo 003 below or a belt drive as the bigger unit has) usually last many years (these are both original, knock on wood).
The coolers on commercial buildings are huge. Ace Hardware's are probably 5 ft cube and there's a bunch of 'em.
[on edit: about every two or three years the water inlet valve and float have to be replaced also. So... 4 parts that need occasional replacement or maintenence.)
Phil
In my case (off-grid) the "cheap to operate" is the most important point. To get enough solar power to operate refrigeration air conditioning is beyond most budgets. And MOST of the summer, swamp coolers are just fine here. It's only the past couple of weeks with over 110 degree heat that have been killing us. Good news, it's gonna be under 100 for the next week or so.
About every other year the water pump needs replacement, about $20. As I said earlier, the pads should be replaced every year, maybe $15 buys all the pads I need for both. The blower motors (whether direct drive on photo 003 below or a belt drive as the bigger unit has) usually last many years (these are both original, knock on wood).
The coolers on commercial buildings are huge. Ace Hardware's are probably 5 ft cube and there's a bunch of 'em.
[on edit: about every two or three years the water inlet valve and float have to be replaced also. So... 4 parts that need occasional replacement or maintenence.)
Phil
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Tom_H
Veteran Member
Heat finally broke here today. As of noon, there had been 123 deaths statewide due to the heat. I jumped in the pool Mon. to cool off; just made me hotter. Homebrew's right about valley humidity increasing; the worst part is it functions as a thermal blanket at night and doesn't let ground heat radiate off into space as it normally does. Fresno, an Ag town in the valley, hit 115. I hear St. Louis has been really bad with endless power outages.
2 questions:
1.) This is NOT meant to be political: From your own experience, who believes global warming is real and who doesn't?
2.) Anybody ever tried this neck cooler?
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/pipmoreshell1_2.jhtml?sku=SI558SL2&pid=26728300
2 questions:
1.) This is NOT meant to be political: From your own experience, who believes global warming is real and who doesn't?
2.) Anybody ever tried this neck cooler?
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/pipmoreshell1_2.jhtml?sku=SI558SL2&pid=26728300
texasjohn
Super Member
I believe it's real.