Date:         Thu, 1 Jun 2006 09:39:17 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Roof A/C - Swamp Cooler
Comments: To: David Milo <dellaone@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <73bad2170606010822o5adc35al81b37927760e3698@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Sorry, nothing magical. Just a couple strong fans that blow a lot of air
on us. The 2 fans only pull 0.5 amp each so that is what we use most. We
mount them with elastic cord to the back of the front seat head rests so
they pull cool air through the headrest hole from our front window
areas, which have screens. The envelope type front door screens are
worth their weight in gold. Buy some or make some. Much better air flow
than the tiny Westy side windows.

The swamp cooler needs a big hole in the roof. Can't mount it on the
Westy  poptop section since the cooler needs to be level if you are
going to have water in it. The water is just sitting in an open pan
inside the unit. A clever "pump" draws water up into the fan and mists
it out onto the foam pad. Air is drawn through the pad where the
evaporating water cools it. We mounted ours in the front rack with a
large hole cut down through it and the sheet metal. Too much invasive
work for something that uses quite a bit of battery and doesn't cool in
high humidity when you need it most. We also mostly camp in Baja where
water is precious and the unit can be thirsty. We tend to say put for a
week at a time so the battery draw is the largest downside for us. We
still use it since it moves a massive amount of air through the Camper
on smoking hot afternoons. On hot nights we use the small fans to save
battery.

Mark

David Milo wrote:

> "I wouldn't do it again, since we have found a better way to do the job."
>
> What is the better way?  We will be taking our first forays into
> westy-land this summer and I am interested in gathering all the
> insight I can.  Thanks
>
> Sandy
> 91 Carat "Betsy"
> 87 Syncro "Annie"
> 82 Westy "Aunt Sally"  (soon to give her life and camping parts to Annie)
>
>
>