Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 21:54:59 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Fwd: An AC idea for driving and camping
In-Reply-To: <9b47937e0707081919t38ebabc5tf8646a800d6ee018@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Swamp coolers work great in arid climates like Arizona, new Mexico,
Nevada and other very dry parts. Work by introducing water spray, mist
or vapor to a dry air stream and the evaporation cools the air. The now
wet air needs to be evacuated or shortly everything in the area will be
wet. But if one can remove the now cool wet air it really does work
well. On the other hand, if you are in a high humidity environment like
the Deep South, the added water from a Swamp Cooler will likely cause it
to rain in your vehicle and you to have a heat stroke at the same time.
A true air conditioner is what is needed in the humid south. It chills
the humid air, squeezing out the moisture from the return air into the
vehicle (or house) as the case may be, thereby reducing the humidity of
the air to a comfortable level, as well a lowering the temperature of
the air
We have had a drought here in Alabama for spring and early summer, and
extremely hot. Air conditioners here never shut off. The last two or
three days we have had rain added to the heat, so we have had high temps
and high humidity. Most miserable. I find that in addition to the AC in
the house, I also have to run a separate de-humidifier in order for the
AC to keep up. At present I am emptying out the 2.5 gallon holding tank
on the dehumidifier twice a day. I am grateful to have the thing.
Everyone wants to come to my house it is so comfortable inside. Of
course my power bill is atrocious !
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Bill Gibson wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Bill Gibson <bill.bgibson@gmail.com>
> Date: Jul 8, 2007 6:50 PM
> Subject: Re: An AC idea for driving and camping
> To: Edward Maglott <emaglott@buncombe.main.nc.us>
>
>
> I use a swampy in southern arizona; works great in our <dry> air for
> blowing cooler air across you but doesn't refrigerate at all of
> course. The 3-speed fan is as powerful as you'd want with most dc
> wiring; on the highest speed you can melt insulation and many dc
> socketswith the current drawn if you haven't wired for it, so I use it
> on medium speed most of the time. Once the dew point gets to 55
> degrees Fahrenheit, it won't help unless you like humid.
>
> I've seen the kooleraires at a solar festival, and they look like a
> fine alternative, simple, the sort of thing you could home brew, but
> already done.
>
> On 7/8/07, Edward Maglott <emaglott@buncombe.main.nc.us> wrote:
>> Have you or anybody used these in a humid area? How much do they cost?
>> Edward
>>
>> At 06:30 PM 7/8/2007, justin - wrote:
>> >not cheap, but simple and works great
>> >
>> >http://swampy.net/wb.html
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >----------
>> > > Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 17:55:58 -0400
>> > > From: emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US
>> > > Subject: An AC idea for driving and camping
>> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > >
>> > > So I've got my '86 Westy, and it's AC system is not working. Over
>> > > the years I've tried the $30 switch to R134a and replaced the
>> leaking
>> > > expansion valve, and got a little cool out of it, but not enough to
>> > > keep the van cool while driving. I really need to replace the
>> > > receiver/dryer and figure out where it continues to leak slowly.
>> > >
>> > > But I'd also like to have AC when I visit a campground in the
>> > > summer. I've seen the rigs to mount the window AC unit in the
>> > > passenger window or in the luggage rack. They seem to require more
>> > > setup/take down time than I'd ideally like. I do like the fact that
>> > > you just leave the whole thing at home in the cooler months.
>> > >
>> > > So here's my idea. Use one of those freestanding rolling AC units
>> > > that has air exchange hoses to connect to a window. Strap it in
>> > > place somewhere like behind the passenger seat. hook hoses to handy
>> > > window with DIY adapter plate. While camping it uses shore power--
>> > > easy. For driving it runs off an inverter connected to aux
>> > > battery. Here's my concept breakthrough: replace the AC compressor
>> > > on the engine with another alternator. They're cheap, even for an 80
>> > > or 100 amp model. 100 amps = 1200 watts. Should be pretty easy to
>> > > fabricate a bracket to mount the additional alternator. It will not
>> > > put much load on the engine when there is no load on it, or it's
>> belt
>> > > could be removed in the off season.
>> > >
>> > > Questions/Ideas: Is 1200 watts enough to power an AC unit big enough
>> > > to cool a vanagon going down the road on a hot day? Or one parked in
>> > > the sun with the top up? I'm thinking some adjustable air deflectors
>> > > inside the van to direct the cool air toward the drivers when
>> driving
>> > > or elsewhere when not. Maybe big flexible hose for that? Perhaps
>> > > the outside air heat exchanger could take advantage of ram air when
>> > > moving to improve efficiency?
>> > >
>> > > Edward (also added another vanagon post on my blog
>> > > http://gismemories.blogspot.com )
>>
>
>
> --
> Bill Gibson
> Tempe, Arizona, USA
>
>
> --
> Bill Gibson
> Tempe, Arizona, USA
>
>
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