Date:         Sun, 15 May 2011 03:36:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Rooftop A/C Experiences
In-Reply-To:  <4DCEAC59.1030802@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Since i live in Southern Ca, and I'm dealing with a dry desert
climate here, I'm still wondering if a swamp cooler would work.  What
I'm wondering is since I'll be using it in the van while driving,
would the van increase in humidity and cause it to stop working
effeciently?  Would cracking a window (or leaving the roof vent open)
keep it dry in there without heating it up too much?  Do I have to
invest 3 bills to find out?

Dan
L.A., CA
'85 Westy Weekender

On May 14, 2011, at 9:22 AM, John Rodgers wrote:

>  Swamp Coolers really only work in very dry climates. I had one in my
> house in New Mexico and it really did a job cooling the place down.
> But
> it did so by evaporative cooling - which adds moisture to the air.
> In a
> dry climate it works really great, and is cheaper to run than an air
> conditioner. The principle of the thing is that a mist of water is
> sprayed between a fan and  a mesh of some type (in my case wood fiber
> sandwiched between two plastic screens) The fan blows the mist into
> the
> fiber, and once wet, as the air from the fan passes over the moist
> fiber
> the moisture evaporates, thus cooling the air as it passes through.
> This
> process both cools the air inside and raises the moisture level as
> well.
> In a very dry climate, this is very desirable. However, in a warmer
> climate it's horrible. Makes the air so wet and muggy you cannot
> possibly get cool. For all around use in a vehicle have a working AC
> unit is the solution. But for homes - Swamp coolers in dry
> climates, AC
> units for wet muggy climates like the Deep South.
>
> John
>
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
> On 5/13/2011 2:53 PM, Cunegonde wrote:
>> I have a small generator, and I also have built an A/C carrier
>> bracket for the passenger window. This is all fine when parked
>> (and I try not to spend much time in places where A/C is a daily
>> use item). However, my cooling (burning?) need is while driving.
>>
>> I just contacted the Vintage Air people about Vanagon
>> installation. As for evaporative cooling, any listmembers familiar
>> with swampy.net units, or recommendation for better?
>>
>> Cut hole in roof vs. tear apart dash. Hmmm.
>>
>>