cooling your tent or van

andreas97 · Post by **andreas97** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:54 pm

kgryfon wrote: Would someone who knows electronics and/or solar tell me whether this solar panel will be adequate to power the fan? I need to order in a hurry to get the parts in time. The fan power is the last piece to go!
http://cgi.ebay.com/20-W-12V-Solar-Pane ... 3cba41b15e

That link appears to be broken.

kgryfon · Post by **kgryfon** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:53 pm

Ok, trying again-

I have this fan (Specifications: 120x120x38 mm, 190.48 CFM @ 4100 RPM, 55.5 dBA, 15 watts, 1.25 amps, 12v DC):

Would someone who knows electronics and/or solar tell me whether this solar panel will be adequate to power the fan? I need to order in a hurry to get the parts in time. The fan power is the last piece to go!

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-15W-Solar-Panel ... 19c78be4d2
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/15W-solar-panel-cha ... 45fad270a7
or
Can you point me to the right one?

Thanks again!

MikeGyver · Post by **MikeGyver** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:25 pm

I cant find anything that says the amperage the panels put out but it should be fine.

Irreverent Moniker · Post by **Irreverent Moniker** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:52 am

amps = watts/volts

so 15w/12v = 1.25 amps

kgryfon · Post by **kgryfon** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:42 am

Great! Thank you both! See you there

andreas97 · Post by **andreas97** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:31 pm

kgryfon wrote:Ok, trying again-

I have this fan (Specifications: 120x120x38 mm, 190.48 CFM @ 4100 RPM, 55.5 dBA, 15 watts, 1.25 amps, 12v DC):

Would someone who knows electronics and/or solar tell me whether this solar panel will be adequate to power the fan? I need to order in a hurry to get the parts in time. The fan power is the last piece to go!

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-15W-Solar-Panel ... 19c78be4d2
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/15W-solar-panel-cha ... 45fad270a7
or
Can you point me to the right one?

Thanks again!

Just as a point of clarification... those panels should indeed be enough to offset the drain of the fan.... but, will you be using one of those to charge the battery running the fan? Or trying to drive it directly?

If you're not using a battery, keep in mind that any "12v" solar panel designed to charge 12 volt battery banks actually puts out closer to 16 or 17 volts in full sun. This is what you want when charging a battery, but if you're driving the fan directly, you'll be overpowering it. (It'll spin much faster than it's rated for, and you may burn it out prematurely.)

jasb1935 · Post by **jasb1935** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:14 pm

How do you make sure that the swamp cooler isn't blowing dusty air into the yurt / tent / structure?

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:21 pm

The air passing through the wet pad washes the incoming air.

In a white out, turn it off.

sierraskies · Post by **sierraskies** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:50 pm

Thanks to Mr. Fig and collective wisdom for the design! I'm getting 22-25 degrees of cooling, easily powered by a 45 watt solar panel. With two Scythe fans the output is a little marginal for my 23' class A RV, but with the flow piped directly to the curtained-off bed area it makes for very comfortable napping temps.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:58 pm

What a stunningly beutiful creation!!!

Congradulations on your sucsess.

The Bee · Post by **The Bee** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:25 pm

sierraskies wrote:...

Sweet Swamp Thang! I had an idea to decorate my bucket too, but wow, yours looks great! I'll be using two Scythe fans too, so good to know it works OK. I'll be cooling a small van, so I think I'll be OK. Hopefully, I'll have pics up next week.

Booger Presley · Post by **Booger Presley** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:43 pm

First off, thanks FIGJAM!!
Thanks to everyone else for sharing their experience and knowledge...

Here is my entry in the cooler build-o-rama:

I used a bilge pump from Cabelas, this model:http://www.bestbilgepumpsreviews.com/ru ... ch-reviews
I used a single Scythe fan mentioned earlier in the thread and will use a second on the ceiling of my structure to push out the heat and create some air flow.
I built a battery box from a cooler, complete with fuse block, lighted switches and cigarette lighter type receptacles for the cooler, fan and solar charger.

My whole setup, with the newly acquired solar battery charger. I am going to sleep like a baby in the heat of the day!

alt12 · Post by **alt12** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:08 pm

Just want to say thanks to Figjam as well. You inspired me to build one of these and I was surprise by how easy they are to make. I can't wait to try it out this year! Plus it inspired me to start experimenting with solar power. I got a 35watt solar power kit to re-charge the battery. thinking I might even run some rope LED lights for my tent off the battery at night as well.... Try to incorporate this solar panel into my home life as well. This is what I love about burning man. You're always exposed to and learning how to make things that you otherwise never get involved with...Its truly a DIY fest....

No fancy decorations for me!

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:15 pm

phil wrote:Forget cooling your whole tent or van. Just get one of these:

and cool your body.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... ckets.html

ha ha,,, I made one o these out of the full tyvek suit for my kids one year. A lady walking behind my Daughter thought she was one of those "bubble kids"

Thin and with tap lights inside she glowed...

strangeloop · Post by **strangeloop** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:21 am

Has anyone attempted to fly with the 5 gallon bucket swamp cooler? I'm flying in to Reno and would love to attempt to build one of these, but am nervous about the amount of space, breaking in transit, or freaking out the TSA.

inProgress · Post by **inProgress** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:00 pm

strangeloop wrote:Has anyone attempted to fly with the 5 gallon bucket swamp cooler? I'm flying in to Reno and would love to attempt to build one of these, but am nervous about the amount of space, breaking in transit, or freaking out the TSA.

Exactly - thats what took the wind out of my swamp coolin sails. I had no idea how to reliably transport the solar panel over, and NYC doesn't afford me much chance to test the whole mechanism.

The Bee · Post by **The Bee** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:46 pm

Hey guys and gals, I need some advice on wiring. The posts on my battery have some nice divots where the sparks popped and the smoke escaped during my initial testing

I want switched power with one switch shutting down the pump and both fans. Any advice?

Here's my plan: Battery + to inline fuse to one terminal on the switch. Fans + and pump + to the other terminal on the switch. Battery - to the fans - and pump -. Does that sound reasonable?

Thanks!

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:15 pm

Yes, but I did'nt use a fuse.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:28 pm

FIGJAM wrote:Yes, but I did'nt use a fuse.

Was the one you have to short???

Kerryinps · Post by **Kerryinps** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:32 pm

im new at this too...but i figured this much out.
you run your fan off a battery
you charge your battery with the solar panels
you cant run your fan directly off your solar panel
u must have a battery in the loop.
make sense?
yes it will run your fan plus a 12volt pump for about 47hrs
i built one like the one in the previous post. 5gal bucket deal
i have a 16ft tavel trailer so i think it will work perfectly for me during the hottest time.
the most expesive part is the fan $28 like yours 120mmx120mm 3/8
a 15w solar panel is plenty to charge ur battery
good luck

dubz · Post by **dubz** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:34 am

inProgress wrote:
strangeloop wrote:Has anyone attempted to fly with the 5 gallon bucket swamp cooler? I'm flying in to Reno and would love to attempt to build one of these, but am nervous about the amount of space, breaking in transit, or freaking out the TSA.

Exactly - thats what took the wind out of my swamp coolin sails. I had no idea how to reliably transport the solar panel over, and NYC doesn't afford me much chance to test the whole mechanism.

You could bring everything in your checked luggage, except for the actual bucket. Bring the lid with fan, ducting (which for many people is the collapsible dryer ducting), pump, evaporative cloth, etc, etc, and just purchase the bucket in Reno and drill new holes in it.

But, this doesn't cover the solar panel, or if you are using a large battery, the battery. I know that you can ship packages to the Grand Sierra, so if you are arriving to Reno on Friday or Saturday, contact your hotel that you are staying at about receiving a package for you. Some do it for free, some charge $5-$10 to do so. f

If you are drilling those holes on the playa, please do so in a contained location or on a tarp out of the wind to catch your MOOP.

Dubz

MikeGyver · Post by **MikeGyver** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:49 pm

Damn, I should have rechecked before I bought the NZXT fan I thought it looked familiar. 166CFM sounds so good, and it was on sale for 8 bucks so I just grabbed it, Hopefully it will work. Irreverent, Did you test it to see how it works for you on the system? I may have to return this one and buy another one. Because I can see how the 166CFM is due to the 200mm of the fan when a 120mm fan putting out the same CFM would actually be pushing the air further down the ducting, but we will see.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:08 am

I liked the look of the specs on the NZXT and bought it.

Testing showed me it's not very good for this project.

Take it back and get the stongest fan you can afford.

This is the best I've found so far for the bucket.

Click on the specs an look at how much pressure it puts out.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12959 ... 6c435s1108

strangeloop · Post by **strangeloop** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:17 am

Sleeve the cable? Yes or No?

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:20 am

What cable?

strangeloop · Post by **strangeloop** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:23 am

Sorry, nevermind. They've got a million options under "Add to Cart". Confused me. Thanks for the link!

MikeGyver · Post by **MikeGyver** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:25 am

FIGJAM wrote:I liked the look of the specs on the NZXT and bought it.

Testing showed me it's not very good for this project.

Take it back and get the stongest fan you can afford.

This is the best I've found so far for the bucket.

Click on the specs an look at how much pressure it puts out.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12959 ... 6c435s1108

K, Will do, Just had a promising Interview so Ill hopefully have money to buy something that's not on super sale hahaha.

cahlm · Post by **cahlm** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:44 pm

done and done.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:46 pm

Cahlm be stylin!

cahlm · Post by **cahlm** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:49 pm

thanks for the design. i can't believe how many people are doing the bucket cooler this year. last year there was maybe 5-6 of us? glad it caught on.

cooling your tent or van

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