Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
- Island Brian
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Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
Hello!
Burning Man virgin here looking for some advice in regards to powering a 5 gallon bucket swamp cooler. I see most people advise the use of a battery, and if need be, a solar panel to recharge the battery. I was wondering if anyone has exclusively used solar panels to power the swamp cooler, and if there were any disadvantages of using solar over the battery, and vice versa? For example; is the battery more reliable because it doesn't depend on environmental factors?
-Island Brian
Burning Man virgin here looking for some advice in regards to powering a 5 gallon bucket swamp cooler. I see most people advise the use of a battery, and if need be, a solar panel to recharge the battery. I was wondering if anyone has exclusively used solar panels to power the swamp cooler, and if there were any disadvantages of using solar over the battery, and vice versa? For example; is the battery more reliable because it doesn't depend on environmental factors?
-Island Brian
Re: Solar or battery?
My battery runs my cooler all week without having to recharge!
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- Island Brian
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Re: Solar or battery?
That sounds extremely reliable.
Thanks for the response!
Thanks for the response!
- some seeing eye
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Re: Solar or battery?
Sno Koan Solar camp will charge batteries. Then you would need 2 - they charge in the day. But if you use Mr Figjam's system and sizing, you may not need charging in the week.
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- Eric
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Re: Solar or battery?
Figjam is the creator of one of the most reliable swamp-cooling systems on the playa, trust his advice. Just google "figjam cooler" and you'll find complete instructions, and there's a thread somewhere on the board with lots of details (which I'm sure Figjam can find easily!)
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- chuckularone
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Re: Solar or battery?
Here's Figjam's swamp cooler thread: https://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic ... 80&t=33842
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Re: Solar or battery?
"Don't buy ur Burn...........Build ur Burn!"
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
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- tatonka
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Re: Solar or battery?
we bought a expensive marine batt to run cooler and a extra regular batt incase. We started with the regular one to see how long it would last. It ran the cooler all week.
Never had to use the deep cycle marine batt.

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- Island Brian
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- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:37 pm
- Burning Since: 2014
Re: Solar or battery?
So we've decided battery is the safest way to run the swamp cooler. Can any recommend an inexpensive but reliable 12v battery that is between 105Ah-115Ah? We found these at Walmart, but read that it's 125Ah at 1 amp which sounds like it's not nearly powerful enough to run the cooler for a week?
http://answers.walmart.com/answers/1336 ... stions.htm
http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Max ... y/20531539
Thank you all for the informative responses! You all rule!
-Island Brian
http://answers.walmart.com/answers/1336 ... stions.htm
http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Max ... y/20531539
Thank you all for the informative responses! You all rule!
-Island Brian
- TT120
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Re: Solar or battery?
I got that same battery from Wallymart and it ran my Figjam Bucket Cooler and charged 2 phones all week long without even breaking a sweat.
If you had to, you could charge it back up from your car with a set of jumper cables in about 30 minutes.
If you had to, you could charge it back up from your car with a set of jumper cables in about 30 minutes.
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- Island Brian
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Re: Solar or battery?
That's awesome news! And thanks for the speedy response, TT120!
You've all been incredibly helpful, and I thank you all for your time!
You've all been incredibly helpful, and I thank you all for your time!
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Re: Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
"If you had to, you could charge it back up from your car with a set of jumper cables in about 30 minutes."
is this true? i'm finding conflicting information online
cheers!
is this true? i'm finding conflicting information online
cheers!
Re: Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
Connect the jumpers to the battery you want to charge and let them set for an hour.
Then start the car and let it idle for an hour.
Then start the car and let it idle for an hour.
"Don't buy ur Burn...........Build ur Burn!"
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
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Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
-
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Re: Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
thank you!
and disconnect the battery & jumpers during pt 2 when letting the car idle?
and disconnect the battery & jumpers during pt 2 when letting the car idle?
Re: Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
NO!!!
The first hour is whats called balancing.
If the alternator detects a full battery, it may not throw a full charge to the batteries.
The idle hour will then charge both batteries equally.
The first hour is whats called balancing.
If the alternator detects a full battery, it may not throw a full charge to the batteries.
The idle hour will then charge both batteries equally.

"Don't buy ur Burn...........Build ur Burn!"
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
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Re: Swamp cooler: Solar or battery?
much appreciated! 

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