Managing condensation water from trailer AC

[RemingtonRand]

My travel trailer has a typical small rooftop AC unit on it. I've been testing it out at home (Palm Springs) in some very hot and humid weather. It's working great, even on very hot (117 degree) days. But, there is a good deal of water running off the rooftop. I know the playa is much drier than we have been here in the low desert lately, but now I'm wondering. Should I prepare for water condensation from the AC unit? If so, what are some suggestions? I was thinking of a few roller paint buckets since I won't know where the water drips. But, that's just more junk to bring. Or maybe, just maybe condensation water on the playa is not an issue?

[Elderberry]

We air-condition our yurts, and I don't think there was ever any condensation. We had a tube to direct the water, but never had to use it.

[GreyCoyote]

Somewhere along the line, I think we overdid it on the "nothing touches the playa" ethic. No harm in that, but plain water condensed from the air is harmless. (It actually rains on the playa. Hehehe). And we wont talk about the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water trucked-in for dust abatement.

So water in the desert isnt an evil boogyman. The only issue is making a muddy mess. If the water you are producing is clean, and you are not making a mess, you are fine. If it puddles, then you need to spread it out so it can evaporate quickly. Bring a bucket just in case.

The reality is I doubt you will see more than a quart or two at night from breath vapor, and nine during the day when occupancy is light. There just isnt enough moisture in the air most days to condense.

[Captain Goddammit]

I don't think it'll be an issue either. I've never had a water issue running my rooftop air.

[FossaFerox]

It's too dry for condensation to matter. If it weren't, though, you would want to catch the water, not because it's water (unless there was a ton of it) but because of what it would wash off the roof of the trailer (soaps, wax, chemicals, debris).

[caffeineslinger]

It's too dry for condensation to matter. If it weren't, though, you would want to catch the water, not because it's water (unless there was a ton of it) but because of what it would wash off the roof of the trailer (soaps, wax, chemicals, debris).

It rains out there occasionally. Are you suggesting we catch all the water that falls off our vehicles?
I think we're all just fine.

[JayBobBoy]

Don't sweat it!

[GreyCoyote]

I think the intent of Leave No Trace is a good one, but catching runoff from a vehicle is just way, WAY past the point of diminishing returns for me.

Burn as you will, but the first hippie who shows up in my camp and tells me I'm contaminating the playa will get a face full of greywater (treated, chlorinated, filtered) and a lecture about boundaries.

[FossaFerox]

I think the intent of Leave No Trace is a good one, but catching runoff from a vehicle is just way, WAY past the point of diminishing returns for me.

Burn as you will, but the first hippie who shows up in my camp and tells me I'm contaminating the playa will get a face full of greywater (treated, chlorinated, filtered) and a lecture about boundaries.

Runoff from the rain, sure. But if it's a single, predictable, week long drip and you can't be bothered to put down a drip pan that's completely different.

A nasty puddle with pm2.5, pm10, benzene, cadmium, and chromium on top of less dangerous stuff we still try to keep off the playa is a threat to the playa and the future if the event and it's an easily preventable one.

An important difference between a drip spot and run off from the rain is distribution. One creates a much more visible, lasting scar that will have to be dug out by the cleanup crews (since apparently you're too lazy) prior to the site inspection.

[GreyCoyote]

Have you looked at the drips coming off the hundred plus water containers provided by Meco? They all drip. All week long. Drip. Drip. Drip. Give me a MS/GC and I will find everything you listed above in the resulting mud clod. Same goes for the water trucks. And lI can find you lots more interesting compounds downwind in the cancer plume generated by 70,000 people running flame shooters, generators without cat converters, and doing everything in their power to stay as non-sober as possible.

Burning Man is not a "green" event. We try, but for the record, no, I do NOT CARE ENOUGH to go to the effort of hermetically sealing my life from the playa. Neither will I dig-up that Meco mudball. Wont do it. And you wont either, not while I am standing there.

For your concern to be well-founded, "change" needs to start with you. Lose the faux fur in your avatar. Turn your AC off in Gerlach. Bring NOTHING to the playa that isnt biodegradable, 100% certified organic, and make sure your vehicle is powered by ethanol (from corn that you grew, and the residue from fermentation composted into your own garden) before you suggest we are doing it wrong.

Last year was your first year. Good. I am glad you "caught the bug", and I hope to meet you and toss-back a friendly brew with you at the meet-n-greet. But pick your battles. This one is patently silly. Learn about the history of the playa and the crap dumped there. Learn about land speed record attempts made by vehicles using red fuming nitric acid and bunker fuel. Or LOX and JP-4. Or rubber and nitric (NOT nitrous) oxide. Learn about the crashes, deaths, and massive spills of "stuff". Learn about the rocket explosions. About how the Air Force used the place as a designated aerial fuel dump point for fighters, bombers and tankers. Remember the drive-by shooting gallery from our history? Its all there just waiting for you to detect it and assess blame.

So to be REALLY clear: You want to compare the AC runoff of an RV to THIS? Ok. You win.

[FossaFerox]

If it produces a visible scar (which single point run off from a dirty vehicle can do) it's a problem. We're not talking trace amounts, we're talking a visible discoloration long after it dries out. The kind of thing BLM could count during the site inspection.

I don't give a shit about clean burning fuels or other things that don't visibly fuck things up. If it jeopardizes the event, though, and could be prevented with a pie tin I'm going to say yes, you should take the 30 seconds to be something resembling responsible.

[GreyCoyote]

If it produces a visible scar (which single point run off from a dirty vehicle can do) it's a problem. We're not talking trace amounts, we're talking a visible discoloration long after it dries out. The kind of thing BLM could count during the site inspection.

I don't give a shit about clean burning fuels or other things that don't visibly fuck things up. If it jeopardizes the event, though, and could be prevented with a pie tin I'm going to say yes, you should take the 30 seconds to be something resembling responsible.

Then I fully expect your vehicle to be wearing this: http://www.carbag.com/

Where are you camping? I want pictures.

[FossaFerox]

We check our vehicles for drips and don't do anything that would generate liquid once we're there. I'm not suggesting people take elaborate measures, I'm suggesting that if they know it's going to drip or see it dripping (and again, we check ours) they take basic steps to minimize the impact.

Why are you so against this? It's seriously boggling my mind that you find the notion of a drip pan so offensive.

[GreyCoyote]

Because I find it so utterly amusing to tweak on your Burny sensibilities. I'm just bad that way. Hehehehe.

Seriously: I'll be at 5 and G and I've got a beer or two with your name on it. I always enjoy what you post, even if its in ways you never imagined.

[FossaFerox]

I'll be there with my faux fur on at some point if I don't get distracted.

[GreyCoyote]

I'll be there with my faux fur on at some point if I don't get distracted.

Hippie.

[Bless]

Runoff from the rain, sure. But if it's a single, predictable, week long drip and you can't be bothered to put down a drip pan that's completely different.

If you go the drip pan route, make sure to avoid these guys: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/us/po ... d=all&_r=0

[FossaFerox]

I'll be there with my faux fur on at some point if I don't get distracted.

Hippie.

Faux fur vest over Armani slacks it is.

And don't worry Bless, we only use the responsibly priced competitor's pan at $2,500 a pop.

[Bless]

Armani linens with those fresh Gucci loafers.

[Captain Goddammit]

Of course no halfway responsible burner wants to leave scars on the playa that will upset the BLM. A few drops of clean water from an A/C??
Even if there was enough of it to make a few drips, it's just clean water! More liquid gets spilled out of red plastic cups over at Doc Pyro's on any given evening! And let me tell ya, that shit is toxic! Ask the First Mate...