EMT pipes too short for heat dissipation?

[barkingmad]

Virgin here.

I was setting up my 12x25' piece of shade cloth using twelve 7' 1-inch EMT pipes. My friend said that 7' wasn't high enough, that the heat was going to collect at the 7' height and I was going to be a crispy critter under it.

(The pipes are 7' long because that's what fits in my car safely - and I'm comfortable with - for a 5700 mile round trip.)

I realize that heat rises, but is 7' truly too short? I had some idea that the wind would help keep things stirred up a bit.

Also, uhhh, he was dissing my black shade cloth and saying I should have never, ever gotten black. WTFO?! I *really* hope that's not a huge no-no. Hell, when I stand under it in the Virginia sun, it feels markedly cooler than without it.

Anybody care to throw cold water on my plans? TIA --

[maladroit]

Seven feet is not as good as eight feet, and black cloth is not as good as white or silver cloth...BUT...it'll still be a vast improvement over direct sunlight. Your friend is dissing you over the last 10% of effectiveness.

[forty_eight]

What I often hear stressed about heat dissipation is the balance of space between the top of your tent and the ceiling of your shade ... seems like a foot or two was the suggested amount.

Eplayans might just to represent the 1% of preppers - overengineered solutions to the hilt. You'll see some laughable shade out there that people seem to be enjoying without a care in the world.

BM is the epitome of a YMMV event, which I love!

[Jackass]

They use black shade cloth at most nurseries, I use it on playa. Works just fine.

7.5- 8ft will get that heat up away from you. 7ft is just a little too close, but will work as well.

[FIGJAM]

And there is almost always a little breeze.

[FossaFerox]

What I often hear stressed about heat dissipation is the balance of space between the top of your tent and the ceiling of your shade ... seems like a foot or two was the suggested amount.

Eplayans might just to represent the 1% of preppers - overengineered solutions to the hilt. You'll see some laughable shade out there that people seem to be enjoying without a care in the world.

BM is the epitome of a YMMV event, which I love!

Last year the difficulty was set to easy mode by all accounts. Who knows what would have happened with real weather? Not a care in the world indeed...

[forty_eight]

Last year the difficulty was set to easy mode by all accounts. Who knows what would have happened with real weather? Not a care in the world indeed...

I know, right! What do us 2nd timerz even actually know?

I still found it fascinating how many people could be observed "doing it wrong" yet grinning ear-to-ear the whole time.

[Lonesomebri]

Reminds me of when I stashed some red wine in the fridge once at some friends house. Of course someone had to point out, as I produced the bottle, how wrong I was for putting it in the fridge. So I told them, that's okay, I can suffer with my mistake, and they can drink their bottle how ever they like....oops....looks like they don't have a bottle...... So, what kind of set-up for the Burn does your buddy got?

[barkingmad]

Thank you, everyone! I mentioned what several of you said (about 7 feet being just a tad too close) to a friend of mine who promptly showed me how to secure the pipes to the luggage rack in such a way that those puppies aren't going anywhere! So, rising-heat problem solved -- I can at least carry 9-foot pipes, and I'll probably go the whole shebang and do 10 feet. I feel greatly relieved.

About the black shade cloth vs. white --- the reviews with two burner friends are mixed. I'm sticking with the black only because it did make a noticeable difference here at home. When I get on playa, I'll be the weirdo going from shelter to shelter, testing out which ones are cooler.

And lonesomebri -- you asked what kind of setup my buddy has for the Burn? Zip, nada, nuttin'...he's never been, says he doesn't want to go. Fine by me, the naysayin' Doom & Gloom. He's the kind of guy who finds fault with everything. Hell with him and his non-burn.

[trilobyte]

It all depends on how tall your biggest tent is. You need roughly a foot's clearance between the top of the tent and the shade tarp (heavy duty silver-on-silver) in order to get max efficiency. Anything less than that, and heat will radiate downward into the tent.

I use 6'8" poles for the vertical height on my shade structures, and they work extremely well. Campmates' tents are all under 6', so they're nice and cool by day. Another advantage for 6'8" is that most people can put that together without needing stepladders or stools.

[barkingmad]

Trilo -

That info was really helpful. I'm waiting on a few more foot pads to arrive tomorrow, and then I'll set up the shade structure *and* the tent again to see how much clearance there is.

I also followed your lead and got several hurricane stakes to help secure my shade structure, as well as Figjam's 12" nails. I have a buttload of 550 cord, but don't remember a single decent knot for those hurricane stakes. Time to search the Interweb.

Thanks for the info!

[Weebdog]

I posted this on a previous post - a great knot to use to tighten down guy lines and tents is the Blake's hitch. It is a locking slip knot. Once you tie it you can adjust the tension by sliding the knot back or forth. Works great on paracord. http://www.animatedknots.com/blakes/index.php

[BBadger]

About the black shade cloth vs. white --- the reviews with two burner friends are mixed. I'm sticking with the black only because it did make a noticeable difference here at home. When I get on playa, I'll be the weirdo going from shelter to shelter, testing out which ones are cooler.

It can make a difference, as black shade cloth absorbs heat, rather than reflects it, and the black surface allows it to radiate the heat back out (to you) just as effectively as it absorbed it. If you've already bought the cloth I wouldn't bother getting something else and just work on adding height. Plus, your shade cloth will probably be covered with dust anyway, which will change its reflective characteristics.

You do need to make sure you have sufficient shade levels. You need at least 60% shading to be effective, and that goes for superior materials or colors too. 30% does nothing for heat, but just reduces light. I use silvered reflective tarps, but I use a carport or monkey huts, which is a different configuration; it may be different for you.

And lonesomebri -- you asked what kind of setup my buddy has for the Burn? Zip, nada, nuttin'...he's never been, says he doesn't want to go. Fine by me, the naysayin' Doom & Gloom. He's the kind of guy who finds fault with everything. Hell with him and his non-burn.

Hahaha, I like this a lot.