Do Swamp Coolers + Playa Dust = Problem?

c.stewbing · Post by **c.stewbing** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:25 pm

Hi, All -

I'd like to use a swamp cooler to chill my geodesic dome this year. It is a portable one... so, I could either place it entirely inside my dome, or on the outside with the cool air ducting in.

I realize that it may work better outside (better air flow); however, I am concerned that in the oh so likely event of a dust storm the filters will become clogged with Playa mud.

Does anyone have any experience with swamp coolers on the Playa?
Any tips or tricks you can send my way would be most appreciated!

EB · Post by EB » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:04 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... mp+coolers

About halfway down the thread they start talking about swamp coolers, etc.

c.stewbing · Post by **c.stewbing** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:22 pm

thanks EB.
no mention on the dust/clogging issue though.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:35 pm

one would imagine it will have many variables......
It seems a person would want to check them periodically, and, if they're dirty/muddy/dusty, clean them..........As much water as you'll go through, a little extra for an occasional rinse seems it'd work.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:42 pm

I'm about halfway done with my swamp cooler, i got the idea from the post EB mentioned referring to a Kooleraire product.
I have an ice chest with a hole drilled in the top toward the end, batt powered fan in that hole,and a hole in the side halfway up at the other end to draw air thru.
The idea is to fill with bottles of frozen water, plus a few inches of water on the bottom. A wire tuibe leading to the fan on top, covered with some type of cloth, lower part sitting in the water, hole in the side also covered in cloth some of which sitting in the water. The fan would pull air through the wet cloth and the frozen bottles.
I have another chest to fill with dry ice, wrapped in cardboard and duct taped, to freeze the water bottles every night.
I'm hoping it will cool the cargo van a little in the mornings so I can get some sleep!

Dust is bound to accumulate on the cloth as the air is drawn thru, but it will be easy to rinse them out every day.
I think this is the best I can do without having the foul stink, noise and expense of a generator/AC combo.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:48 pm

...my old camp used a large swamp cooler in 2005 and 2006 without any issues. Want to be sure to turn it off at night, and we turned it off during storms also (and covered it with tarp). Mighty nice thing to have on the playa!

Be sure everyone in your camp keeps their cooler water clean (have 1 person who goes around each day collecting melt water in a 5-gal jug, inspecting each cooler's water cleanliness before accepting it), and re-use it in the cooler. Our swamp cooler used 5 gal/hour, so we easily handled our entire camp's cooler melt each day. Just don't use other grey water in a cooler...

c.stewbing · Post by **c.stewbing** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:56 pm

I was thinking about using melted cooler water. That's a great idea... collect it from other people!

Ha ha... the gray water swamp... now that's pretty gross! It adds a whole new meaning to the term "swamp".

I think I'll just keep it in my dome. That way I won't have to worry about covering it during dust storms. Hopefully it will get enough air... and the air won't be too humid for it to work properly.