cooling your tent or van

[FIGJAM]

There is no golden bucket award.





But there is a crown.







theres a saying: "Let cooler heads prevail."















Have I got too much time on my hands or what?

[bm_cricket]

theres a saying: "Let cooler heads prevail."

I like you. Waking up to a solid, hardy laugh is always a great way to start the day. At least I didn't spew coffee through my nose.

mMmmm, coffee!... *Stumbles off to kitchen*

[kman]

LOL that's great!

Not as sure about the mods, though... have you tested it to see if there is a temp difference?

Why mount the drip line to the bottom of the lid? Doesn't that make it harder to take apart (or even remove the lid), or am I missing something?

I would imagine there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to more water in the bucket... more water means you're covering up more surface area, and have less evaporative surface to work with.

And finally, I worry about losing the shade cloth. It probably doesn't matter at home but on the playa, the shade cloth is all that stands between the porous mat and the clogging dust of the playa. I think of the shade cloth as the only filter we have against these getting super clogged up with thick dust. That's my biggest concern about operation over the course of a week, actually... the dust.

[bm_cricket]

That's my biggest concern about operation over the course of a week, actually... the dust.

You mean the soup. The playa soup? oozing all through the bucket..

[kman]

The Scythe Kaze 3,000 rpm fans are totally the way to go. They put out a massive amount of air! A pair of them puts out an absurd amount! I think the noise is a tolerable level, too, but we'll have to see. Perhaps not for a tent, but from inside the yurt with the cooler outside, I think it will be fine.

I highly recommend these fans for anyone considering this project. (The Cooler Master fans I tried initially may work, too, but they really do move a lot less air.) Considering Figgy's 2.0 cooler uses the big Endless Breeze fan to good effect, I think airflow is key. And if nothing else, it certainly generates a nice breeze inside!

The Scythe Kaze 3,000 rpm fans are available for under $8 here (plus S&H, unfortunately, but even then I paid $25.48 for two fans, delivered, which is a reasonable price):


Specs: http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/0 ... etail.html

I can't wait to try this thing out during the daylight hours and get some solid temp figures!

I want to pick up a couple of in-line switches and figure out a way of installing them so I can turn on one fan, both fans, or neither... ideally from inside the yurt.

I might also consider adding a speed control. I need to find out if a speed controller would lower the amperage drawn, or simply add resistance to burn up the extra juice (wasteful). Then I can have an easier time balancing how much water the little harbor freight pump is moving with how much air the fans are drawing, more than I already can by simply turning one off. (I originally went with the two-fan design partially because I could easily tweak power draw from my battery simply by turning one fan off.)

[kman]

That's my biggest concern about operation over the course of a week, actually... the dust.

You mean the soup. The playa soup? oozing all through the bucket..

Yeah. Exactly.

Although two things come to mind:

1) The original design Figgy drew from came from the playa, and that original is just a scaled up version of this design (big trash can instead of small 5 gal bucket, but same theory). See the Instructible linked early in the thread. I wonder if it's as big of a problem as I feared?

2) Refer to the thread on grey water evaporator fountains. Many of those designs use either a bilge pump or a standard fountain pump, and the biggest issue they have is food bits clogging up the pumps, not playa dust. And those are a lot more exposed. So again, perhaps not as much of an issue as I feared.

Only time will tell, though...

[FIGJAM]

[FIGJAM]

The big trash can cooler didnt use shade clothe, that why he had it sitting half barrel.

[ConnieH]

that is an interesting modification Figgy - I bet since the bucket is wider at the top than at the bottom, you could probably do away with the 1/2" spacer line on the bottom and make a straight tube of filter that fits the bottom, but moves further away from the bucket sides as it reaches the top. Less airflow lower in the bucket, but that's covered with water anyway?

Keeping the line in place has been an issue for me, what worked was to put the plastic "holder" piece (cut from another bucket like in your original design) that holds the filter pad against the sides so that it sticks up 1/4" or so above the pad, but still low enough that I can get the lid on. This holds the line in place nicely - could even glue something to it to keep the line PERFectly in place, as it still slips around a bit, but really not enough to make a difference.

Kman - playa soup freaks me out, too...I think I'll keep the shade cloth, and bring a backup of pad, and rinse the pad regularly as Figgy suggests. And I'm gonna order 2 of those fans - thanks for the report

[FIGJAM]

[ConnieH]

Sorry Figgy - I LOVED the crown!! Just got in a hurry and forgot to include that in my last post - will you be sporting that on the playa?

[skinnay]

Would this be great overkill for a 6x8x4 tent? if so what size bucket would be optimal?

[bm_cricket]

Only time will tell, though...

I have confidence that this will work. And yes, I did see that the design started (or at least was inspired) by something playa tested. I still can't help but wonder what this thing will look like after running a few hours in a dust storm. Iiiieeeewwwwwww....

[kman]

Would this be great overkill for a 6x8x4 tent? if so what size bucket would be optimal?

It would be fine for small spaces. Bear in mind a tent in the sun isn't going to stay cool no matter what, though... and the cooler air will escape a lot easier than in a more sealed structure.

[skinnay]

Would this be great overkill for a 6x8x4 tent? if so what size bucket would be optimal?

It would be fine for small spaces. Bear in mind a tent in the sun isn't going to stay cool no matter what, though... and the cooler air will escape a lot easier than in a more sealed structure.

I have a compact springbar that will be under a monkeyhut, not sure if that makes a difference. Do you think I should I still bother with the swamp cooler?

[FIGJAM]

Its a 5gal. bucket and it was design for a tent.
When the water gets down to 1/2gal. and needs refilled, you can just sluice it around and then spread it as dust abatement.
It aint rocket surgery.

[FIGJAM]

If your concerned about dust storms, turn it off and just set the bucket cooler inside another bucket during white outs.

[FIGJAM]

Got this straight from Yellowdog:

water does not get soupy at all. it precipitates out and falls to the bottom, making a thin deposit on the bottom. We change out the pads every year to maximize airflow, because they do turn playa-colored at the air holes, but don't by any means stop up. I can't really tell a difference before changing or after, but I figure two years without changing is risking a decrease in airflow, and I just don't want that. Tnks for spreading the cool!

He built the cooler I based the bucket cooler on and has been useing his on the playa for years.

[kman]

Got this straight from Yellowdog:

water does not get soupy at all. it precipitates out and falls to the bottom, making a thin deposit on the bottom. We change out the pads every year to maximize airflow, because they do turn playa-colored at the air holes, but don't by any means stop up. I can't really tell a difference before changing or after, but I figure two years without changing is risking a decrease in airflow, and I just don't want that. Tnks for spreading the cool!

He built the cooler I based the bucket cooler on and has been useing his on the playa for years.

*happy dance*

[Trishntek]

I simply zip-tied fabric around the pump intake to keep out the chunks.

[kman]

I simply zip-tied fabric around the pump intake to keep out the chunks.

Say, what the status of that duct? Still getting it? I need to get something soon to start testing... if you're going a different route, let me know so I can grab something else. Thanks!

[kman]

I whipped up a super-simple website with photos and instructions for how to build one of these swamp coolers, for someone who is feeling intimidated and wants a little more step-by-step approach to building.

Hope it's helpful!

DIY Bucket Swamp Cooler

I'll be adding to it and formatting it more nicely over time, but I wanted to get something quick and dirty up for people trying to get ready NOW.

[caveatlector]

Is there an alternative to using a DuraCool Pad? Such things are not available here in Canada.

[skinnay]

I whipped up a super-simple website with photos and instructions for how to build one of these swamp coolers, for someone who is feeling intimidated and wants a little more step-by-step approach to building.

Hope it's helpful!

DIY Bucket Swamp Cooler

I'll be adding to it and formatting it more nicely over time, but I wanted to get something quick and dirty up for people trying to get ready NOW.

This is just what I needed. Thanks!!

[nevadaflyboy]

Kman,
Nice job on the website.
And
Hats off to FigJam (no pun intended). I really like your 3.0. Any comparison tests?

[FIGJAM]

[kman]

Is there an alternative to using a DuraCool Pad? Such things are not available here in Canada.

I think the key is you want a synthetic-based swamp cooler pad. (There are alternatives that are made from cardboard, wood fibers, all kinds of crazy stuff... fine for real commercial swamp coolers, but not so much for the playa, I think, where low maintenance and low moop is key.)

DuraCool is just a brand name that seems to be pretty widely available at US-based hardware stores, so a similar alternative, if there is one, would be fine.

If swamp cooler parts are hard to come by in the frozen north, you may need to order something online, and have it shipped from here. Amazon carries them: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BO ... 930KCWNRJB

Just make sure you order one that's going to be big enough to give you a 13x30 piece and you'll be fine.

[ConnieH]

I whipped up a super-simple website with photos and instructions for how to build one of these swamp coolers, for someone who is feeling intimidated and wants a little more step-by-step approach to building.

Hope it's helpful!

DIY Bucket Swamp Cooler

I'll be adding to it and formatting it more nicely over time, but I wanted to get something quick and dirty up for people trying to get ready NOW.

That is awesome Kman - THANK you for putting that together!! I have a couple campmates coming over this Sunday to look at mine and build their own, so your website will come in very handy for them. Looking forward to meeting you and Figgy on the playa and seeing everyone's work!

[FIGJAM]

Kman,
Nice job on the website.
And
Hats off to FigJam (no pun intended). I really like your 3.0. Any comparison tests?

The temps are the same. Just better air flow and more room for water so you may be able to fill once a day.

If you go this route, be sure to get a fan that pushes 150cfm to 200cfm or more.

Only because testing seems to show thats what we need to be realy efficiant.


(Allright I just cant stop myself)









NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!!!!!

[FIGJAM]

Ok, found a replacement for pad material that you should find at any upholesty shop...

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_l ... romoid_E_5

This stuff is as porse as the pads and is synthetic.