cooling your tent or van

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:35 pm

cahlm wrote: I'm hoping it's warm enough to use these damn things considering all the time we put into 'em.

Yeah, well, be careful what you wish for...

The hottest I've seen it was I think, 105Ëš. That might have been Juplaya, though...

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:11 pm

Something to think about.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... ce2010a-20

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:44 pm

Last year people tried to make the bucket cooler do more than it was ment to do, with moderate success.

The main problems seemed to be a powerful enough fan and how to duct the air into the space.

My box cooler worked great and I never use anything but the low speed on the fan.

NOW INTRODUCING THE UNICOOLER!!!!!!!

No duct work needed!!!

Build a box 17wx30hx9d.

If you cant build a simple box, try to find something waterproof with roughly the same dementions or this.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... ce2010a-20

If you can find something that does'nt have tapered sides it will work better.

Cut a hole for the vent cover. ($11.00)

Cut a hole for the fan. (Endless breeze fan $60-$80)

I used 100% clear silicone caulk to stick these to the box.

The vent louvers are facing down and into the box to keep the water channeled toward the inside.

I got some angle trim and siliconed pieces to the inside of the box to act as a pad retainer.

This is the pump.

http://www.siliconsolar.com/replacement ... p-103.html

You can also run your pvc like this, but it's not really needed.

I had to cut the 90s shorter to get the straight pieces closer together, but can just stagger the holes in a single piece to get the same effect. The pvc just lays on the top edge of the pads.

Then I went to the bin (16489-j "junk" subheading A "awsume") and found some handles.

Then make an air tight lid.(figure it out)

Finished cooler looks like this.

I call it the universal cooler cause you just shove the pad side against any opening in a tent, bus, travel trailer, yurt, or playpod and it will cool up to 3000 cubic feet of space. You can even set it on a table outside for use.

Add some foam stickon wheather stripping for a good seal around a window.

Fill it with 7gals. of water for 8hrs. of cooling. So once a day depending on how much you use it.

105ah battery will run this all week on low.

You may have to recharge if you use medium or high speed on the fan.

I'm confident that this will cool even a school bus without useing a genny and its a lot quieter than an air conditioner.

As always I'll try to answer any questios you may have.

HERE'S TO A MORE COMFORTABLE BURN!!!

copilot602 · Post by **copilot602** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:20 am

Figjam,

Noticed the 5 gal bucket next to the box. Is this connected to the main box as a water resevoir? It would be very easy to attach a small hose at the bottom of the box to a spigot coming out of the 5 gallon bucket and then have a handy place to fill and keep more water. Plus the added bonus is you could always see where your water level is at...but you knew all that!

I am curious why (if it is already connected, it is so high. How high is the water level in your box?

Nice design BTW....did you make the main box out of wood or is it acrylic?

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:31 am

I put the bucket there for perspective, to show the size of the unit.

The water level can go clear up to the bottom of the intake vent.

I dont think the box is acrylic. Its some leftovers from a tub saround I made. It's sold in 4x8 sheets for like $35.

The box could be made of wood, then coated with that white elastomer roof coating.

I got some inside corner molding and used Goop to stick the box together, then siliconed all the inside seems. No leaks.

My lid just lifts off to add water once a day.

If you want to meet up, I'd love to show it off.

Huckleberries · Post by **Huckleberries** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:06 pm

This is a great ideal and I am going to try it.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:21 pm

Lots of PM's about the lid.

OK! Here it is.

The gaps at the corners allow the lid miss the inside corners of the box.

The lid slips on and off for easy filling of the bottom of the box with water.

I dont know how to make it any clearer.

Have fun!

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:25 pm

well, the "figure it out" was my favorite part of the whole thing lol

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:41 pm

Thanks t.

One other thing.

Water consumption in testing seems to be about 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon per hour.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:23 am

for those of us who don't build stuff. wouldn't one of these work??

http://www.greenandmore.com/supentown-e ... temId=1798

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:28 am

Boijoy wrote:for those of us who don't build stuff. wouldn't one of these work??

http://www.greenandmore.com/supentown-e ... temId=1798

Yes, but it runs on house current, so you would need a generator to use it,

If you bring a generator, you can pick up a window ac for about $100.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:39 pm

FIGJAM wrote:
Boijoy wrote:for those of us who don't build stuff. wouldn't one of these work??

http://www.greenandmore.com/supentown-e ... temId=1798
Yes, but it runs on house current, so you would need a generator to use it,

If you bring a generator, you can pick up a window ac for about $100.

I was thinking a solar, batter, inverter system. ( because that's what I have )

the cooler is 60 watts.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:45 pm

You are right.

I did'nt think about an inverter cause to me they waste power.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:20 pm

Boijoy wrote:
FIGJAM wrote:
Boijoy wrote:for those of us who don't build stuff. wouldn't one of these work??

http://www.greenandmore.com/supentown-e ... temId=1798
Yes, but it runs on house current, so you would need a generator to use it,

If you bring a generator, you can pick up a window ac for about $100.
I was thinking a solar, batter, inverter system. ( because that's what I have ) the cooler is 60 watts.

After reading more of the site, it says it cools only 12 degrees.

Is your "power investment" worth only 12 degrees?

I see alot of those at the thrift stores and thought about putting a 12 volt fan and pump in one, but figured it was easier just to build from scratch.

Just want you to be happy with your choice.

ConnieH · Post by **ConnieH** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:52 pm

Figjam - love your Universal Cooler! Question - you say put the pad side up against an opening in your tent, etc. - does that mean the fan is positioned so that it blows into the box and through the pad (as opposed to the bucket cooler where it pulls the cool air up out of the bucket)? Just want to get it clear in my head - I think I may build one of these with the a/c pump you were so nice to give me

I already have a box fan and have a louvered cover somewhere. This would be great for my patio, and I could bring it to the burn for the bar since we'll have a genny.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:08 pm

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeey Connie.

This cooler is made to be inside the structure.

With your hexiyurt, I would cut a square hole with gorilla tape at the top to act as a hinge for a closable hatch, then with that open ,from the outside, you just push the vent side of the cooler against the wall from the inside. If you look at home depot, they have that foam peel and stick weather stripping, put that on the vent side of the box for a tight seal to the wall.

The cooler still pulls the air through the pad, it just made it universal for any inclosed area or to set on a table to use outdoors.

Nice to see you back!

ConnieH · Post by **ConnieH** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:02 pm

FIGJAM wrote:Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeey Connie.

This cooler is made to be inside the structure.

With your hexiyurt, I would cut a square hole with gorilla tape at the top to act as a hinge for a closable hatch, then with that open ,from the outside, you just push the vent side of the cooler against the wall from the inside. If you look at home depot, they have that foam peel and stick weather stripping, put that on the vent side of the box for a tight seal to the wall.

The cooler still pulls the air through the pad, it just made it universal for any inclosed area or to set on a table to use outdoors.

Nice to see you back!

sweet - this could work nicely in the doggie door in my garage

And that would be nice having it inside the yurt where I can monitor the water level easier. I still want to try to hook a solar panel directly to my fans on the bucket cooler to see if I can make it totally solar. Ahhh...projects!

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:25 am

25,000 views bump!

rubymermaid · Post by **rubymermaid** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:58 am

FIGJAM I love you. You have no idea how much this excites me. So very much. I tried to share the joy with friends, but they do not understand yet. I am so joyous. And that is saying a lot right now, since I am recovering from a tonsillectomy, neck lump extraction and deviated septum repair AND nasal polyp removal (on day 8 after surgery).

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:04 am

Aw garsh, it twernt nothin.

bud buddah · Post by **bud buddah** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:47 pm

Figjam,
This looks great. Tell me, does it need to pull in air from outside? Would it work to just set it up inside a hexayurt? Would be a lot easier, I would think.
Bud

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:04 pm

The evaporation caused by the hot dry air is what creates the cooling efect.

If you just put it in the yurt, it will keep building up the humidity till it feels like a sauna.

The cooler exchanges the air inside the structure every 3 to 5mins. so you have to have hot dry air going through the cooler, and a small vent somewhere for the air to cycle out. K

If thats not clear enough, PM me and I'll get you staightened out.

My cooler washed the air coming in so well that I had no dust, and my playapod was not air tight.

It will be inside the yurt. But you need a hole in the wall to put it up against to pull air from the outside.

cahlm · Post by **cahlm** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:00 pm

Hello, all...again. nice to see this thread is still popular. here comes round 2. nice new design Fig.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:44 pm

(Getting warmer) Bump.

some seeing eye · Post by **some seeing eye** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:43 pm

Figjam, awesome design, use of materials and craftsmanship!

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:48 pm

Thank you.

thehun · Post by **thehun** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:37 pm

FIGJAM!! I used it in today's post. Thank you so much.

http://blog.burningman.com/environment/ ... l-comfort/

gjenkins · Post by **gjenkins** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:10 am

Excellent thread. I played around with this last year, but didn't use it ... we ended up taking an RV. I am doing a canvas tent and shade structure this year, and intend to do a solar powered swamp cooler.

Someone earlier mentioned a no-water-pump design. This design relies on "wicking" filters made for room humidifiers. The filter sits with a bottom edge in water and will wick water up throughout its filter area. They sell replacement filters of various sizes at Home Depot, Lowes, etc ... Here is where I saw the idea for the wicking filter design:

http://www.appropedia.org/Burning_Man_E ... ive_Cooler

I also like their siphon gravity feed water supply ...

ConnieH · Post by **ConnieH** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:38 am

I saw solar powered fountain pumps in the Harbor Freight ad last night for $19.99. The picture shows the floating pump, but it sounds like they also have the one that I bought last year.

mommaratkins · Post by **mommaratkins** » Mon May 02, 2011 9:13 am

i am thinking of sleeping in my vehicle but im afraid i may wake up drenched in sweat... if i just get shades for my windows will i survive??