Has anybody on this site tryed the old "Swamp Coolers. I bought one a week or so ago, tryed it in the garage, works pretty good. This one is from 1956, original box and packaging, never used. Attached a couple pictures. Let me know if anybody has tryed one in their cars.
SD Glenn
Glenn,
If you fill this item with water and air is blown across
the water to cool the air, this type of cooler will not
work in the southern United States. During most of
our hot weather, the humidity is already near 100
percent. These units work well in a hot and dry
climate, like the desert southwest.
These work on the principle of evaporative cooling. This process works more efficiently with low humidity, which is why they were popular in the desert SW. They work like a furnace humidifier in reverse, and its not just blowing air over water. The water is usually suspended in a membrane of some sort. Look up "enthalpy of vaporization" for all the science going on.
The air is passed through the membrane, as the liquid evaporated it looses temperature and the air gets cooler. Similar to the air around a waterfall where the spray evaporated before it falls all the way into the under falls pool. On a good unit on a day with not much more than 40% humidity, you might get about 10/12 degrees off ambient air temp.
If you want to test the principle, take an old box fan, and soak a piece of burlap in water, then suspend the burlap onto the output side of the fan and let her rip. If you want to get really sophisticated you can dangle the bottom of the burlap in a pan of water, so it will wick up water to keep the cloth wet, or you could devise somthing from a length of dribble irrigation tubing and an aquarium pump, but that's a lot of work for 10 degrees......
Still if it's 90 in the garage 80 isn't so bad. Back in the day before I could afford Car AC, I used to wet a towel and put it over my head, then driving with the widows down, the air coming into the car and passing throughthe towel created a little micro climate of cool air around my head and neck. Looked stupid but it worked.
and if you don't have a problem with humidity and surface rust now..you soon will have..
Sorry, never meant to imply I cooled the garage off any. I was in the garage when I tryed it out. Thanks for the imput. The info that came with the unit suggested to crack a rear window open a bit to expell excess moisture, how much to open was left to the individual. It also said it would drop the temp from 80 degree to 50 degree, it never mentioned anything about "Sunny", what area it cooled, etc. It is fairly a dry state (SD) I live in, hopefully it will cool good. lol Keep my fingers crossed, and keep looking for rust to show up. Nobody has mentioned whether they had tryed one though?
Thanks,
SD Glenn
cooled head - would be too beautiful....
I have been put on hold with my engine rebuild, I am still waiting for the Connecting Rod Bearings, can't go farther without them, maybe after the 4th. Stopped by the shop that is painting my fenders, etc. They are all still in the trailer, he hasn't started. lol Supposed to be finished by the 4th, guess it won't make it unless we all work 24 hrs a day. lol I reckon I will be in the 4th of July parades with the 29 coupe. Thats OK to. lol AND, I can't keep the water pump belt on the "Swamp Cooler" I'll have to figure something out for that.
Later, Have a Happy 4th all.
SD Glenn
Hi, This Swamper..... also 12V, has a water pump. The Squirrel cage blows air real good, the water pump runs off the left end of one of the fans, however the pump is vertical so the belt has to go over 2 pulleys to make the switch from horzonal to vertical. The Pump pushs water up to a manifold that runs the water over a straw type mesh that surrounds the side walls. Works good when the belt stays on. lol The belt will last about a hour then flip off. I got 2 different sizes today, one smaller (shorter) one longer. I will try tomorrow and hope one of those will cure the problem. lol
Thanks,
SD Glenn