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12-24-2019, 02:24 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 268
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Homemade RV evaporative cooler
Someone was asking about my home made swamp thing so I thought I would put a couple photos on here. I made it to fit our Lance 1575 so I haven't mounted it to the 2104s yet but I think it will work on the slide side window. It worked well in mild hot weather, I don't know about 100 degree plus stuff though. Also fyi swamp coolers do not work in humid areas, the dryer the better. This build is not doable by most, I have a TIG welder, I suppose you could rivet and seal it. It uses a fantastic fan replacement motor and fan (had computer fans at first, way to weak) with a PWM controller for speed and a small fountain pump for the water. I used a rigid 3 inch cooler element. All 12v and can run off the solar, very little draw.
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2020 Rockwood 2104s towed by 2018 Nissan Armada. Curt WDH with sway, portable 150 watt solar, Home made window evaporative cooler
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12-24-2019, 03:14 PM
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#2
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,149
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Awesome outside the box thinking.
Let us know how it works out.
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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12-25-2019, 01:51 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trailerdude
Someone was asking about my home made swamp thing so I thought I would put a couple photos on here. I made it to fit our Lance 1575 so I haven't mounted it to the 2104s yet but I think it will work on the slide side window. It worked well in mild hot weather, I don't know about 100 degree plus stuff though. Also fyi swamp coolers do not work in humid areas, the dryer the better. This build is not doable by most, I have a TIG welder, I suppose you could rivet and seal it. It uses a fantastic fan replacement motor and fan (had computer fans at first, way to weak) with a PWM controller for speed and a small fountain pump for the water. I used a rigid 3 inch cooler element. All 12v and can run off the solar, very little draw.
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As you said, the dryer the better. For the most part the most cooling one can get out of a swamp cooler in even driest air is about 20-30 degrees below ambient. Almost all of our stores in hot, dry, parts of the country used them in lieu of A/C. On a warm rainy day though it was better to leave them off.
One does need to be careful with the water supply. If the reservoir is not cleaned regularly it can become a breeding ground for Legionella (legionaire's disease). Just keep it clean and enjoy the cool.
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2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change  )
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12-25-2019, 03:30 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 268
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We mostly dry camp so and don't bring a generator so this thing has made it possible to comfortably camp in 90 degree weather.
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2020 Rockwood 2104s towed by 2018 Nissan Armada. Curt WDH with sway, portable 150 watt solar, Home made window evaporative cooler
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12-25-2019, 03:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,652
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It must do what you want it to. Just wondering why the fan was not installed at the output side to draw air across the entire pad area through outside louvers. Seems like the pads are being under utilized with the fan on the outside blowing across them in a limited area. Stationed in the Mojave desert and one simple swamp cooler was capable of freezing us out at times in a 3 room apartment. Just thinking. Nice work.
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12-25-2019, 05:49 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles
It must do what you want it to. Just wondering why the fan was not installed at the output side to draw air across the entire pad area through outside louvers. Seems like the pads are being under utilized with the fan on the outside blowing across them in a limited area. Stationed in the Mojave desert and one simple swamp cooler was capable of freezing us out at times in a 3 room apartment. Just thinking. Nice work.
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Well I first built it with big pulling computer fans. They didn't move nearly enough air so it was easier to add the pusher fan on the back. I'm sure it would look different if I built it again now.
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2020 Rockwood 2104s towed by 2018 Nissan Armada. Curt WDH with sway, portable 150 watt solar, Home made window evaporative cooler
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12-26-2019, 01:08 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Posts: 305
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Question......I assume you have to set this up once camping? I also assume it doesn't stay mounted when traveling??
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 2016 Wildwood 230BH X-Lite
2011 Ford XLT Supercab
Days Camping -
'15 (6) : '16 (32) : '17 (41) : '18 (35) : '19 (38) : '20 (15) : '21 (15) :
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12-26-2019, 01:37 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 15
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Evap coolers work when dew point is below about 52* F.
The lower the dew point, the more efficient they are.
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12-26-2019, 01:44 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,621
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Besides the TIG welder, it looks like you may be blessed by a sheet metal brake. Very nice job--very attractive and professional.
Where did you find the jute and burlap?
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Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
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12-26-2019, 02:50 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 43
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Evap cooler
A side note for those interested, here in the desert, lots of golfers have coolers on their carts for warmer days. Might be cost effective if you could find a used one. But, only for smaller coaches..
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12-26-2019, 04:05 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 268
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[QUOTE=Sebourn;2242482]Question......I assume you have to set this up once camping? I also assume it doesn't stay mounted when traveling??[/QUO
Yes, it gets hung in the window once trailer is set up. It holds enough water to run all day.
__________________
2020 Rockwood 2104s towed by 2018 Nissan Armada. Curt WDH with sway, portable 150 watt solar, Home made window evaporative cooler
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12-26-2019, 04:17 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry-NC
Besides the TIG welder, it looks like you may be blessed by a sheet metal brake. Very nice job--very attractive and professional.
Where did you find the jute and burlap?
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It's not jute or burlap. It's a rigid cardboard honeycomb type cooler element. Like this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/AeroCool...0251/206529847
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2020 Rockwood 2104s towed by 2018 Nissan Armada. Curt WDH with sway, portable 150 watt solar, Home made window evaporative cooler
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