Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER
Jun 22, 2021Explorer
I used an aluminum skin NASHUA 33' pull trailer as an alternator rebuilding site in the Antelope Valley of California, which is pure desert and commonly exceeds 105F three months of the year. Summer humidity averages 15% - 20%
I mounted a rooftop swamp cooler powered by a garden hose and commercial power.
In order to maximize cooling, I had to provide free and easy egress (outlet) for the airflow. Multiple open windows at both ends of the trailer.
The 120 vac motor drew 105 watts running.
12 hours of operation consumed over thirty gallons of water.
There was no ducting. The air blew directly downward from the roof.
Walking under the blast of air was not comfortable. There was a thirty degree drop in temperature and the stiff airflow would have been horribly disruptive to me in a travel trailer.
Yet the inlet was at the center of the rig. At both ends of the trailer, air temperature exceeded 85F. Remember, this is for a 105F ambient temperature.
Bottom line for me: Lots of energy and water needed. But in that dry clime, the swamp cooler vastly outperformed a new Coleman 13.5 BTU roof air. Personally, I would never try this using batteries and a water tank. And a four-foot cube is no laughing matter.
When temperatures reached 115F, the temperature drop in the cooler became more pronounced. This was because the relative humidity dipped to 10% or even single digits. Energy use remained the same, but water consumption increased noticeably.
Hope this helps.
I mounted a rooftop swamp cooler powered by a garden hose and commercial power.
In order to maximize cooling, I had to provide free and easy egress (outlet) for the airflow. Multiple open windows at both ends of the trailer.
The 120 vac motor drew 105 watts running.
12 hours of operation consumed over thirty gallons of water.
There was no ducting. The air blew directly downward from the roof.
Walking under the blast of air was not comfortable. There was a thirty degree drop in temperature and the stiff airflow would have been horribly disruptive to me in a travel trailer.
Yet the inlet was at the center of the rig. At both ends of the trailer, air temperature exceeded 85F. Remember, this is for a 105F ambient temperature.
Bottom line for me: Lots of energy and water needed. But in that dry clime, the swamp cooler vastly outperformed a new Coleman 13.5 BTU roof air. Personally, I would never try this using batteries and a water tank. And a four-foot cube is no laughing matter.
When temperatures reached 115F, the temperature drop in the cooler became more pronounced. This was because the relative humidity dipped to 10% or even single digits. Energy use remained the same, but water consumption increased noticeably.
Hope this helps.
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