Kooleraire - $40 12v Air Conditioner option

[Beatty1950]

Sent: 8/26/2003 1:22 PM

See
http://www.kooleraire.com/Index.htm

Sounds too good to be true.  I am sure ice will melt fast on warm days, but a big block of ice should last for weekend ??.

Anyone out there tried this unit ??  Any other AC options tried like Evaporative unit or 12 Volt AC (do they make one ??).

Thanks for the help.

Dave Beatty

[mightybooboo]

Sent: 8/26/2003 3:16 PM

Looks like a great idea,plus you could build your own unit no doubt.Might be usable with a hose for air to blow it directly on you as a personal vrs a unit wide cooler.And yes they do make 12volt evaporative units with great results i hear.I have a small evap unit shaped like the square window compressor units,have thought of converting it to 12 volt,it cools my living room "sort of" at home.Would really be a help in the Winnie.
BooBoo

[Lefty]

Sent: 8/27/2003 11:51 PM

This same concept was used in the "good ol' days" before A/C was available. My Grandfather had a '48 Chevy Pick-up that had a ram-air evaporative cooling unit that mounted in the passenger side window, you filled it with ice "chunked, not blocked" and as you drove the air would be cooled and directed into the truck. He said it cooled good but my Grandmother hated it because it sprinkled you with water drops and ruined her hair. lol Sure wish we still had that old truck today, It'd be worth a mint. --lefty

[bhart70]

Sent: 8/28/2003 10:10 AM

Dave, I have seen one of those units on display at a boat show this spring.  I really does work, at least standing in front of it.  Not sure how big an area it will cool, but the only limitation will be the ice in hot weather.  I'm sure it won't cool off the whole rv, but it should certainly lend a good bit of comfort for those in the front seats while driving.

[mightybooboo]

Sent: 8/28/2003 10:46 AM

If I had the guts,money and expertese i would cut a couple holes on the freezer,add an air heat exchanger metal doodad and a 12 volt fan and pump cool air from the freezer.  It would probably work too, anyone want to try it?  ( NOT me,sorry ) But seriously, bet it would work.  Think about it, cool with propane, only 12volt draw from fan, why not?
BooBoo

Or if I could come up with an extra freezer door I could chop up to make a system that would work too,really not concerned about the load on the freezer,so that isnt an issue to me.I really believe we end users are capable of making better,more innovative RV systems then the mass marketers do.
BooBoo

[Beatty1950]

Sent: 8/28/2003 11:33 AM

Great input from all.

Found another option $297.  More industrial grade.

http://www.swampy.net/hprices.html

Portable so could also use in the home when very hot.

Dave Beatty

[Spudboy]

Sent: 8/28/2003 11:52 AM

I have an evaporative box fan cooler (110V).   Could use with gen. or shore power.   I got it at Home Depot for about $40.   Works pretty good, but you would want to firmly anchor if using with inverter while driving!

[bhart70]

Sent: 8/28/2003 12:51 PM

FWIW from the Swampy website:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Evaporative Coolers are used primarily in the Dry Western Half of the US. Evaporative Coolers are NOT FEASIBLE in the more Humid Eastern Half of the US. The 12-volt AC12, IM20, IM30 and 110-volt KY20 are used in areas of High Humidity