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Staying Cool Without an Air Conditioner


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#11 buckland

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Posted 09 June 2018 - 04:19 PM

We haven’t had the need for air conditioning (yet) but saw this article and thought there might be someone out there that has tried one and could speak to its value.
https://www.thedaily...=cheats&via=rss
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#12 Bosque Bill

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Posted 09 June 2018 - 04:54 PM

We haven’t had the need for air conditioning (yet) but saw this article and thought there might be someone out there that has tried one and could speak to its value.
https://www.thedaily...=cheats&via=rss

 

Just remember if you you this in a confined space, such as in your camper, as the unit runs the humidity in the camper will rise and the efficiency of the cooler will go down until you no longer have a cooler just a humidifier with a fan.


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#13 ardvark

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Posted 09 June 2018 - 05:37 PM

All a heat pump option does in an air conditioner is add a reversing valve which is plumbed into the lines to reverse refrigerant flow. That is normally the only thing that is different and removing that small valve would save almost no weight, and would involve cutting the lines and then reconnecting them without the valve. You would normally also have to change the unit wiring. 


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#14 ProfessorChaos

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Posted 11 June 2018 - 01:43 AM

I was in a FWC Fleet today at the Go Pro Games in Colorado. It was hot outside but the camper was kind of in the shade with all the vents and windows opened up and it felt comfortable.


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#15 smlobx

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 10:30 PM

Thermal pack does work well...in both winter AND summer! 
 
As long as their is little to no humidity (like the stifling variety we have in NC and SC) we found nights rather comfortable out west.  Mainly due to the wide temperature variation between high noon and midnight...and little to no humidity.  I guess it is a matter of what you're acclimated too.
 
Camping in the southeast is unbearable from May through August without an AC.  We now have a Climate Right AC unit for beach camping in the summer down here.  Must have either a generator or shore power.
 
I talked to the Climate Right owner and requested an AC unit without the heat pump, but, they were unable to make such a unit.  As such I am going to have my local HVAC guru take a look at the unit and see if we can remove the heat pump without adversely affecting the AC portion in order to save some weight.


Interesting option Bill. How heavy is it?
I agree that our summer humidity is almost unbearable, particularly if the camper is in the sun. We try to find campsites that have some natural shade and possibly a light breeze. Once we're set up we put out the awning and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Of course jumping into a nearby lake like we did last weekend (Lake Moomaw in the GWNF) certainly helped!
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#16 larryqp

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Posted 19 May 2019 - 01:11 PM

Thought I'd revive this thread.

 

I have been researching A/C units for my eagle shell. FWC has told me there isn't enough room in the framing on the eagle to mount a window A/C thru the back wall. The kickstarter unit Zero Breeze, doesn't appear to be big enough, only 1000 BTU and comments on another thread stated in didn't cool the camper even after 6 hours.

I think that leaves two choices:

 

1- using the emergency window with a plywood insert as someone did to install a small window unit and removing the a/c for travel . 

 

2- buying the Climate Right 5,000 BTU compact portable A/C & heater, Home Depot has it for $429, it would sit outside and then 2 hoses would have enter thru the window with some modifications. It seems they work well and are sold for tear drop trailers.

 

I'm wondering it anyone here has any experience with the Climate Right. It did get some bad reviews.

 

Both options require 110 - 120 volts AC power, so back country use wouldn't work, but it would work when camping at a state park.

 

 

any thoughts

Thanks

 
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#17 DanoT

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Posted 20 May 2019 - 06:19 PM

I have a 12v MightyKool swamp cooler and it works well provided that you are camping where the air is dry, non humid.

 

Basically, a fan blows air over water (or ice water), and the dry, warm air picks up moisture which then cools the air slightly. A swamp cooler will not lower the temp of a room but it will blow cool(er) air at whoever is positioned in front of the unit. Camper venting for dry air intake is required.

 

So a fan blows warm dry air, while a swamp cooler blows relatively cool moist air.


Edited by DanoT, 20 May 2019 - 06:20 PM.

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