ECO EVAP COOLER

WE'VE ADD TO OUR EQUIPMENT TO FIGHT THE TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT OF SUMMER, WITH A PORTABLE EVAPORATIVE FAN.

WE'VE HEAD THE DISCUSSION BEFORE, ON WHETHER TO USE A/C OR A SWAMP COOLER. AIR CONDITIONING WON OUT, AND WE ADDED THE NEW A/C TO THE BEDROOM. BUT A SWAMP COOLER IS SO MUCH CHEAPER TO OPERATE WITH ONLY A SMALL WATER PUMP AND FAN, AND NO COMPRESSOR.

NEITHER OF US WANT TO LEAVE OUR CAMPSITE AT BLACKSTONE, SO IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE ELECTRIC CHARGES WE BOUGHT THIS FAN. WE HAVE DECIDED TO STAY THE MONTH OF JUNE WHERE WE ARE, TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH THE POWER WILL COST US.

WE HAVE BEEN READING OUR ELECTRIC METER WEEKLY TO GET A HANDEL ON JUST HOW MUCH POWER WE ARE USING NOW. WITHOUT ANY COOLING OR HEAT, WE USE ABOUT 80 CLICKS ($11 - $12) A WEEK.

THE NEW FAN CAN BE USED WET OR DRY. WE FIGURE THE NEW A/C IN THE BEDROOM IS GOING TO BE CHEAPER TO RUN THAN THE ROOF TOP AND WE CAN USE THIS BIG FAN, DRY, TO BLOW THE COOLED AIR FROM THE BEDROOM TO THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER.

WE WILL USE THE FAN, WET, TO COOL THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER.

I DON'T GET IT?

I KNOW MOST OF YOU FAMILY MEMBERS ARE FROM THE MIDWEST AND DON'T UNDERSTAND "WET" OR THE CONCEPT OF A SWAMPER. IN THE ARID AIR OF THE SOUTHWEST IT IS POSSIBLE TO COOL AIR BY PULLING THE AIR THRU A WET MAT CAUSING EVAPORATION AND THUS COOLING THE AIR. HERE IS THE FAN.

NOW HERE IS THE FAN LAYING ON IT'S FRONT. SEE THE BLUE MATERIAL IN THE BACK OF THE FAN? THIS MATERIAL IS KEPT WET WITH WATER AS THE FAN PULLS AIR IN FROM THE BACK.

HERE IS THE BACK OF THE FAN OPENED UP, SO YOU CAN SEE INSIDE. THE BOTTOM OF THE FAN IS A PLASTIC TANK THAT HOLDS THREE GALLONS OF WATER WHICH RECIRULATES THROUGH THE BLUE MATTING. THE PURPLE THING IS THE WATER PUMP THAT RECIRCULATES THE WATER.

THE FAN HAS BEEN DROPPING THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE 10 DEGREES, AND HAS BEEN USING ABOUT A GALLON OF WATER EVERY HOUR. IT IS GOING TO SAVE US CLICKS ON OUR ELECTRIC METER.

THE PUNCH LINE
"Obama's approaching his first 100 days in office. He's had to deal with a financial crisis; pirates; swine flu; all that plus he's got a live-in mother-in-law." -- David Letterman