Terlingua Dreams

Terlingua Dreams
Governors Landing Campground - Lake Amistad - Del Rio, Texas

Friday, August 22, 2014

Homemade air conditioner

It was a balmy 103 degree day / 39.4 Celsius.  Went outside early this morning to charge my Wakawaka as well as my other solar lantern and quickly retreated indoors.

Ralph was here this morning but then disappeared.  He is still noncommittal...typical male!

I need the opinion of people that are currently living in Terlingua to see how doable this homemade air conditioner would be there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSLbpAwibg

There are a lot of other versions but this one seemed the easiest and was short and to the point.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.


****************************UPDATE*****************************


Here is another video even simpler than the above referenced one because it does not require power tools to drill holes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaC0dlRENk0

13 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I am sure he will chime if he so chooses.

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    2. Meant to say " I am sure he will chime IN, if he so chooses".

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  2. Saw that on facebook, calling it the redneck ac....

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    1. I do not do Facebook. I have had this as well as other videos of this nature earmarked for sometime but that would explain why all of a sudden he has over 6 million hits.

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  3. Where, in the desert, are you going to find all the ice needed to put in that cooling unit? I assume it takes ice.

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    1. This set-up requires a solar panel to run the fan. He uses a frozen gallon jug that gives him five hours of cold air.

      While not on this video but on other videos I have watched you can get a small ice making machine and/or a small freezer and run it off the same panel. Besides they sell block ice in Terlingua.

      Another option even though a bit more expensive would be to buy block ice in Del Rio as well as dry ice and that would keep the block ice frozen for a few days. I can also use gallon milk jugs and once they thaw put them back in the ice chest with the dry ice and they will once again freeze.

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  4. You want a system that takes outside air and passes it thru water pads and then into your living space. Take a look at the system John Welch at the Field Lab uses its also 12 volt.

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    1. I am familiar with John Wells "pepino cooler" set-up as I have been reading his blog for six years. For me to try to duplicate his set-up I would need a window or wall to mount it on.

      This video seemed easy and doable for the times it gets a little too hot because it is still hot in October and November at least during the day.

      I need to mention that I do not plan on living in Terlingua in the summer time. Thank you for your input.

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  5. This link will take you to a commercial evap cooler manufacturer http://southwest-solar.com/door/.
    They are expensive but you can get them in 12, 24 or 48v models and in some big sizes.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for the link Ed but I am not interested in an evaporated cooler especially an expensive one.

      I want a cheap alternative like the video features for those times when it gets a little too hot in October and November as I explained in my reply to Riverhauler.

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    2. I am interested in making one for emergency - like if a power outage occurs for a lengthy time. One of these, an LED lantern and a rocket stove and one would be set!

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    3. I would want one for an emergency as well Andy. In particular after a hurricane or tornado in the greater Houston area.

      While I left for Del Rio when hurricane Ike was on its deadly path towards Houston...this would have been a big help to my friends that chose to remain in town. They were without electricity for close to a week and without water for three days.

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