Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Swamp Coolers?

Not sure where to ask this question.
Been seeing swamp coolers on ebay. There has been quite a few new ones for sale they all seem to be coming out of California. Does anyone know who is manufacturing these? And know the web site where you could buy these? Thanks Mike

This is a non-automotive question, and in no way related to the inline engine focus of this website, but to slake your thirst for knowledge let me elucidate you:
A "swamp" cooler is the nickname for an evaporative cooler system, common in the Southwest. It is not refrigerant based air conditioning, but uses a system of wetted pads (usually aspen fiber excelsior -- or newer synthetics) thru which air is drawn into a ducting system. The unit typically consists of a large tin box, say 4' cubed. The floor pan is waterproof and in it water collects and is pumped up thru a "Spider" to drip down into the pads on 4 or 3 sides, held in by tin louvered panels. Also at the bottom of the floor pan there is a small water pump that sends the water that drips off the pads into the pan back up to the spider. In the center of the box is a large squirrel cage type fan, powered by a 1/4 or 1/2 HP electric motor. The fan draws hot outside air thru the wetted pads and down into the house's ventilation system -- usually the same ducting used for heating in the winter. The water is fed by a float valve into the pan if it goes below a level.
It works best in areas where there is a constant low relative humidity, EG Arizona, NM, Texas -- it works less efficiently when the humidity rises. The advantage is, it's much cheaper to run than air conditioning, with fewer moving parts. They do work phenomenally well on a 100* day in Tucson, and can drop the interior temp down to 60 or 70*. Personally, I prefer the fresh scent of new aspen pads over the synthetic pads [which have no smell] but the latter don't go bad and require fewer changes during the season. Another disadvantage is metal parts stored in swamp-cooled warehouses can corrode if unprotected. A company called Dial Industries (?) in Phoenix sells a lot of units in this area. I don't know if they have a website.

'68, That is the best comprehensive description of a "swamp cooler" I've ever read. I don't see them much in this part of the country and I always wondered how they worked.

Thanks, I've had a lot of practice in the last 30- something years. My house has 2 and I've also been bribed or inveigled into fixing friend's or their parents' or other clients' units, occasionally. Wish I had one in my shop for the summer.

Ah you probably mean something like this:



no motor no pump just ad water and pull the rope

Dear 68;

They work pretty well here in the California 'high desert' too.

Have you ever heard of using those car air freshners on the outside of the pads?? There suposed to make it smell nice inside.

JM.......

No John, I never heard of that one. Usually I just replace the pads with a new aspen set. Sometimes after the summer monsoons, mold gets in the pads and they get a fishy smell. Chlorine or some special solution in the pan is a quick fix, but fresh pads are always better. I know maybe synthetics would not get fishy to begin with, but I like the fresh aspen smell.
Now, C-Dan-Deluxe has a line on what used to be state of the art for southwest vehicle cooling c. 1930-40s. When I first got to Tucson, I used to see a few old-timers with that pass side rig.
I have found that the flax Desert Water Bag, filled with water and hung over the front grille can lower engine temps on a hot (100*+) summer day by 10 or 15*. Although I think my L6 runs better in the heat than a V8.

Dear 68;

We don't have the mold issue here as there is little rain in the off-season.

I generaly just rinse the pads & system out & let them dry prior to puting them back in service. I'm going to try the 'air freshner' idea this spring. It may work as I use the small water pump & the pads don't get wet on the outside.

John M.........

Good luck with that.

68

Interesting about the Desert Water Bag.

I had hear once before that they were for cooling. Thanks for the verification. Most claim they just keep drinking water cool. Now I gotta get one for the '51 GMC before summer.

You can also take a swig out of it if it doesn't get contaminated with spilled over coolant, or coated with too many bugs.
Probably better to get a seperate bag for drinking. And yes, not only do they cool the water inside, but the flax makes it taste sweeter.

I gotta bunch of them coolers & they work great here in the rust free desert.

mt,

Let me know if you might be interested in parting with one of them there little gems.

-magic mike-

those ones on ebay that look remanufactured are junk they are dummys that are totally nonfunctional, I know because i bought one and got totally burned and am trying to file a fraud at the moment. if you get one off ebay get one of the old thermador swamp coolers that are originals, good luck

@Mothertrucker

I wonder if you also have a spare "Thermador" sticker/decal. I would like do give mine a new paint job.

Thanks, Frank