TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:59 am

I came across this in Sporty's, a pilot's supply place and thought it might have application in our Westy's. I don't know anything about it other than what you can read about on-line but thought I would share it in case some one wan'ts to be the first!

The description:

A $500 solution to a $25,000 problem
Installed air conditioners can cost a lot of money and add weight to your aircraft all year. This portable unit provides impressive cooling and can be left in the hangar when not in use. Arctic Air works by blowing ambient air across a coil cooled by ice water. The cool air is blown into the cockpit providing a comfortable air temperature even in the hot summer sun. Simply place Arctic Air in the plane, fill it up with ice and plug it in to the cigarette lighter. Hours of comfort will follow.

Features:
No installation
High and low settings
Cools over three hours on low
High can change the temperature as much as 35 degrees
Fan will not interfere with the radio
Totally portable
Does not pull power from the engine
No STC’s required
Does not add humidity to the air

Included drainage tube allows you to leave Arctic Air in the plane and pump the water out on to the ground. Powered by cigarette lighter plug and pulls approximately 5 amps. Available in 12 and 24 volt models. Weighs approximately 10 lbs. empty and around 50 lbs. filled with ice and water. Direct Vent model is the same size as the Large Artic Air and features dual fans and two 24” tubes to aim the cool air where it is most needed. Cigarette lighter adapter cord is 7 1/2 ft. Ground Shipment Only.

Here's the link: http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=10788

Looks like you could probably build this thing yourself for less than $100

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:09 am

Ah yes, the swamp cooler. Apparently not so good where it's humid...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_keywords=swamp+and+cooler&search_forum=20

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:15 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=404269

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:03 pm

McVanagon wrote: Ah yes, the swamp cooler. Apparently not so good where it's humid...

From what I read at the link Kevin provided, it is not a swamp cooler. A swamp cooler is dependent upon evaporation to cool the air. The unit listed uses an insulated chest full of ice to cool the air. The temperature of the ice and solid to liquid phase change of the ice are what cool the air - not evapoation.

That said, it may be useful for very short periods of time, but doesn't really sound like a viable replacement in the long run unless ice is really cheap and readily available.

Cool concept, though!

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:34 pm

riceye wrote: That said, it may be useful for very short periods of time, but doesn't really sound like a viable replacement in the long run unless ice is really cheap and readily available.

Cool concept, though!

Yea, I doubt the little ice tray in the Dometic will keep up with the demand of this unit. :lol: :roll: :lol: :roll: Though with a couple of blocks of ice I would think it would last a long weekend.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:34 pm

FWIW there are illustrated instructionskicking around on how to fabricate one of these units using old ice chests for around $50. Of course they aren't TSO'd either.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:06 pm

Now this makes me think...
Could the old unused rear heater core I pulled be readapted with some kind of ice set up and used to cool? :?

Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:01 pm

I've been using a product called KoolerAire which does much the same thing and costs $40 plus the cost of a medium sized cooler. You fill your ice chest with frozen water bottles, drop this unit on the top, plug it into a 12v power supply and it will keep your Westy cooler than the ambient air outside overnight. I 've lived in my 85 Westy 3-4 nights per week for the past 8 years and this takes the edge off all but the hottest, most humid nights in suburban DC. I hit a hotel if it gets unbearable, and I hate the heat. This past summer was great, I only had to use this unit a handful of times.
It works for me because I just re-freeze the bottles at work every day. If you were on an expedition and didn't have access to frozen water this wouldn't be much good. In the winter I use a Coleman Black Cat propane heater hooked up to a 20lb tank (like your gas grille), pop the sunroof vent a bit, drop the front windows an inch or so, and I'm good down to about 25 degrees farenheit under a fat down comforter. Being small and of Nordic descent helps.