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Mini Solar Air-Conditioner (a.k.a Swamp cooler)

by ANDY! on May 3, 2009

Table of Contents

License: No license (full copyright) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: Mini Solar Air-Conditioner (a.k.a Swamp cooler) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Cooling fan... Meet the popsicle sticks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: Dress Up Time! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3: Dress Up Some More! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 4: Coveralls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 5: The End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
License: No license (full copyright)
Intro: Mini Solar Air-Conditioner (a.k.a Swamp cooler)
Here's an Instructable to make a simple, cheap, and energy efficient air conditioner with basic materials, and should cost less than $5. How it works is evaporating water
in the
A/C (air-conditioner) pulls heat away, making the inside cold. The fan sucks air through the A/C, making the air cold. The warmer it gets, the more effective this A/C gets.
And it's easy on your wallet!

The materials are:

-popsicle sticks (about 20)
-cooling fan from computer
-solar panel, batteries, or other low voltage power source
-cloth that absorbs well
-scissors
-hot glue and a glue gun
-water

step 1: Cooling fan... Meet the popsicle sticks.

You can get cooling fans free from computer repair shops and are in power supplies.
Once you find a suitable one (bigger ther better), stick six popsicle stick like the picture below.
You can trim the round ends with scissors if you want.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
step 2: Dress Up Time!
Now cut a few strips of the cloth that absorbs well (shamwow, towel, burlap...) like one of the pictures below Then cut using scissors four or more popsicle sticks so it's
the same size as the base width . Glue the cloth strips onto the cut popsicle sticks. Then glue that on like the main pic. Attach another stick on the opposite side and glue
the cloth onto it. The bottom pictures are examples.

step 3: Dress Up Some More!

Glue another of these together (pic on the bottom). Then stick two popsicle sticks together like the two back ones on the first step. Glue it on like the pic shows and put
another stick that's the base width size onto the other side. Streach the cloth across and attach it to the stick.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
step 4: Coveralls
If you have any extra cloth left, glue that on the sides. Remember: the more cloth, the better if there's easy airflow around everything.

step 5: The End

That was the Mini Solar A/C! Ugly but works. Add water to the cloth with a spoon until it's all soaked up, power it up with a solar panel (one or two watts), batteries, or a
low voltage power source, and cool your house. Make several of these or a large scale one to lower your power bill in the summer.
Check out my other ible' for electric fire.

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cooler) by dlginstructables
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http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 126 comments

Zem says: Jan 26, 2010. 2:10 PM REPLY

Just using hot glue I would assume?

ANDY! says: Jan 26, 2010. 9:16 PM REPLY

yeah, unless your place is super hot and it melts the glue. (just joking)
hot glue works fine

Zem says: Jan 27, 2010. 3:04 PM REPLY

Awesome, thanks.

jarjar761 says: Jul 25, 2009. 9:43 PM REPLY

ok alot of ppls are saying that the hot glue doesnt stick well and i agree without even trying it past expirence failed anywho just use superglue it works for real

ANDY! says: Jan 26, 2010. 9:24 PM REPLY

Maybe, but perhaps Im good with hot glue. ;)

komecake says: Dec 28, 2009. 12:38 AM REPLY

E6000 works great too. You can get it at your local hardware or craft store.

getack says: Aug 18, 2009. 3:03 PM REPLY

Attention to all those who don't understand the principle of evaporative cooling, or better known, swamp cooling... The secret in the cooling power lies in the
effective evaporation of water (or any other liquid). We all know water exists in three phases: solid, liquid, gas (ice, water, steam). If we want water to move
from ice, to liquid, to steam, we need to introduce energy into the system (the water). This energy comes from (in this case), Heat! A simple experiment is to
turn on the kettle: the element heats up, supplying energy to the water in the form of heat, making it evaporate. This phase change is an endothermic
reaction, meaning energy is drawn from the environment (the kettle) and the system (water) is then left in a higher energy state (steam). Please note the
higher energy state DOES NOT mean physically hotter. A gas has a higher potential energy as liquid, and liquid has a higher potential energy than a solid,
even if their temperatures are the same. Another good example of this happening is an aerosol can. No matter how much you preheat your deodorant
(DON'T DO THAT!!!), the gas coming from the nozzle will always be ice cold, and the can itself cools down as the liquid inside evaporates. Now... After that,
on to the swamp cooler :-) As the air is drawn over the moist cloth by the fan, the water extracts (absorbs) the energy (heat) from the air, making the air
cooler than it was before. The water, after receiving the energy, evaporates, turning into a gas (water vapour). This vapour does NOT have the same
temperature of the hot air. It is also cooler. Because it is now a gas. The heat energy was converted to kinetic energy to make the water molecules fly out of
the liquid, to become a gas. Now, knowing that, you will understand the limiting factors of swamp cooling: Relative humidity, and temperature. The hotter,
and dryer the air, the better and more effective will the swamp cooler work. If you have very hot air, but very humid, the swamp cooler will work poorly, might
even make things worse. On the other hand, if you have very dry, but cold air, the water will not evaporate, and not cool the air. So where you live, really
determines the effectiveness of your swamp cooler... If you live in South Africa, you can have several options. By living north, like in Upington or Musina,
your swamp cooler will work very well. But if you live in Durban, down south, you will be better off falling in the sea. You want desert dry hot air so that it can
work well. Tropical climate is a no go. I really hope I helped? If I am incorrect with any of my statements, please help me by correcting, although I believe I'm
pretty right. Have a nice day!

enemigo says: Jan 26, 2010. 8:38 AM REPLY

In theory you are correct, however, I lived for many years in south Georgia and northern Florida. Swamp coolers were used there by the majority. I don´t
think there is any doubt that it is very humid and hot there, sometimes in the high 90´s( F) and low 100´s in the summer with humidity to make the heat
index sometimes feel like 115 or more and the swamp coolers worked very well. The humidity raises slightly, true, but the actual temperature feels
a great deal cooler. In any event when it´s hot outside a swamp cooler beats a fan unless it´s a very large volume fan, say 25-30 mph output.

enemigo says: Jan 26, 2010. 8:51 AM REPLY

a low cost/low voltage, bubble up fish tank airiator could be affixed to percolate water on continual basis by simply drilling small holes along a 1/2"
pvc attached across the top of the cloth or filter material (available at home improvement stores made specifically for evaporitve coolers). 12 volt
fans can also be scavenged from the heater/AC from an auto in a junk yard. If you go this 12 volt route an electric fuel pump could feed the airiator

KNEX BUILDING IS FUN says: Dec 10, 2009. 7:40 PM REPLY

ii understod90% of it, thx for making me a bit smarter :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
 pancho del rancho says: Sep 22, 2009. 5:59 PM REPLY
i have a fan from a ps2 the fats but im not sure what is its voltage can u help me out SOMEONE PLZZZ

Chromatica says: Oct 1, 2009. 1:06 PM REPLY

any voltage beneath 3v and slowly move your way up stop when it doesn't get any faster

mhippo says: Aug 2, 2009. 9:52 AM REPLY

If you build it with a water reservoir and have the cloth dipped in there it can work for longer.

gardenwife says: Oct 1, 2009. 12:39 PM REPLY

That's what I was thinking, too. Make a wick out of the cloth, then all you need to do is keep the reservoir filled.

ANDY! says: Aug 4, 2009. 2:09 PM REPLY

ok

madd0g says: Sep 2, 2009. 2:09 PM REPLY

hi guys.. im from india.. in delhi(in central india) it IS VERY VERY DRY.. i mean humidity is so low.. and every house has a watercooler.. a watercooler is
every thing u said here multiplied by 100... like the size and the amount of cool air u get is amazing... but in places where it is humid this thing is useless (i
live in chennai.. on the coast..pretty humid..)so im guessing even this model would be useless...

ANDY! says: Sep 3, 2009. 6:05 PM REPLY

ha ha. I just read about solar drying food.

zvillesurfer says: May 4, 2009. 5:52 PM REPLY

It doesnt really make sense. I understand that evaporating water will draw heat away, which is why you sweat. The only problem is that the evaporated water
absorbed the heat, and now the warmed, evaporated water is blowing into the air. Not only will this actually make it warmer, but humidity makes air feel
warmer. If I am wrong, please correct me, but that is how I understand it.

Yerboogieman says: Aug 17, 2009. 9:43 PM REPLY

I hate weat, it just makes you feel hotter, sticky, and as if you haven't showered in 3 days.

Yerboogieman says: Aug 17, 2009. 9:43 PM REPLY

*Sweat.

ANDY! says: May 4, 2009. 10:02 PM REPLY

I dont think, If you want proof, go to a local lake and dunk your self in it. Clod aint it, the wonders of evaporating. Also water vapor just floats away. It
works for me though the A/c.

zvillesurfer says: Aug 17, 2009. 8:34 PM REPLY

Well the heat has to go somewhere, and it is my understanding that the water vapor would absorb the heat, and since it's just being blown back into
the air, it's counterproductive. It would only work if the water vapor was directed outside.

komecake says: Dec 28, 2009. 12:36 AM REPLY

I have to agree. I live in Florida where it is VERY humid, often 80-90% humidity. It makes it sooooo much hotter. I've been to Texas a couple of
times, and though the temperature SAYS it's 110 in Texas and 95 in Florida, I gaurantee you that it's hotter in Florida.

It just cooled off here and then went back into the 80's, but the humidity was low because it had just been cold out. It didn't feel the "normal" 85
to me at all.

I was tempted to try this, but I don't know how well it would work. Worth a shot though I guess. Anything to make it cooler! Haha. ^__^

getack says: Aug 18, 2009. 3:04 PM REPLY

Hey, check my reply at the top. Might clarify things a bit for you...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
 zvillesurfer says: Mar 2, 2010. 6:48 PM REPLY
Ahh yes. Thank you. A gas can have a higher energy state without actually being hotter. That was the piece of information I was missing. I've
only had an intro to thermodynamics in physics class, so i was just trying to figure it out.

jakkels says: Aug 15, 2009. 1:48 PM REPLY

wow Andy these guys live in sealed houses without windows no wonder they can't cool their rooms. I live in South Africa and had a commercial version of a
COOLER WHICH WORKED IN A SIMILAR WAY. they used a coir mat suspended vertically in front of a strong fan. there was a drip tank on top of the coir
mat which maintained the dampness. You will be pleased to know that simple evaporation does work to cool homes here, provided you have windows or
doors that open. Scientists often get caught up in technical details which is why entrepreneurs sell usable products. It's better to use it directionally - aim it at
your victim. Nice one Andy.

jeffmeade says: Aug 10, 2009. 4:37 PM REPLY

what way does the fan blow? into the cloth or out the top?

ANDY! says: Aug 10, 2009. 4:51 PM REPLY

perferably into the cloth. i don't it matters much ]

tiabnogard says: Aug 7, 2009. 8:35 AM REPLY

Ingenious. I've been looking for something like this, and you sir, are a genius. I have TONS of these fans around here.

ANDY! says: Aug 8, 2009. 2:05 PM REPLY

yay. im still a minor too. not everyday where someone says that.

anth101 says: Jun 26, 2009. 12:18 PM REPLY

Can you build me one and send it to me for my B-day............ Its August 27 HAHA

ANDY! says: Aug 4, 2009. 2:16 PM REPLY

sorry. i dont want to pay for shipping ; )

HellborN-HarbingeR says: Jul 30, 2009. 5:51 AM REPLY

Really, better make that 2 then, August 27 is my birthday too. However it's still winter in South Africa so I can wait a while :P

Coodude26 says: Jun 28, 2009. 10:41 AM REPLY

I dont get it

iLikeCoolStuf says: Jun 27, 2009. 4:53 PM REPLY

lol!!!

anth101 says: Jun 27, 2009. 5:41 PM REPLY

I was serious!!!!!!!!! jk( just kidding)

iLikeCoolStuf says: Jun 28, 2009. 10:05 AM REPLY

k

diylover_1234 says: May 29, 2009. 6:04 PM REPLY

I made this entire thing and I used hot glue and after about 2 hours the whole thing fell apart. DON'T USE HOT GLUE!!!!

NinjaJay says: Jul 10, 2009. 8:06 PM REPLY

Just an aside about hot glue--after various little projects, I've concluded that silicone (as purchased in a caulking tube for ~ $2) is far superior glue to hot
glue. Yes, hot glue goes on fast, but the big drawbacks are: 1) pain, and 2) it rarely holds.
Give silicone a try. It generally dries to a workable hold in a couple hours, completely in 24 hrs (probably overstating drying times). Another nice thing
about a tube of silicone is that, even if you leave half a tube sitting for months, only the tip is dried out. Give a squeeze to the caulk gun, and it comes
flowing again.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/
 ANDY! says: Jul 18, 2009. 7:35 PM REPLY
thanx. i have high quality hot glue. cost more

talkingjazz says: Jun 7, 2009. 8:19 AM REPLY

Use elastic bands! Fix a couple around the fan and sticks at the top and it will hold the shape well enough (as long as you don't kick it or anything) and of
cause you can re-use all the bits after.

lemminggenocide says: Jul 18, 2009. 2:10 AM REPLY

"Use elastic bands" stick to jazz. just kidding, although I don't think that they would be strong enough without glue or another joining medium. But I'm
probably wrong LG

ANDY! says: Jun 3, 2009. 3:56 PM REPLY

It did for me.

dciocoiu says: Jul 10, 2009. 9:04 AM REPLY

P.S my spell check dos not work so if i made any spelling mistakes don't be shay to tell me any one.

dciocoiu says: Jul 10, 2009. 9:02 AM REPLY

I like youre green idea for an Swampcooler infact i liked it so much that i downloded or more technicaly saved the PDF fille on my computer . It is a great
Idea.

GlobalWarmingDoesntExist says: Jun 15, 2009. 1:37 PM REPLY

Looks cool! I wish I lived in a swamp!! Way to go, Andy!!!

ANDY! says: Jun 18, 2009. 10:29 PM REPLY

I know you Johnny.

specopps117 says: Jun 23, 2009. 9:29 AM REPLY

How big an area will one of these cool? Will i have to replace the water? If so how often?Which direction do i put he blowing end of the fan?(up or
down) How cool will it get? If I make more of these will the air get even cooler? I heard my parents say that swamp coolers are less eficient than
regular acs? Is this true or is it because that one was old? Few sorry for the wall of questions i just had a lot of them...

ANDY! says: Jun 25, 2009. 6:48 PM REPLY

Just put more water if it dries out. It will get cool enough to be cool. Efficiency is better than ACs cause theres no heating needed.

ANDY! says: Jun 25, 2009. 6:47 PM REPLY

Depends how big you make it. Mine is too small to cool that much.

view all 126 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Solar-Air-Conditioner/