Refrigerated VS. Swamp Box

[jumbojim]

Am looking for info on the benefit/cost ratio of refrig. system vs. using a swamp box. Anybody know of a sorce? Already went through the refrigeration & air conditioning technology book but no comparasons between the two and very little info on the swamp box. Jim

[JAMES 3528-old]

What is a swamp box?

[Breeze]

Is that like evaporative cooler? If so, I would think they are cheaper to run unless you live in a high humidity area, water is expensive or have a nice house.
If you are using well water then they might even be cheaper but then you still have to power the well pump unless you have a solar pump.

[jumbojim]

Sorry, when you live in the Southwest for so long you forget the correct name for a Swamp Box is an Evaporative Cooler and that everybody doesn't live here. I am writting a technical paper and was looking for a citeable reference that compared Evaporative to Refrigerated. I agree that Refrigerated will cost more for the electricity but surely someone has done a factual comparrison that includes the electricity and water used in the Evaporative system and did a cost analysis to the Refrigerated. I have gone to the local Air Conditioning supply houses and the local electric company and everyone says the same thing but nobody has any facts in writting. Though somebody out there might have a brocure or pamphlet laying around.....: :p

[diceman]

is a swamp in georgia where old junkatrols are buried.
I would think the Mfg. of swamp coolers would be able to help you. I priced a few out up here once, but have no good info on them. they are big in the south and almost non-existant up north.

[JAMES 3528-old]

They are big in the desert Southwest. They don`t work good in the South. Ya moron.

[J Peters]

If you are in the desert SW especially NM, east AZ, West TX, and Colorado you will see them everywhere. Contrary to what many people believe those are not pigeon houses on the roof.

Steve Enderes of the Endres Company came to one of my associations and did a comparison. He quoted the Public Service Co of NM as stating that the avg. monthly cost to run refrigerated air is approx 108.00 dollars and an evaporative cooler to be about 15.00 dollars per month.

That's all I have from my notes.

[Breeze]

I have seen many of them around. There was a HO that tried to clean or fix his and hi boy got shocked. Very sad because I think the boy died.

I helped wire up a couple of those things on a Holiday INN here many years ago. It was used just for the kitchen area and special made with gas heat.

[J Peters]

They are very common in that application all over the country. Make-up for kitchen hoods and laundries especially. Factories use them a lot to lower the sensible to just above bearable for their workers.

I have 2 on my house. 5400ft elev. and 15-25% humidity all the time. Works great. Low energy bills, little maintenance, last about 10-15 years, and a brand new one is about 350 to 450 dollars.

[Breeze]

An idea; has any one ever hooked up a solar water heating system on one of these things? Seems like with a little thought and that guy ALLTEMP from HVAC-TALK it could be done.

The return air might need to be done using dampers or something so as not to bring in such cold air.

I wonder how long the heat exchanger is going to last on that one at hotel; it has the exchanger down wind of evap.

[jmac00]

anyone got a diagram or picture of one of these things, I have been up here in the North country so we don't get to see these things to often ( I ment ever )

[J Peters]

This is a good site to get a feel for evaps:
http://www.senet.com.au/~cliveb/evapopn.htm

[Breeze]

Here is another site:

http://www.breezair-europe.com/product_us/produit.htm

[jmac00]

evap coolers sound and look like April-air humidifers with a big fan on them?? and you use outside air instead of a by-pass.

Good analogy, or not???