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How to Pre-Cool a Bombardier Lear Jet Model 45 with two Swampy M300 MightyKools!
The Factory Air Conditioning used for Pre-Cooling the Lear
Jet 45 Models on the Ground had been taken off line waiting for
Modifications. Two Swampy M300 MightyKool Models were brought
into service to help Pre-Cool the big 9 passenger jet cabin. (We
do not know how long that they pre-cooled)
"These (M300's) worked well on our trial this morning
out of Houston which was 94 degree F. (45%
Humidity & 77 Degree Dew Point) Our expectation was that we would be struggling, but
they seemed to have cooled the cabin sufficiently. -- The crew
actually used them until just prior to departure, loaded passengers,
dumped the H2O and ice remaining,and then stored the units in
the baggage bin and took off."
June 16, 2007: The following was a Test Performed Independently
by Aviation Consumer Magazine on a typical Florida Summer afternoon
at 2:30 PM:
The (4 passenger) interior was
heat soaked to 106 degrees with a Dew Point of an uncomfortable
73.9 degrees when the test began. Within 35 minutes the temperature
dropped to 86 degrees and the Dew Point dropped to 58.5 degrees!
Comment from the Aviation Consumer Editor was that "the M300
cooled impressively".
Pre-Cooling is a good solution! Why not
plug in a M300 or MK3 into a simple $60 "power station"
(sometimes called a "jump start") battery and let it
cool the cabin down while you are doing your pre-flight, loading
baggage, fuel and passengers? The typical "power station"
will operate either model for over five hours before needing a
charge, with their built in charger, therefore eliminating using
your aircraft battery system.
Received August 21, 2007: I'm so glad
we are getting the chance to order another M300. I originally
bought the first one for my airplane. I am responsible for the
transportation of the CEO of S. M. When the owner of the company
heard about our (M300) air conditioner, he wanted one for his
plane too! I guess the plane's air conditioner doesn't get as
cold as he wants as fast as he wants. Anyway, mine has been working
wonderfully. A hot summer day is now enjoyable in the plane. Thanks
for your help again. Looking forward to receiving the (2nd) M300
soon. S. J. Arkansas
The MightyKool M300 (left)
or the MK3 (right) are sometimes used with
a step-down 28 to 12 Volt Converter. However these Models are
generally used with a "Power Station" Gel Battery while
doing the pre-flight inspection, loading baggage, passengers &
continuing their use until up to cool altitudes.Click on Frequently Asked
Questions then on Aircraft #4 as there are some good
ideas on how the best way to utilize these DC Air Conditioners
in Aircraft.
"S.H. of Myrtle Beach, SC ordered his
2nd MightyKool M300 as he uses them in 7 passenger Commander aircraft
He operates them on a "jump start" battery so he does
not have to tie into the 24/28 volt power system of the aircraft.
They disconnected the compressor belt of the built in aircraft
air conditioning system as it did not cool the aircraft anyway
& puts strain on an engine so now they cool the cabins with
a Model M300."
This customer called us at Swampy
and said he ran his IM30 in the A36 (Bonanza Aircraft) for two
hours on the ramp backed up with a battery charger on an unbearably
humid, 95 degree day and the temperature in the A36 was 65 degrees!
He thinks he used three 7 pound bags of ice and after hour and
half the ice was gone. D.S. Kingswood, TX.
"I recently purchased the Swampy M200 Ice model for use in
my Cessna 182. I use the rear seat belt to hold it in. That permits
the air to be blown on both the passenger and the pilot. The units
works quite well, and I do get anywhere from 30 minutes to an
hour of use. I typically use it taxiing and until I reach altitude.
Then I pull the plug. On reaching pattern altitude I plug it back
in, and I usually have plenty of cooling left to make it to the
hanger. All my pilot friends are tickeled we don\'t have to sweat
while waiting for takeoff. Thanks for the recommendation and for
a great product. I recommend it to all my pilot buddies." B.W.
Phoenix, AZ June 2006
Of course we always recommend installing Factory Air Conditioning
in any vehicle or Aircraft, however if that is not practical then
consideration could be made towards an Alternative. The Passengers
generally mentally suffer more from the heat as they are just
sitting with nothing to think about contrary to the Pilot who
is busy conversing with the Tower, picking up the clearance, etc.
Portable Air Conditioning can be moved from Aircraft to Aircraft
and will provide relief from the Stifling Heat while providing
less strain on the Engine than Factory installed systems and of
course on the pocket book.
If you were to order a special cigarette lighter receptacle mounted
in your aircraft it must be Certified, of course. We understand,
from previous discussions with the FAA, that you treat a Portable
Cooling System just like baggage. Secure it and be able to remove
it from the aircraft just like baggage.
Back To the Top
*Dear
(Aviation Consumer) Editor,
I am a long time user of the Swampy products including the IM30
that you reviewed and the IM20 all-in-one unit that you did not.
In the seven years that I have used their products I have been
very satisfied and have had very good results from both units
– far better than your review showed (with the IM30). Out
of curiousity I did a temperature and CFM test on a 12 volt IM20
that I currently own.
I tested the unit in 2 areas: 1. In the hangar. 2. In a car that
had been parked in the sun for several hours with the window cracked.
Unfortunately my airplane is currently in for annual and several
mods so I could not test the unit in the airplane. I also measured
the air temperature of the car’s air-conditioning unit for
comparison.
The chart below lists the outlet air temperature at high, medium
and low fan speeds and the cubic feet per minute of air moved.
I used the excellent portable Mannix DCFM-8906 CFM Master II to
do the measurements.
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As you can see the Swampy IM20 ranged
from 59.2 to 64.3 degrees for an average of 61.75 degrees which
is a good deal cooler than your tests showed. One possible explanation
- It is important in the IM30 to position the intake pump as far
away from the outlet hose as possible. If you put the two in close
proximity then I can see the increased temperature of your test
as the warm water being returned to the unit was being sucked
directly into the intake pump.
I had a very elegant and efficient installation of two IM30’s
in my Beech 18. I positioned one unit next to the cockpit to blow
cool air into the cockpit and the front seats. I had another unit
positioned on the refreshments stand near the back blowing on
the back and middle seats. Both were secured by the existing seat
and cargo belts. I plumbed both units to a stainless steel Coleman
ice chest in the potty area.
The Coleman unit was very large and held enough ice for an entire
4 hour flight. Both units were powered by removable 12 volt power
packs that I would plug in while on the ground. They would run
the coolers for a round trip so I didn’t have to worry about
recharging them on the road. Everything was very removable and
very safe.
I used the units for over two years while flying that wonderful
aircraft. As I could turn the coolers on at the beginning of the
preflight the cabin was nice and cool by the time the passengers
loaded. They loved that feature. For about (600) dollars (ea)
I had a very usable and efficient cooling system. A far better
bargain than the 25,000 dollar quote from an air-conditioner company.
Swampy had enough foresight to offer two great units. The IM30
for large and/or long term cooling using your own design and ice
chest and the very compact and portable IM20 all-in-one unit that
cools a typical 4 place cabin very nicely and holds two bags of
ice which is plenty for the typical start/taxi/climb to cool air
portion of the flight. The swamp cooler portion of the unit then
keeps the airplane cool for the approach/taxi/shutdown portion
even after the ice has melted. Every aircraft that I sold with
a Swampy unit installed flew away with the unit installed –
the new owner’s insisted.
I have had extremely good luck with the units and with the company
and owner behind the units. I recommend either very highly.
Sincerely,
Kevin Lockhart
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The IM30/IM20, M200/M300, MG3 & MK3 Provide; Dual Air Conditioning using Ice or Water All Dual Systems automatically dispose of the excess condensation collected |
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Inches - Centimeters |
Weight |
Capacity |
12v Low |
12v Med. |
12v High |
|
Black |
AC12 |
C=30 x 17 x 28.0 |
6.12 kg |
Any Size |
50.4 watts |
91.2 watts |
166.8 watts |
|
Black |
IM30 |
C=31.75 x 17 x 48.0 |
6.4 kg |
|
62.4 watts |
107 watts |
174 watts |
|
Black |
IM20 |
C=33 x 22.9 x 55.9 |
6.8 kg |
7.57 liters |
50.4 watts |
91.2 watts |
158.5 watts |
|
White |
M200 |
C=43.2 x 24.1 x 43.2 |
6.4 kg |
11.01 liters |
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
|
White |
M300 |
C=47 x 45.7 x 64.8 |
8.2 kg |
52.9 liters |
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
|
White |
MK3 |
C=24.4 x 20.3 x 18.5 |
2.27 kg |
|
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
|
White |
MG3 |
C=45.7 x 20.3 x 31.75 |
4.5 kg |
|
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
|
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Inches - Centimeters |
Weight |
Capacity |
12v Low |
12v Med. |
12v High |
Proudly made in
the USA