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[Home - 12-volt Models - Specifications of 12-Volt Models]

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Click on a Category below regarding Cooling for:

Vehicles Boating Camping Truck Sleepers Pets in Vehicles Aircraft Solar Systems Surveillance

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Operational Ideas #1 through #16 Plus Technical Ideas A through H

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Start of Operating Section (Click on Underlined portion):

1. VEHICLE: --Will a Portable 12-volt Cooler Cool my Vehicle like a built-in Air Conditioner?

A. AC/DC: --Can I plug a 12-volt Cooler into 110/220-volt AC power?

Portable 12-Volt Portable Cooling Systems like the MW1, MK3 or M400 are designed to help cool one or two people in the area they sleep, eat, or work. It doesn't matter how large the room, as the purpose of portable cooling is to surround you with cool air and not use the energy or expense needed to cool a given area. You will typically cool a small bedroom quite easily, however again two people will be cool, regardless of the size of the area as long as the cool air is directed properly.

The M400 or MK3 produce from 5,000 to 8,000 BTU and are getting to be the most popular in Aircraft as they are so energy efficient that they will operate off a "power station" type gel battery which are inexpensive and are available at most discount stores. These batteries weigh around 20 pounds and have built in charges with a cigarette lighter plug in and will operate the M400 or MK3 for over five hours without recharging. You typically would not be satisfied with Evaporative Cooling like the MW1 in an Aircraft. (read #10 below for the difference)

These are some ideas, however your needs may be different than the average user and we will look forward to any questions you may have.

It is normally necessary to use the Air Conditioning "Ice Water" Models like the MightyKool MK3 or M400 in areas of High Humidity with the engine shut down for Surveillance or Truck Sleeper. These models along with the MK4, IM30 or AC12 are also used in Aircraft, Boats and Campers in humid areas, however the MK3 or M400 are the favorites. The air is much colder than Evaporative Coolers and you will be able to close all window & vents, which you cannot do with Evaporative Cooling. All Models have 3 speeds and noise has never been an issue with any of our models when used for Surveillance! In some cases a Flex Hose Kit allows more flexibility and cooler air where needed, like in Aircraft.

If your area is typically dry you can circulate cooled air around your pets in a vehicle with the MW1 using water only if you can leave the windows down somewhat (not just cracked). The air coming out of the MW1 is 15 to 25 degrees cooler than a fan as long as you provide good ventilation. If you have more than two pets then use the Flex Hose Kit model FH4 for up to four pets with the MW2 or other MightyKool models.

We know it is difficult to open windows all the way because of theft or the chance that your pet will jump out. However the more you have the windows open the more comfortable your pets will remain & some pet stores or on-line, carry window screens that protect your pets from jumping out and provide the needed ventilation.

All of our 12-volt products may be plugged it into a cigarette lighter in a vehicle and any of the MightyKool Models will operate for several hours without effecting vehicle battery even though the engine is not running. You furnish the battery power and we furnish the Portable Cooling Devise for your Pet.

The purpose of the MW1 is not to cool the vehicle, only your pet, therefore your vehicle will feel slightly cooler than normal if you have good ventilation. If you use the M400, MK3 or MK4 with ice your vehicle will feel much better than normal if your vehicle was cool to begin with. Many people use one of the "ice water" models to help keep their vehicle cool while shopping or on business.

7. The 100 Year Old Idea of Blowing Air across Ice that Increases Humidity & Misery

Koolrair took a 100-year-old Ancient Idea and claimed they discovered a "New Idea" to provide Air Conditioning by Blowing Wimpy Air across a "Box of Ice". It is weird how many people know "it sounds too good to be T___" then fall into the trap, as after all, it only costs $39.95! The sad thing is that these good people wasted valuable time, money and did not receive the benefits promised.

Portable 12-Volt Portable Cooling Systems are typically designed to help cool one or two people in the area they sleep, eat, or work. It doesn't matter how large the room, as the purpose of portable cooling is to surround you with cool air and not use the energy or expense needed to cool a given area. You will typically cool a small bedroom quite easily, however again two people will be cool, regardless of the size of the area as long as the cool air is directed properly.

There are different types of portable coolers, depending on your power source and prevailing humidity in your area. Evaporative (Swamp) Coolers are used in Dry climates and Air Conditioners are generally necessary in Humid areas. (See #2 below)

The advantage of Portable Spot Cooling is that you do not need to install it and can move the cooler to where you need the cooling for more versatile operation. The disadvantage is that you are only going to typically cool the area in the direction they are blowing. The Flex Hose Kits help direct and contain the cooled area better than blowing through the hot environment.

If your area were Humid you would typically prefer Air Conditioning. If your area is typically Arid then you may prefer to use Energy Efficient Evaporative Cooling. Very simply, if you look out your window and see a desert scene then you can use Evaporative Cooling. On the other hand if you look out the window in the morning and see dew over the surroundings you may prefer Air Conditioning. Click on either to learn more about Evaporative Cooling using water or more about Air Conditioning using "Ice Water".

Swampy manufactures 12-Volt Portable Evaporative and 12-Volt Portable Air Conditioning Systems. If you need Air Conditioning hour after hour, day after day you will typically need a Solar System or some other method of charging the battery(s) except in a vehicle that has the engine running. If you do not need a Portable DC (Battery) System then you can install a properly sized Air Conditioner in a vehicle or in a home as the engine supplies the power needed in a vehicle and 110-220-Volt AC power supplies what is needed in a home .

Check the Humidity Index if you are not certain if your area is typically humid or dry.

Summary: Many people like Evaporative Cooling as the cool air feels like an ocean breeze. However if you prefer colder dry air you need to expend the energy to operate an Air Conditioner. Many people prefer the ocean breezes produced by Evaporative Coolers rather than the dry air of an Air Conditioner. However if the humidity is oppressive or you cannot provide proper ventilation to an area you must typically use an Air Conditioner. See #2 regarding humidity determination.

The following are brief examples of the differences between A/C and evaporative cooling:

a. You must not recirculate air cooled by evaporation back into the Evaporative Cooler. You may recirculate air cooled by an air conditioner back into the Air Conditioner.

b. You must allow proper Ventilation like having outside air drawn into an Evaporative Cooler and provide an air escape through a window(s) or door, which helps keep your cooled air fresh. Normally you do not allow outside air to circulate through an Air conditioner for maximum results, therefore the reason the air may become stale using Air Conditioning.

c. You must dispose of excess water accumulated by an Air Conditioner. There is no excess water accumulated by an Evaporative Cooler as it eventually evaporates.

d. If you only have 12-volt available and need Air Conditioning then look into our Swampy AC12, IM20, IM30 and the 12-Volt MightyKool M200, M400, MK3/MK4 & MG3 (MightyKool Models also operate on 110-volts with the optional 110 to 12 volt converter) Read #4 above regarding the operation of all these unique "Ice Water" Models.

e. An Evaporative Cooler will add some humidity to the cooled air and is the reason you need proper Ventilation. A properly designed Air Conditioner like the Swampy & MightyKool models above will help eliminate condensation as the air cools.

11. Will Evaporative Cooling work in my area where the Humidity is High?

Evaporation occurs slow in humid air. Ambient air could be cooled 25° Fahrenheit degrees by evaporation in dry air, however with humidity over 75% the air may only cool 5° to 10° Fahrenheit. On a hot dry day 95F (35C) with humidity at 30% the MW1 cooler output temperature may be 76F (24C). With the temperature the same however the humidity at 55% the output temperature would be 86F (30C). These numbers are relevant to most well engineered evaporative coolers.

Ice typically melts in less than five minutes in the standard cooler and then you are back to standard Evaporative Cooling. Ice helps when you first start the cooler if it has been setting in the heat for a long period of time. The plastic parts are hot and the cooling process takes less than a minute, however may take around 10 minutes to get down to the target temperature.

Ice speeds this process of cooling down the Evaporative Cooler and of course using Ice in the "Ice Water" Models produces Air Conditioned cold air as they are designed for Ice Water use. Click here if you want to have more details on how Air Conditioning using "Ice Water" works?

Yes, however you must use a "ice water" model in order to keep the windows closed! The AC12, IM20, IM30 or the MightyKool Models MK3, M200 & M400 will allow you to keep the windows closed because of dust or chemical problems. The above Models use "Ice Water" to produce Air Conditioning, which is sometimes not desirable because of the difficulty of obtaining ICE. (Read #4 Above).

If you operate in dry desert climates you may use water only for cooling, however you must provide good ventilation of outside air. You will be breathing cool filtered air even though dust is entering the cab. If dust isn't a major problem and you are operating in a dry climate you may want to investigate Evaporative Cooling. The Swampy T154, T304 and the MightyKool MW1 Evaporative Cooler Models are used in Farming and Construction Operations.

Depending on your ventilation system, you can cut down considerably on the dust while receiving cool relief from the heat in a Dry Climate. Without any cooling you need to open the windows and anything else that will provide relief. With Evaporative Cooling you need to provide a flow of fresh air in and out of the area, however you should be able to help reduce the dust problem.

You should notice an improvement in the amount of dust getting into your lungs, however in order to close the windows you need one of the "ice water" models mentioned in the first paragraph.

The output temperature will depend on the Ambient Temperature and Humidity. See the Humidity Index if you know the range of your typical ambient temperature and humidity. Basically all Swampys except the Ice Models operate the same so choose the one that fits your needs regarding dimensions, airflow direction & use. The Evaporative Coolers like the MightyKool Model MW1 produces about 5 degree cooler air than the Swampy T154 model.

Evaporative Cooling systems using water only provide relief from the heat in dry desert climates because the cool air produced can be as much as 25 degrees cooler than the ambient air using the T154. However, in the case of the MW1 the cool air produced will be at least 30 degrees cooler under the same circumstances. For example on a 90 degree day the drop may only be 20 to 25 degrees and a day of 80 degrees the drop may be reduced to 10 to 15 degree drop.

As another example if the ambient temperature on a dry day in the desert were 110 degrees the cool air produced from a well-designed evaporative cooler may be 85 degrees using the T154 or 80 degrees using the MW1. Under the same circumstances the "Ice Water" models would produce 65+- degrees instead of 80 to 85 degrees.

The most popular "Ice Water" models are the MightyKool M400 & MK3 and the Swampy IM30 & AC12 as these are capable of having enough ice capacity to last four to six hours of Air Conditioning. The AC12 cools with Ice Only and does not cool with water like the other "Ice Water" models.

BTU rating is important if you are going to install a properly sized A/C unit to cool a certain well insulated area. CFM is important if you are going to install a properly sized large 110-volt Evaporative Cooler on the roof or in the side wall of a well insulated building so you can build up a negative pressure within a certain area so you can cool the entire area.

Negative pressure cannot typically be built up in an area by using the limited resources of a 12-volt Portable Cooling Device. Therefore CFM is not important as long as there is sufficient air to blow your hair around or blow the papers off your desk.

The BTU of the 12-Volt "Ice Model" Air Conditioners varies because of the cooling medium used. Block Ice, cubed ice, crushed ice, reusable ice packs, large packs or small packs. These different cooling methods all effect the resultant temperature so it is impossible and unnecessary to state an accurate BTU. Some say using ice results in over 8,000 BTU because of it's efficiency.

The bottom line: If there is no limit on resources install a properly sized 110-volt built-in cooling device. If, on the other hand, there are limited resources of energy or it is not practical to build in a cooling system then we can provide comfort with a 12-volt Portable Spot Cooling device.

If you have a camper or boat and are plugged into 110/220 AC, have your system set up so you are charging your battery(s) when you are plugged in. That way you continue to operate all your 12-volt devises, including your cooling system, from the battery(s). Just keep them plugged into the cigarette lighter and enjoy that cool ocean breeze. If you do not have an extra battery dedicated to your 12-volt accessories see B. below.

If you want to operate the Swampy Models like the T154 on 110-volts directly we have used a 10-amp battery charger with a 50-amp boost. Typically you should never operate a Swampy on high as that would be using 15 amps and very few Converters will provide that much energy without having a cigarette lighter 'melt-down'. If you are using a battery charger be certain to set it on 10 amps, not 50 amps.

Merely find a spot for the battery in your camper and personally I would place the charger in the same area. That way when you are plugged into AC power you can charge your battery and continue to run your 12-volt appliances plus the cooler and benefit from the cool ocean breezes. If you do not have a cigarette lighter plug in just pick one up at your auto store and install it where you want & fuse with a 5 or 10 amp amp fuse.

The blower system in Swampy is exactly the same as used in the finer automobiles, therefore is has that same noise level as the three speed heater/a.c on high at 52 dBA & the MightyKool Models at 59 dBA, which is same as normal speech. A good deep-cycle battery (105 amp hour or larger) lasts from 8 to 17 hours when using Swampy on low and medium & 50 to 80 hours using the MightyKool Models without charging .

A Solar System will of course replenish your batteries as you drain them and we recommend you use the MightyKool Model MW1 as it draws only .9 to 1.6 amps (11 to 20 watts) from your Solar System.

BTU is not typically used in evaporative cooling and just like CFM is not an important measure when it comes to 12-volt evaporative cooling. If you wanted to cool a small camper or boat cabin it would take approximately 200 to 400 CFM at night.

The MightyKool Models produce from 200 to 250 CFM and a little over 2,000 Feet Per Minute Velocity. The Swampy Models produce up to 400 CFM and around 4,000 Feet Per Minute Velocity, however you would typically not be able to operate the Swampy on the highest setting anyway because of energy concerns. Medium Speed on the Swampy compares to the High Speed of the MightyKool.

There is no basic installation to our Portable products, however we recommend a strap of some sort over them when they are in a moving vehicle. Once you find the ideal place to set your Cooling System, consider it installed. Fill the tank half full and cool down and don't worry about running out of water as it will not damage the pump if one is installed. We do not recommend you run Swampy or MightyKool deliberately out of water as water always produces cooling even under the most severe humid conditions.

You can use Swampy on low or medium speed continually on most any vehicle, as it is then drawing less than 10 amps. You would normally not need high-speed for more than a few minutes. If you do find you need high-speed check the wiring, using a 12 to 14 gauge wire to your power source and fuse at 20 amps. If you use any of the MightyKool Models in a vehicle you should not have to do any modification to your wire system as they draw less than 3.5 amps.

For maintenance you can, if you wish, place a small amount of vinegar in with the water once in a while to keep the calcification to a minimum. Also tip Swampy or MightyKool towards the two front eye balls to drain most of the water when you are done using it for a few days. If a Swampy or MightyKool tips over it will not damage any parts inside as the water will merely just run out of the pads.

We think you should Replace the Cooling Filter Pads every couple hundred hours of Cooling or at least once or twice during the season especially with the MightyKool Models. The Cooling Pads are inexpensive and they are the only reason that the MightyKool Cools when activated with only water.

The pads are typically impossible to wash out as you would be better off just using a vacuum outside the vents on the Swampy models to remove any dust possible. If you take off the lid of the MightyKool you could turn the cooling pad upside down once to extend their life. The pads are available on our web site, therefore ordering a set or two will last you for several hundred hours of cooling.

The MightyKool Model MW1 is the logical Model for a tent because of the low power requirements, pllus it has a 10 foot cord. You can even pick up a cigarette lighter extension cord at most of your favorite discount stores to run from your car if you are close enough to the tent. Or you can operate the MightyKool MW1 on one of the many portable "Power Station" type batteries that have the cigarette lighter plug in already built into them.

If your area is humid or your need the coldest models then choose the MightyKool Model MK3 or M400 as they also have a low amperage draw & 10 foot cords.

We do not recommend extension cords for the Swampy models, which have a 6' cord to plug into the cigarette lighter socket. You would not want to operate any Swampy Model on the "Jump Start" battery systems for any length of time and then only on low speed as they use too much amperage. Just use the MightyKool Models for that purpose.

The best information you can obtain on Swampy is right where you are now on the World Wide Web. Feel free to copy any information you find that is important to you and click on Prices for the options available for the MightyKool models.

Any part that you would ever need are available from us, the manufacturer. The MightyKool motors are designed to operate for up to 20,000 hours so their replacement should be never. The other Swampy blower motors are designed for two thousand hours of operation and rarely fail unless you allow the Swampy to spray water by overfilling.

The water pump may be obtained from a boat (marine) store. It is a simple bilge pump like used on all boats to remove accumulated water except we do modify them somewhat, however the standard one would work. The Custom cooling Pad or Switch would be about the only part ever needed for either model and available from us.

The plastic is ABS and easy to repair with Methylene Chloride which melts ABS plastic. Welding is never necessary or recommended.

H. Can I use Dry Ice in my Swampy rather than regular ice?

No. It is not worth the risk, even if you isolate it from the water & it does cool better or last any longer than regular block ice. The following is an article of information regarding the use of Dry Ice:

Normal air is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and only 0.035% Carbon Dioxide. If the concentration of carbon dioxide (The Chemical Composition of Dry Ice) in the air rises above 0.5%, carbon dioxide can become dangerous. Smaller concentrations can cause quicker breathing but is otherwise not harmful. If Dry Ice has been in a closed auto, van, room, or walk-in, for more than 10 minutes, open doors and allow adequate ventilation before entering. Leave area containing Dry Ice if you start to pant and breath quickly or your fingernails or lips start to turn blue. This is the sign that you have breathed in too much CO2 and not enough oxygen. Dry Ice CO2 is heavier than air and will accumulate in low spaces. Do not enter closed storage areas that have or have had Dry Ice before airing out completely.

End of Story as far as using Dry Ice for personal cooling goes, therefore please do not take the chance. Read the entire interesting article on Dry Ice and it's many great & interesting uses at www.dryiceinfo.com.

Swampy 12-Volt Cooling Systemsare Proudly made in the USA