portable air cooler ??

[SNAAKE]

anyone have anything on these ??

http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-2008-PORTABLE-AIR-COOL-CONDITIONER-COOLER-FAN_W0QQitemZ280232089343QQihZ018QQcategoryZ79624QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280234315051&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=280232089343&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4


I need one for my (tiny) gameroom because the windows have bars and I dont think I can take them off. its like a mini office space where I keep my arcade cabinet and consoles. 32x12x12 is like the perfect size and all but I have NO idea how these work. I just fill up the tank with water thats  it ?

[/random thread]

[DaOld Man]

It also says it uses an ice bucket.
Water cooled coolers (??) use evaporative cooling. The water is pumped from a sump below, and flows down across a finned thing.
A fan blows air across the fin thing. The water evaporating from the fin thing cools the air.
We tried using evaporative cooling at my work (aluminum mill), out on the floor.
They didnt work very good at all. Of course in a small area they may be alright, but in a small area it may also increase the
relative humidity, which may not be a good thing.
If you have the money, you can get a split system air conditioner installed.
One half of the split system sits outside, the other half (the half that does the cooling) goes inside, the two halves are connected by two copper tubes,
which freon flows through.
But this can be an expensive fix.
Or is it possible to cut a hole in the wall and install a cheap window unit air conditioner?

[SavannahLion]

For most people, they don't work because they don't install them correctly or they overestimate the capacity of the thing.

I don't get why everybody has to be PC and call them "air coolers," or, "evaporative cooler," just call them by what they are, swamp cooler. Once you own (and actually use so landlords are out) one, it's really hard to call them by any other name.

The number one mistake that most people make when installing these things is that whatever area you're cooling has to breath. In other words, you need to exhaust the moisture out. If you don't, the room turns into a sauna. That's why Home Dept sucks in this regards. They equip their stores with swamp coolers (instead of AC's), then refuse to vent any hot air out of the ceiling vents. The heat and moisture gets trapped in the store and it's like walking into a ---smurfing--- sauna. If you walk into a HD on a hot day and it's actually cool, then store management is actually breaking company policy. Ha!

The other is these things need to be HUGE and they need to push a lot of air to be effective. My unit was about 4'x4'x4' and was essentially constructed to be a blower. There was so much air moving, that it was usually pretty uncomfortable to be in the direct path. I constructed a baffle to redirect the air up/down instead of straight into the apartment.

As for getting it for your game room.

Do NOT get a swamp cooler for your game room. I had an oak entertainment system that sat on carpet right next to the vents for the swamp cooler for about ten years. When I moved, I ended up having to destroy the cabinet because of severe water damage. Mold was a huge issue in my house. I had to ensure that everything could breath or I was guaranteed to throw it away because of the mold. I threw out my couch (it was crap anyways), my computer desk, and a long table because of hidden damage from that ---smurfing--- swamp cooler. I've debated with myself since whether I should have just ate the rent increase to have an actual AC installed instead of being a cheap ass and sticking with the swamp cooler. Leaving any sort of food or drink out for more than a day was out of the question. To this day, I still have concerns about the mold "following" me for the rest of my life.

Strangely, rust was only ever a very minor issue. In that regards, I would consider a swamp cooler for some place like a well aired shop.

No, get a proper AC. Home Depot used to sell a portable unit with an exhaust host that you stuck outside somehow. Or like DaOld Man suggested, shell out for a split unit.  If cost is a consideration, than buy a fan and don't play during the hottest days.

[fjl]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend getting one of those things. They have real portable air conditioners with exhaust vents. You'll probably pay twice as much but they will actually do what they are meant to do, cool the room.

[SNAAKE]

alright thanks for the inputs everyone. I found one on CL for $100  but it sounds too good to be true. amazon sells the same one for $500
talking about this..opinion ?? http://www.amazon.com/GE-Portable-Room-Air-Conditioner/dp/B000TAHXOC/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_pop_t

[DaOld Man]

Sounds good to me.. Is the one CraigsList used? If so, that probably explains the price difference.

[boykster]

Yep, I'd stay away from the swamp/evap cooler and swing the AC if you can.  AC will not only cool the room but de-humidify, which is what you want for a room with any electronics in it.  If you can get that unit for $100, you're good to go.

[shardian]

Holy crap, please fix you links!

Anyways, do it the right way and get a portable AC unit. They have a 4" or so hose that you route outside. I've seen newer models that have a window sleeve that you can seal up.

[shmokes]

Swamp coolers work, and they work well, but only in a dry environment.  If your air is humid, forget about it.  The swamp cooler will be useless.  You can also get portable air conditioners (what Shardian is talking about) that look exactly like those, and have a hose that you stick in the window to vent out hot air.  I've had a portable swamp cooler, like what you linked to, and a portable air conditioner.  The air conditioner was far superior, but cost more.  I think they typically run at least $400.