Comments on: (Not) Cool Surge Portable Air Conditioner

By: Desert Dweller

Desert Dweller — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:10:36 +0000

I got the ad letter mailed to me, was puzzled by the vague claims and did the web research to find out that this is basically a swap cooler. . . . a portable one and rather pricey at that. Down here in the desert southwest, swamp coolers are fairly common as they work well in a dry climate . . . but only in the early summer months before the monsoon rains arrive.

For $300, you can get a real swamp cooler . . . 2″ X 2″ X 2″ metal cube that sits outside, fits into the duct work and belts out cold air. Yes, something of that size can really cool down a small house. Aspen wood pads work better than the paper ones and smell nice, too. Most “real” desert people know how to change their own pads, adjust float levels, etc. It’s like a classic car in terms of basic maintenance.

Nothing wrong with swamp coolers, per se, as they are cheaper to run than conventional AC. But this one is overpriced (similar portable units on eBay for around $80) . . . and all swamp coolers loose their cooling effectivness fairly quickly as atmosperic humidity levels rise. That’s why you hardly ever see them used outside of dry desert environs.

By: justsomeguy

justsomeguy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:26:49 +0000

Mike47- it’s just as likely that the marketing people are morons too. Some other people designed and made and the marketing moron said “Yeah, that makes sense.”

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:47:12 +0000

Don’t you want to pay even more for one for your golf cart?

.http://www.swampy.net/golfcartairconditioner.html

By: Wayne D.

Wayne D. — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:44:40 +0000

Here, make your own.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Portable-12V-Air-Conditioner—Cheap-and-easy!/

By: rg

rg — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:33:07 +0000

PHASE 1: Place ice packs in freezer

PHASE 2: ?

PHASE 3: Profit

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:13:20 +0000

At least they don’t show fake-Amish people greenscreened onto a factory scene building these things :-p

By: Old Coot

Old Coot — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:54:47 +0000

What Barri said.

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:42:50 +0000

So…they put “a fan blowing over a bowl of ice” into a box, and charge $300 for it? Wow.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:18:36 +0000

For that price you could buy a real portable air conditioner unit! I cannot believe this company can stay in business with ads that are so misleading. I’m sure CR’s review of it will cut into their business

By: Barri

Barri — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:15:56 +0000

They need to contact BOSE and use their marketing deparment. They have been selling over priced under peforming products for years and as long as it is marketed right there are always people to buy it.

By: Mike47

Mike47 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:56:40 +0000

Dave P : Yes, many are. Most, however, are simply uneducated in basic physics. Marketing people understand this, and craft advertising to take best advantage of the fact. That’s why lots of these worthless pieces of junk will be sold to unwitting individuals, who are impressed with the claims made. Buyer beware. (P.T.Barnum was right; There’s a sucker born every minute.)

By: Dano

Dano — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:37:04 +0000

Place some ice packs in front of a $20 fan and you have the same effect.

By: Dave P

Dave P — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:50:57 +0000

Uhhh, basic thermodynamics. Energy used to lower the temperature of gel packs is radiated into the house by the coils on the back of the fridge. Motor used to blow air over the frozen gel packs radiates more heat into the air.

The energy taken from the air to thaw the gel packs is less than the energy required to freeze them. Plus the heat from the motor = net gain of heat in the house.

Are people just stupid?