My research would help those who can spend a few extra bucks on their holidays.
- Basics guidelines to get maximum efficiency.
- Ways to cool your tent with electricity.
- Points to remember for electrical methods.
Let’s start with some basics of camping (very important).
- Choose a Light-colored tent. Every student of science knows how dark colors absorb energy and sunlight, so, it would make sense to choose a tent with a lighter color, right?
Basic Physics at work here.
- Look for a shady place. By shady I do not mean a spooky or a suspicious place. I am talking about a place that has trees and shadows to avoid direct sunlight. Very important!
- Always get a bigger tent. A rule of thumb is to select a tent by dividing two persons from the actual capacity.
For Example, if you need a tent for 4 individuals, get one for 6 individuals. It will reduce suffocation in the tent.
- Keep enough power sources to get through the camping. It is never a bad idea to bring some extra batteries with you along the way.
You would need them to charge your mobile devices, power banks, and these electrical devices to work properly.
- Buy some reflective screens. Reflective screens are best if you already have a darker-colored tent, or you don’t have a shady place.
These screens would reflect the lights and would keep the temperature maintained.
- Open the vents. Tents are designed to keep privacy and are made of either Nylon or Polyester. These materials build a lot of moisture inside a tent.
Look for a tent that also provides mesh for airflow.
These tips won’t do anything if your tent does not have a proper ventilation system. Ventilation is necessary to avoid humidity and keep the air breathable.
- Keep some extra bottles of water. You would require water for some of the mentioned devices. Plus, it is always a good idea to have plenty of water with you in the summers, especially camping.
Cristina Anderson
Stay cool while camping
I will go from the easiest options to the ones that require some maintenance.
Use a portable fan
Pros
- Minimum power and lowest set-up efforts.
- Best for 1-2 persons.
- Requires lesser power than the other options.
Cons
- Does not provide greater cooling.
- Not suitable for larger tents.
There are a lot of available options, but I have managed to shortlist a few considering the power efficiency, portability, and battery timing.
Geek Aire Rechargeable Outdoor Fan provides enough cooling in a small tent with its 7800mAh battery. It comes with a 12V AC adapter and takes 2.5-4hrs to fully charge.
It will easily provide you 4-20hrs depending upon the speed of the fan. On medium speed, it will give you 15hrs maximum.
02Cool Treva Portable Fan is the best overall value with a dual power source and two-speed settings. It can either be used with a 12V adapter or 6 D batteries.
You would end up buying a lot of batteries in this case but, this 10-inch fan would provide you a total of 53hrs on low and 20hrs on high.
Using Air conditioners
Evaporative coolers
use water to cool down the temperature. the water in the cooler helps to cool down the air passing through it.
Pros
- Uses lesser power than a window AC
- Produces lesser noise.
- Cheaper than a window AC
Cons:
- Evaporative coolers are also not suitable for larger spaces and bigger tents.
- Will not be effective at a higher temperature.
- Increases moisture level.
Pro tip: You can also add some ice cubes to the evaporative cooler for extra cooling.
Evapolar evaChill Evaporative Cooler is a 3-in-1 device that cools, humidifies, and purifies the air. It is 7.5 watts, energy-efficient, ultraportable, and USB-powered cooler. Drops temperature by 4-7°C.
Pros:
- It will keep the temperature cool with lower humidity levels.
- Will keep you away from runny nose and allergies.
- Eco-friendly.
- Can be powered by a laptop, charging port, and power bank.
Ontel Arctic Personal Air Cooler also cools, purifies, and humidifies the air. It lasts up to 8hrs per fill. It is compact and power-efficient that comes with a USB wall adapter. It can be used with any USB port.
Cristina Anderson
Pros:
- 7 different color options.
- Freons free.
Zero Breeze Mark-2 is another popular option but is not budget-friendly so, I won’t recommend buying that.
Window Air Conditioner:
A lot of people use window AC’s out there if they can manage to spend some extra bucks on camping.
You should look for an AC that provides 5000 BTU minimum for better cooling. Lesser than that is just a waste of money.
Pros:
- Provides better cooling.
- Good for larger tents.
- Reduces the levels of humidity.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Requires an opening in tent.
- Requires a lot of power.
- Produces noise.
- Needs proper insulation to work.
Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner is the overall best value for money with 6000 BTU. It comes with 2-speed settings. Good for 250 sq. ft. space.
Cristina Anderson
Pros:
- Sleep mode to save energy.
- Programmable timer.
- Comes with remote control.
- Easy to install.
- Requires lesser power than most AC’s.
- Easy-to-clean filters
Cons:
- Requires power input.
- Requires a stand to place it above the ground.
I would suggest you buy an aluminum one because they don’t rust.
Steps to create an opening in the tent
You can easily find a tent with an opening specifically designed for a window AC, but I would suggest you not to buy that. You can easily create an opening by following these steps.
- Step-1: Measure the dimensions of the window AC to perfectly create an opening so that the cold air may not go out.
- Step-2: Cut out an opening in the tent exactly the size of your window AC.
- Step-3: Fit your window AC properly to insulate it later.
- Step-4: Use duct tape to cover the sides of the AC and tent.
Portable Air Conditioner:
They can easily be placed in the tent without making an opening. They just require a stable power input and some space.
BLACK+DECKER BPP10WTB Portable Air Conditioner is a heavy-duty 14,000 BTU portable air conditioner that is enough to cool an extra-large tent of 450 sq. ft.
Pros:
- Better cooling.
- Dehumidifying capabilities.
- 24-hrs timer for saving energy.
- Multiple fan speeds.
- Longer cable and hose for easy installation.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Consumes a lot of power.
- Produces noise.
- Heavy with 65 pounds.
Dehumidifiers
Condensation happens naturally inside a tent because of the material. If your product does not have a system of dehumidifying, then you should buy one to keep the air inside the tent cool and flowing.
Humidity allows mold to grow and nourishes a lot of bugs also, making it worse to camp especially at night.
OXA Smart Mini dehumidifier and Eva-dry E-333 Renewable dehumidifier are compact and power-efficient dehumidifiers that would keep the environment of the tent fresh and eco-friendly.
Eva-dry is good for pets and children.
Keep these in mind if you are planning to use Air Conditioners
Price and budget:
Using an AC would require a lot to function from power generators to duct tapes.
You would not camp for just 2 hours and the power grid would not be accessible each time. So, be ready to spend anywhere from $400-$2000.
Be Safe!
Moisture is an enemy of electricity. Always be safe by keeping the plugs away from moisture and keeping the wires insulated all the time.
Always check your filters and weather forecast before camping. Rain can affect the efficiency of these electrical devices.
Keep your devices either in a dry place or above the ground.
Place an extra layer of insulation
Having an extra layer of insulation would properly maintain the temperature inside the tent.
Final words
I have discussed some practical ways on how to cool a tent with electricity in this guide. This guide has covered every aspect of keeping a tent cool with maximum efficiency and minimum cost using just electrical methods.
I have discussed everything from portable fans to portable heavy-duty AC’s.
Moreover, I have also provided efficient ways to reduce your power costs while camping.
By using these methods, you can easily enjoy your camping and keep your tent cool enough to overcome the heat.
