Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chri...lectricity.htm

Simple ceramic pot within a pot, with wet sand beneath and a damp cloth. Evaporation keeps it cool.

Wonder how it works in humid climates?

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

It will work here....wish I knew this 25 years ago when I was feeding block ice into my ole icebox twice a week.
I'll give this method a try just for shite and giggles.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

'bout like my evap cooler. Works great except for monsoon season. And that's right now... :favorites21:

Fans work better in humid climates. Fans here... fans there.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

An interesting idea. I wonder how well it might work down under in Sydney. We don't have evaporative air conditioners here because the climate is too humid, probably an indication on the viability of the evaporation cooler too...

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

When I was in Saudi we would put socks over water bottles and soak the socks with water. It kept your water pretty cool but cool is a relative thing when it's 120 degrees.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

fascinating.

it's good bit of info to know regardless of whether or not we'll need it.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

While not so great for meat, for example, that would likely be great for butter and cheese and even cool drinking water. Plus veggies and fruits.

My dad's family used a spring house because the spring water was very cool. They kept even milk in it and chilled watermelons. But they had a big year round spring, and I don't.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

That used to be a very common way of keeping milk cool here in the UK - particularly in places where the milkman delivered after people left for work. It's still not an uncommon sight, in fact! Terracotta flowerpot upside down in a saucer of water, the milkman puts the bottle of milk under the pot, and the milk stays nice and chilled until you come home.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

Butter Bells

Reviews

http://kitchen.apartmenttherapy.com/...elldiagram.jpg

I have done this with a teacup on a saucer and it works just as well at a much lower cost. This keeps butter fresh for an amazingly long time, but if the temp gets up to a certain point the butter lets loose and falls into the water. That is extremely annoying. A much better design would use three pieces: the butter in a cup, the water in a dish, and a close fitting bell cover to exclude air. When you figure out that the only purpose of the water is to seal air out, then you realize that you can do the same job with a piece of Tupperware, even though it doesn't have the old-timey ambience that a crock has.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

That's the same mechanism behind a bota bag or a canvas water bag. Just enough water seeps through the material and evaporates to keep the contents cool.

I like the crock in a crock idea. Not much water use. Inexpensive and elegant.

Re: Non-electric low-tech refrigeration
 

If you wanna go a little more high tech with low tech end refridgeration, take a look at the icyball. Liquid ammonia cooling system independant of electricity orginally marketed for transportation and rural homesteads. --

http://crosleyautoclub.com/IcyBall/crosley_icyball.html

and --

http://crosleyautoclub.com/IcyBall/H...HomeBuilt.html

and link with instructions and drawings --

http://crosleyautoclub.com/IcyBall/H...irections.html