Redoing my mister system

[Scott & Heather]

Decided this week to redo and improve my radiator misting system. Replaced the tiny irrigation tubing with 1/2" PEX line and since my 24v gate valve decided to die, I just installed a 12v water pump that pulls from my 150 gallon fresh tank. I used a set of lawn sprinkler misters but I'm not super happy with their performance. They work fine spreading water over the entire radiators when Coach is at idle but when rpms are raised the water just gets sucked in at the point it's leaving the sprinkler head and not spreading over the radiator surface anymore. So I'll have to redo that part of the system today removing the single sprinkler heads and installing some sort of mister heads (several of them) along the pex line that is crossing the entire radiator. This is how the old system I built worked but they were drip line heads and they just didn't spray much water. Anyone have a mister head they like?

[Bill Gerrie]

I just used 1/2" ridged plastic ppipe and drilled 1/16" holes in it. Works fine for 25 years.

[buswarrior]

The hurricane of air passing will render any mister useless.

As you are doing, get the water out in front of the radiator, and just let it go.

The hurricane will distribute.

Spraying from the edges won't get the water to the middle, rigging some piping up on the inside of the screen right across in front will accomplish a wider distribution.

Do some experiments with the engine spinning flat out, and see what gets the water where you want it, and biased for the forward movement of the coach through the air.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Scott & Heather]

Curious what the water looks like coming out of 1/16" holes? Does it mist or dribble lol?

I agree, the hurricane does crazy things to the water. Just wasn't sure if anyone had a specific mister head that they loved.

[Bill Gerrie]

I have never watched the spray from the 1/16" holes but the temps come down. I have a center pipe and several branches off to distribute the water to various places on the rad.

[Jim Eh.]

Stop in at the local NAPA and pick up a few aftermarket replacement windshield washer nozzles (and universal washer pump if you need a new one) from a car or truck. I would pick something like a full size van that has a large windshield. Common sense would deem the nozzle to be larger than that found on a Prius. Look around in traffic or spend an hour in a used car lot to find which ones have the pattern you like. Nice and simple.

[TomC]

I originally bought a 15 mister kit from Home Depot and mounted it in an S in front of the radiator. Worked soso. I then drilled out two of the misters with a 1/16" drill and now it really dumps water on the radiator. You need to dump lots of water-like a gallon a minute on the radiator to have any affect. I just use the fresh water from the tank with a 12v water solenoid. It works well-I can be in 108 degree weather and it will pull the temp down within 2 minutes. Good Luck, TomC

[Lin]

I can't remember if I have 1/16 or 1/32 holes in the PVC pipe I used for my spray system.  It is mounted at the leading edge of the radiator and aimed straight across instead of into the fins.  It seems to word pretty fast.  One thing I found useful was putting the valve on one of those spring wound countdown timers so I don't forget to shut it off.  My timer is up to 15 minutes but 5 minutes or so is generally enough.

[Scott & Heather]

Nice great ideas and info. Here's what I did while you all were replying today. I just drilled super tiny holes in the PEX pipe. The drill bit was like the size of a dental drill bit. Like a needle. Super teeny tiny. Works perfect. I jammed the throttle into full throttle position and observed my system and it's distributing the water nicely and dumping a TON of water using a 12v pump. I think it will work better than the old drip system I was using before.

[Sebulba]

Hello Scott,

I have been restraining myself for 2 days, but I can't hold back any longer.

....but, how about your Mrs. system...?

Sorry

Seb

[chessie4905]

Consider a filter to avoid hole plugging.

[Jim Blackwood]

Decades ago Ford started using nozzles that have a discharge chamber which causes the stream to oscillate across the windshield, some of those might be good, and maybe more clog resistant.

Jim

[lvmci]

I used to use distilled water to avoid the hard water scaling on the fins of the radiator, but Ii switched to HD piece together 1/2" pvc with brass and rubber tipped nozzels drilled to 1/16th, as in Tom's idea, connected to my fresh water tank and it's pump and descale it every couple years with radiator fin cleaner, seems to do fine, lvmci...

[chessie4905]

If you want a source for distilled water, use it from dehumidifier.

[uncle ned]

Scott  I always use windshield washer fluid. It keeps the radiator clean and do not have to worry  About it freezing in the winter.

Are you going to come by Blytheville this year.

uncle ned