I'm on roam and can't "reply" - so I'm building this in regards to "Lynne from
Central Texas" and her good info on alternative a/c systems.
I've always been interested in the Cool Cat system - you'll see it as a factory
option in the little T@B models that look like mid-sized teardrops - early - early
Airstrem look - they are a German design that was adopted by Dutchman (Thor)
according to literature.
Regarding the single tube portable a/c's - keep in mind that the free-standing
a/c's do have a reputation as Lynne suggested for running hot in terms of the
exhaust hose.
But....investigate the literature on the "dual-tube" models - there are a few out
there - usually the upper end models. Supposedly the dual-tube model draws air from
the outside in via one tube to cool the hot condensor and then exhausts that hot air
created during the cooling process via the second - read more here for an example.
It would be worth investigating if these run cooler.
http://store.portableairshop.com/dual-tube-exhaust-portable-air-conditioner.html
Also note the possibility of "negative air" created by some models.
The free standing a/c's are sort of tricky to track down. Some brands/models are
always available online - but some models appear in places like Costco and Home Depot
and (in Seattle) Frye's - and then once the heat wave of summer is gone - those models
disappear from sight. Probably some proprietary branding going on there. I found a
Maytag dual tube model at Frye's I was interested in as it was dual tube and the max
btu's I've seen available in a portable unit - yet I've never seen it on the rare
occasion I've found Maytag free standing unit info online. Maytag and Fedders are
together these days from what I can tell.
RL