Pod #1 was shipped assembled! Help, too much ventilation!

[mikeschn]

Pod #1 was shipped assembled! Help! too much ventilation!

Here's a quick photo essay of the prototype, which I made lots of mistakes on...

Here's the pieces I started with...

Building up one of the end walls...

How it looks with the spars and one of the sides...

How it looked early on..

Added a window...

Added barrel bolts...

Added insulation...

Added paint...

Packed it on the trailer for the trip...

 

[High Desert-TNT]

Very cool Mike. I like your use of the vardo styling, function and style too. Looks like your CNC has been busy.

This subject looks like a new passion for you.

 

[Juneaudave]

Nice! Form and function! If you were to cut a handhold slot on each side towards the front overhang, it would give a person something to grab onto so you could drag it a bit easier....

 

[mikeschn]

We got some feedback on the first pod. This was from Pastor Judy on her facebook page...

Judy Howard-Stater Hey Chell Schneider!!! Glad you all made it home safely!!! Loren one of our homeless men got the first pod (that's what we call the shelters) came to church Sunday morning and He said it was the best nite's sleep he's had for a long time! And it got so warm in there with just his body heat that he was about to open the window!!! He was tickled like we gave him a 3 bedroom home!!! Thank you all for all your hard work!! God bless you all abundantly!!!

It's not frigidly cold yet. But I'm encouraged by the fact that the pod with the insulation and the body heat can get so warm!

Nice! Form and function! If you were to cut a handhold slot on each side towards the front overhang, it would give a person something to grab onto so you could drag it a bit easier....

Yes, that's a good idea. But it's only 5mm luan. I think it needs to be a bit heavier so it doesn't break. Maybe if we glued a backer plate onto it... like 3/4" pine...

Very cool Mike. I like your use of the vardo styling, function and style too. Looks like your CNC has been busy.

This subject looks like a new passion for you.

Thanks. Using the vardo seemed to fit in with the homeless theme. And surprisingly, Rev Floyd suggested it initially!

Mike...

 

[Verna-TNT]

That's great, Mike!!! You 're doing a great thing!!

 

[oakinteriors1]

What a testimony that is awesome... I can see the candle cookie tin heater coming into play now...

 

[Wolfgang92025]

My one concern would be running out of oxygen.

reminds me of a mishap my brother told me.....

When he was in the army, he went to 3 different month long training session at the national training center near Barstow, CA. Troops would play war games and camp out for long stretches in pup tents. When it got cold (near or just below freezing) some soldiers would light off a streno can heater to get rid of the chill. Work many a times from what I understand, until one young man fell back to sleep and never woke up again. His little heater used up all of the oxygen. Needless to say, that practice was banned.

As we have said before "Airtight will kill you"

 

[Verna-TNT]

My one concern would be running out of oxygen.

reminds me of a mishap my brother told me.....

When he was in the army, he went to 3 different month long training session at the national training center near Barstow, CA. Troops would play war games and camp out for long stretches in pup tents. When it got cold (near or just below freezing) some soldiers would light off a streno can heater to get rid of the chill. Work many a times from what I understand, until one young man fell back to sleep and never woke up again. His little heater used up all of the oxygen. Needless to say, that practice was banned.

As we have said before "Airtight will kill you"

Aren't there three vent holes in the rear wall? Up high on the wall?

 

[RAYVILLIAN]

I've been wondering what you've been up to Mike. Now I know that is so cool, or actually I guess warm would be a better description.

Gary

 

[mikeschn]

Good point. Both pods have a 1/4" gap under the door, and 3 holes up high on the opposite end.

I looked at my smoker to get the idea of the size and qty of holes I need, and made them about the same. When my smoker is running, the smoke just pours out of those holes... I suspect I am getting enough air through there..

Mike...

 

[mikeschn]

I've been wondering what you've been up to Mike. Now I know that is so cool, or actually I guess warm would be a better description.

Gary

Hey Gary,

Glad you could drop by. I've been thinking about your stove that you always talked about, and wondering if there is anything in that stove that would help with the cookie tin candle heater... the thread is here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18902

Mike...

 

[Oldragbaggers]

This is wonderful, Mike. The pod not only serves the function for which it was intended very well, but it is also attractive, and a great example of good engineering.

You ARE doing a great thing. And God bless you for it!! I doubt you can even fully realize the value of the gift you are giving to these people.

 

[Miriam C.]

Wonderful for places that try to house over flow on cold nights. A Wagon type trailer would do great to move around.

 

[mikeschn]

Good point. Both pods have a 1/4" gap under the door, and 3 holes up high on the opposite end.

I looked at my smoker to get the idea of the size and qty of holes I need, and made them about the same. When my smoker is running, the smoke just pours out of those holes... I suspect I am getting enough air through there..

Mike...

Okay, I just found out that I am getting too much air flow through the pod. I was told that as the temp approaches freezing too much body heat is going out those holes.

I suggested plugging a couple of the holes...

But I had another idea and wanted to run it past you guys.

Since there is a 1/4" gap under the door where the air comes in, can I just put 3 holes in the wall above the door? (and block the holes on the opposite side)? This way instead of the going all the way across the pod, it comes in and goes out on the same wall, leaving most of the pod air warm.

Is this a reasonable idea?

Mike...

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

I wrestled with this problem in Chubby, the lexan roofed teardrop. I woke up early in the AM and was totally disoriented and felt like I was on a really really bad drunk. I opened the door and sat in the opening afraid to try and stand as I was so wobbley. About 3 deep breaths and the fog began to clear. No one is going to convince me otherwise it was oxygen deprivation and it is a scary feeling (scarier if you don't wake up I guess).

I now leave a 12" wide window open 1" and the problem has never reoccured. I also use a small fan as a ceiling fan to break up the stratification. I realize you don't have this luxuary in these pods so I would damper the 3 little upper vents with a little paddle shaped damper blade that could cover or partially cover each of the 3 exhaust vents. I personally think the travel from end to end is important to keep the fresh air from entering rising and exiting on the one end without any benefit to the sleeping occupant at the other end.

Just my 2 cents

P.S. my personal homeless shelter is coming along beautifully.

 

[SuperiorBound]

my thought was something like they use on charcoal grills to close the vents, little circle things so they could close the holes as much or as little as they want? Leave some that can't be closed for safety.

 

[mikeschn]

I drilled out the holes with a 3/4" forstner bit. That happens to be a perfect fit for corks from your wine bottles.

So I recommended that Rev Floyd pass out 2 corks per pod. (There's 3 holes per pod).

Mike...

 

[RAYVILLIAN]

Trudy and I had the same problem as Bobhenry in the little guy that had first. Closed it up tight and woke up feeling like he did about 1 am. Cracked open the windows and no problem the rest of the night.. I would think that putting the holes over the door would help with the cooling problem that you are having since the air flow wouldn't go across the mens bodies. Both of our WW had no problem with lack air because they had plenty of air leaks at the opposite end from where we sleep but stayed warm at the end where we were sleeping.

Mike since I turned 60 I'm having memory problems and I've read and thought about so many heaters in my lifetime I'm having problem remembering which one your thinking of. I would think that the candle box heater that you have in the thread you posted would be ideal in this situation. the candles would be cheap and I think they have them that last 4 hrs. The only other heater I can think of the might work would be the copper coil in a carcoal lighter water heater but that would have to have the fire outside unattended with think could be a prblem. If electricity is available than the light bulb in a can would be best.

Gary

 

[Miriam C.]

3 holes on either end sound good to me. I strongly urge you to not include a flame of anykind. Better to include some sleeping bags....That of course might cover the opening under the door anyway. A small electric car type heater might be a good idea.
http://www.campingworld.com/shoppin...u=3536393830&gclid=CNycgdeE9boCFShk7Aod9DsAGw

Mike and I slept in the GL at 40 degrees with the fan on and both windows open an inch. Didn't turn the heater on until we got up and opened the door. A good sleeping bag!

 

[GPW]

JMHO... just thinking you need some small ventilation that cannot be blocked ... You can probably mathematically calculate how much flow you need for a safe air exchange...
I’m totally with Miriam !!! Flames a BAD idea !!! (No smoking either) Lots of blankets a Good idea... Turns out those Cheap polyester blankets are Very Warm !!!