Essick WC35, RWC35, RWC44, N35W, WC46 Instruction Manual

Owner’s Manual

Model #’s

WC35, RWC35
N35W, RN35W

WC44, RWC44
WC46, RWC46

N46W, RN46W
WC50, RWC50

N50W, RN50W

Window Evaporative

Air Cooler

Evaporative Cooling

Evaporative cooling uses the principle of evaporation to lower the air
temperature. Hot, dry air is passed through wetted filters and is converted to
refreshingly cooled air. Champion/Essick coolers make the best use of the
evaporative process by controlling the flow of water, spreading the water evenly
over the filters, and keeping a steady stream of cooled air entering your home.
It is exhausted out open windows or doors, carrying heat, smoke and odors
along with it. Champion/Essick evaporative coolers are 80% less costly to

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Instruction Manual!

operate than refrigerated air conditioners.

P/N 71088

REV 1/06

1

SAFETY GUIDE LINES & CAUTIONS

When Installing When Operating When Servicing

Make sure that unit is installed on a sound
structure that will support the full operating
weight of the cooler. See page 4.

Before attempting to hang the cooler in the
window, remove the louvers to reduce weight.

Do NOT connect power to cooler before
installation is complete.

Make sure that circuit cooler is plugged into is
equipped with a (slow blow) breaker large
enough to support the full amperage of the
cooler.

To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, DO
NOT use this fan with any Solid-state speed
control device.

This cooler is equipped with an
thermally protected motor. If it shuts off on its
own for any reason,
warningUUUU.

UUUUit can restart without

UUUUautomaticUUUU

MOUNTING

To install this cooler, the following tools are required:

• Adjustable wrenches

• Screwdrivers

• Electric drill

• 3/16” drill bit

• Level

1. Loosen the Adjustment Screw in the Stand-Off Bracket. Remove the Spacer-Rod
from the installation package and insert them into the Stand-Off brackets as shown.

2. Cut the Side Sealer Channels so that two of them will span the window when
butted together. Place two of the channels on the bottom duct flange as shown.

3. Place the Cooler in the center of the window with the bottom duct flange resting
against the sill.

4. Pull out the Spacer-Rods so as to allow the Rubber Feet to rest against the side of
the house. Tighten the Adjustment Screws.

5. Lower the window to rest on top of the duct behind the top duct flange.

6. Fasten a stop above the inside window sash to prevent the window from being
raised. Raising the window may cause the cooler to fall.

7. Adjust the Spacer-Rods to level the cooler. This will ensure proper water flow to the
pads.

8. Install the Chain Supports.
a. Drill pilot holes in the window frame, 3 feet above the top of the duct and the width
of the cooler apart. Install the Screw-Hooks in these pilot holes to the full depth of the
thread.
b. Hook one end of each Chain over each Screw-Hook.
c. Place S-Hooks in the in the holes at the top-rear of the cooler.
d. Place the opposite end of the S-Hooks in the free end of each Chain. Make sure
the chains are taut, but not so tight they pull the bottom of the cooler away from the
wall.

9. Install the Side Sealer Panels. These panels are the correct height, but need to be
trimmed to fit the width of your window. Trim the panels so that they reach from the
window frame to the side of the duct. Slide the panels in the channels you placed on
the bottom duct flange. Install the remaining Side-Sealer Channels over the top duct

flange and the Side-Sealer Panels.

Always Unplug the cooler before attempting
service of any kind.

Be sure to disconnect unit from power
source before servicing. If not, it can be
turned on from inside the house and start
unexpectedly.
If the motor shuts off because of thermal
overload, check into the problem
immediately. If allowed to continue,
permanent damage will occur.

2

INSTALL OVERFLOW AND DRAIN

1. Slide the Rubber Washer over the Drain Bushing and push through the hole in the
bottom of the cooler from the top side.

2. Secure the Drain Bushing from beneath the pan with the Lock Nut. Make sure the
Rubber Washer does not twist while tightening, which could cause it to leak.

UUUUDO NOT

OVERTIGHTEN.UUUU

3. Thread the Overflow Tube into the Drain Bushing and HAND TIGHTEN.

4. If leakage occurs after Reservoir is full, retighten the Overflow Pipe until leaking stops.
A small amount of silicone caulk may be used if necessary.

FLOAT VALVE INSTALLATION

1. Place the threaded portion of the Float Valve through the hole provided in the Corner

Reservoir

Post from the inside.

2. Slip the Fiber Washer over the threaded portion outside the corner post and secure with
the Nut. Be sure the Float does not turn while you are tightening the Nut.

WATER LINE CONNECTION

Find the closest outside water faucet, and install a Water Connection Kit (not included with
cooler) as shown. If an exterior faucet is not available, locate the closest cold water pipe
and install a saddle valve assembly.

Route tubing to cooler. Place Compression Nut and Ferrule over end of tubing. Insert the

Ferrule

tubing into float valve and tighten Compression Nut to secure. NOTE: Over tightening the
compression fitting will cause that fitting to leak. It is best to secure the connections, turn
on the water, and then snug the fitting until leaking stops.

ADJUSTING WATER LEVEL AND FLOAT VALVE

Faucet

• To adjust water level, bend the float valve rod.

• Check all water connections for leaks.

• Make sure the Float Valve cuts off completely when the desired water level has been

reached (½” to ¾” below top of Overflow Tube). If the float does not stop the water
completely, the water level will rise and run out the Overflow Tube.

• Double check the Overflow Tube for leaks.

START UP

1. Plug in the electrical cord to a standard grounded receptacl e. Be sure the Circuit Breaker protecting the receptacle is of
sufficient size.

2. Open windows in rooms where you wan t cooling to be directed.

3. Turn the cooler to the High Fan position. Observe the amount of air being delivered. Note: on cool nights (or days) or
when the humidity level is high, the fan positions may be used for ventilation purposes.

4. Turn the cooler to the Low Fan position. This should significantly reduce the amount of air bei ng delivered.

5. Turn the cooler to the Pump Only position. The pump should run and not the fan. Check to see that water is flowing
from all three Water Trays.

6. Turn the cooler to the High Cool position. Check to see that all three Pads are wetting evenly with no dry patches. The
Pads may take up to 20 minutes to wet fully. If the Pads have dry patches, you can adjust the level of each Water Tray
by screws on each end.

7. Adjust window openings to achieve desire d cooling level.

3

WIRING DIAGRAM

CAUTION: Always unplug cooler before opening or attempting service of any kind.

Manual Control

Motor Cord

Black - Hi

Motor

Red - Low

White - Common

Green - Ground

Switch

Pump

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not use this fan with any solid-state speed control device.

Wiring Harness

COOLER SPECIFICATIONS

Model Height Width Depth Amps Shipping Weight Operating Weight
(R)WC50/(R)N50W 35” 34” 34” 8.4 165 249
(R)WC46/(R)N46W 35” 34” 34” 7.4 165 249

(R)WC44 35” 34” 28” 7.4 147 217

(R)WC35/(R)N35W 31” 32” 21” 7.4 135 184

TROUBLE SHOOTING

Problem Cause Remedy

• Adjust belt tension

• Lubricate or replace bearings

• Choose a shorter or heavier gauge cord

• Consult a licensed electrician

• Check all electrical connections and cords

• Reset circuit breaker or replace fuse

• Adjust belt or tighten pulley

• Replace the blower wheel

• Clear debris

• Check incoming water line, float and water

distributor for blockages and clear.

• Adjust window openings

• Level water trays, check for blocked water

slots in water trays

• Clean or replace pump

• Replace pads

Motor cycles on and off

Fails to start
Water draining from overflow

Blower vibrates excessively

Not cooling

• Excessive belt tension

• Blower shaft not spinning freely

• Extension cord (if one used) too long

• Circuit breaker not large enough

• No electrical power

• Circuit breaker tripped or fuse blown

• Float improperly adjusted • Adjust float

• Belt or pulley loose

• Blower wheel out of balance or out of

alignment

• Debris in blower housing

• Blocked water lines

• Windows opened too little or too much.

• Uneven pad wetting

• Pump clogged or failed

• Pads plugged with dirt and water deposits

This cooler is equipped with an UUUUautomaticUUUU thermally protected motor. If it shuts off on its own for any reason, UUUUit

can restart without warningUUUU.

Your cooler may be controlled by a rotary switch (MANUAL CONTROLS) or by a touch pad/remote control. See below for
functions.

Switch Operation Remote Control Operation

OFF Fan off Pump off

PUMP ONLY Fan off Pump on

HIGH COOL Fan high speed Pump on

LOW COOL Fan low speed Pump on
HIGH VENT Fan high speed Pump off

LOW VENT Fan low speed Pump off

Note: pressing the ON/OFF button while the unit is running will turn off power to the entire unit. Pressing the button again
will turn the unit back on at the same setting, which the unit was at when it was turned off.

ON/OFF

FAN

PUMP

Controls power to unit. Does not change fan speed or turn
Pump on or off.

Controls Fan speed. Press once for high speed (HI light on).
Press again for low speed (LO light on). Press again to turn
fan off (HI and LO lights off).

Controls Pump. Press once for pump on (PUMP light on).
Press again for pump off (PUMP light off).

4

MAINTENANCE
NOTE: The fan motor is thermally protected with an automatic reset and will

automatically stop if overloaded. After the motor cools, it will restart automatically.
If this occurs, check into the problem before permanent damage occurs.

3/4"

Once a month during cooling season, inspect your cooler for leaks, proper belt
tension and alignment, blocked water lines and excessive residue build-up on the
pads.

• To adjust belt tension, loosen the 4 Adjustment Bolts (2 each side) on the Motor
Mount. Adjust belt tension so that 3 pounds of pressure (lightly push with one
finger) will cause the belt to deflect ¾”, as shown. Retighten the Adjustment
Bolts.

• Use SAE 20W or SAE 30W non-detergent oil to lube the bearings. Place 2 to 3
drops in the bearing oil cups at the beginning of the season and no more than once a
season during cooling season. If the motor has oil holes (usually plugged with yellow
caps that read “OIL” at either end of the motor) oil the motor also, following the same
procedure as for bearings.

NOTE: Excessive oil in the bearings may leak out and be drawn into the air stream.
Excessive oil in the motor may leak onto the motor windings and damage the motor.
Do NOT oil bearings prior to initial start-up.

• To replace pads

1. Remove louver from cooler.

2. Unhook pad holders and remove.

3. Remove and discard old pad.

4. Clean water deposits from the louver. If the paint is chipped or rust spots o c cur, sand
the spots and paint louver with a rust resistant exterior paint.

5. Place new filter in louver and tuck in to prevent hot air from bypassing.

6. Replace pad holders and hook into place.

7. Replace louver in cooler.

NOTE: It is best to replace filter pads

UUUUat the end of the seasonUUUU. Old filter pads

soak up lime and salts that can rust louvers and the cabinet during the wet,
rainy winter months.

• At the end of the season

1. Remove the Overflow Tube and let the water drain from the reservoir.
(The bushing is threaded to accept a standard garden hose. If desired, a
garden hose may be used to route water away from your house.)

2. Rinse dirt and debris from the pan and clean any water deposits that may
have collected in the reservoir or on any interior surface of the cooler.

3. If the paint is chipped or rust spots occur sand the spots and p aint with a
rust resistant exterior paint.

4. Replace the Overflow Tube when you start the cooler for the next season.

NOTE: Do not get water on the Fan Motor or Pump Motor. This will cause damage.

• If freezing weather occurs in your area, it is best to shut off the water supply at the source and drain the supply line to
the cooler.

• A canvas cooler cover is recommended to prevent rain and weather from damaging your cooler.

• To prevent the Shaft from rusting, coat with a wax based lubricant. Allow Lubricant to dry completely and all fumes to

disperse before turning on the cooler.

5