what’s the difference between the RC2 and RC4?
functionally, there is no significant difference between the two
both are based on the same ESP32 processor with equal memory, power, Wifi and Bluetooth
both run the same software with equal performance
the RC4 uses a simplified display, compact power supply, and redesigned enclosure for a tighter package
from a customer’s perspective, only size and appearance differ
“personally, I was never satisfied with the appearance of the RC2, but it can save you $50 (while they last)” – Nancy
does it automatically switch between High and Low fan?
sorry, not yet. we have ideas about how to do this, but if we’re able to do so, it will probably require the purchase and placement of a second sensor.
can I buy one of your controllers in person?
absolutely, we welcome customers to our home and always enjoy meeting you. we just ask that you contact us to set a time to visit to make sure we’re available.
is it really made in New Mexico?
absolutely. the actual circuitry and display are made in China; there is no reasonably affordable domestic alternative, and their quality is unsurpassed. but enclosures are 3D printed, and final solder, assembly and testing are conducted here in Los Ranchos. most design and development work is conducted in Los Ranchos, but we now have contributing software developers in Placitas and Palm Springs, CA.
what is the Warranty?
the Roadrunner Comfort is warranted to be free from defects for two full years. for any failure not due to external cause, Nangeroni Design will provide a replacement.
returns for full refund will be accepted within 60 days of purchase date for all units purchased from the Roadrunner Comfort website.
Performance & Features
is there anything about the Roadrunner Comfort that beats what is already on the market?
yes, the Roadrunner Comfort has significant improvements over competitive units.
– active Temperature Control. No other controller for existing swamp coolers has this. A Bluetooth-connected sensor clipped to the air vent monitors incoming air temperature. Then the controller uses a proprietary algorithm to determine how much water to put on the pads (how long to run the pump) to maintain the incoming air temperature at your set temp. Other controllers just turn the cooler on and off.
– saves Water. Compared to a conventional thermostat or manual control, the Roadrunner Comfort uses less water. The amount varies depending on individual installations.
– ease of use. Thanks to the touchscreen, smart use of color and user-centered design, everyday operation and setting turn-on and turn-off times is amazingly simple. Even setting it to come back on before you get home is trivial.
– self-updating. If you have Wifi, the unit will check overnight each night for updates, keeping you up to date with the latest features and improvements at no cost to you. It also keeps the clock set to the correct time.
– superior Service: Here in Albuquerque, local service and support. Everywhere, 60-day no hassle returns, two-year warranty. That’s twice the industry norms. Customer satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed.
the criticism with swamp coolers is they don’t work when it is humid. Does the Roadrunner Comfort help with this? How?
all evaporative coolers are less effective with higher humidity. For what it’s worth, we live in Los Ranchos where it gets into the 100s fairly often in the summer, and our evaporative coolers have not had a problem keeping up. However, we’re most comfortable with the house around 78 degrees, so on very hot days we may turn the set temperature down to 74 or so in order to keep up with the heat coming in through the walls. We can generally depend on at least 25 degrees of cooling.
that said, in our own home we have a portable air conditioner, as well as a small window unit, that we use when the air quality is poor and we prefer to recirculate air rather than bringing it in from outside.
the ideal home setup probably has both options.
the Roadrunner Comfort can alleviate issues with humidity by reducing indoor humidity as compared with a conventionally-controlled evaporative cooler. most systems wet the pads more than they need to, which results in more water evaporation than necessary and more humidity.
in extreme heat, can this cool as much as if I just run the fan and pump continuously?
absolutely. in extreme heat, the pump will run continuously, providing the greatest amount of cooling possible from your cooler. no other thermostat or switches can do better. moreover, because it won’t over-cool you in the morning, you can keep your house cool from the start of the day, which can reduce the amount of cooling required midday, and extend the effectiveness of the cooler to hotter days.
does the display time out, or stay on constantly?
the display turns off two minutes after the last touch, both to save energy and to avoid unwanted lighting.
how long does the sensor battery last?
the sensor battery is guaranteed to last 3 years, although we expect it to last 5 years or more.
the controller will display a flashing alert when the battery gets low.
can you turn off the remote sensor for winter storage, or do you have to remove the battery?
the remote sensor has no shutoff switch, the battery must be removed to shut it down. the battery lifetime is on the order of 5 years of continuous operation. the battery shelf life is around 10 years, so removing the battery for the winter should effectively double its lifetime.
can it show temperature in Celsius?
yes! while the default setting is Fahrenheit, a “units” control on the Setup screen toggles between Fahrenheit and Celsius.
does your swamp cooler controller run the fan continuously and then the pump cycles on demand from the thermostat to maintain the set temperature?
when it is warmer outside than your set temperature, the fan will tend to run continuously while the pump is turned on once a minute for some number of seconds, depending on how much wetness is needed in order to maintain incoming air at your set temperature.
when it is cooler outside, the fan will switch on and off as needed to keep your home (as measured at the cooling vent) at your set temperature.
Compatibility
does it work with Wifi 5?
the high-performance processor module in the Roadrunner Comfort (based on the Espressif ESP32-S3) requires a Wifi 4 (802.11 b/g/n, 600Mbps) network. virtually all Wifi 5 (802.11ac, 3.5Gbps) routers also provide a Wifi 4 network which is compatible with Roadrunner Comfort.
so, in summary, it will work almost any Wifi 5 router.
will it work with different kinds of pads, like rigid versus Aspen, etc?
yes, the Roadrunner Comfort’s operation is not dependent on the kind of media you install in your cooler. it automatically compensates for variations in pads, fans, capacity and more.
I have a window mounted swamp cooler, will the Roadrunner Comfort work with my unit?
if your cooler is controlled by a separate, wall-mounted controller as shown below, then the Roadrunner Comfort will work for you.
unfortunately, our controller does not easily work with window-mounted coolers. the problem is that such coolers are not designed to work with aftermarket controls. their controls are built into the unit and replacement requires some rewiring of the unit’s control panel. we have one user who has rewired their window unit to work with the Roadrunner Comfort, so it is possible. we would be happy to provide more information about how to do so, just ask via our contact form.
I currently have a 90s era controller. Is yours “smart home” compatible?
we expect to eventually become “smart home” compatible by 2027. all units for sale are fully capable of smart home compatibility, and it will be a free update when it becomes available.
is your product a “smart device” that I can control remotely via an app on my phone?
not yet. a lot of people have asked for this capability, and we’re working on it. we hope to offer that capability via a free upgrade in late 2026 or 2027.
Installation
do you do installations?
sorry, we don’t, but in Albuquerque, Steward’s Plumbing can install one for you:
505-578-0561
www.stewardsplumbing.com
my swamp cooler junction box has only 4 wires. How do I connect it to the 5 wires of the Roadrunner Comfort?
AC house wiring consists of two primary wires, ACL (hot or live) and ACN (common or neutral). newer wiring also includes a green Ground wire. most swamp coolers have two wires for fan hi and lo, and a pump wire. Some older swamp coolers, typically those with manual switches, only switch ACL to the fan and pump, and do not have ACN in the control junction box. you need an ACN wire brought to that junction box for connection to the green wire of the Roadrunner Comfort. this usually requires an electrician.
my old thermostat has 6 wires to connect, yours has 5. The old thermostat has a green wire coming out that connects to a green wire and a bare wire in the junction box. The other wires match one-for one with your diagrams. Should I ignore the green (neutral, I presume) and bare wires (ground) in the j-box when I install the RC2?
the extra wire in your current thermostat is the ground wire. in the Roadrunner Comfort, the internal ground is based on the internal power supply, so no separate ground wire is needed. the fan and pump are controlled by relays (mechanical and solid state) that switch power from ACL (Live) to fans hi/lo and pump, enabling current flow through a motor (completing the circuit) to a common line, ACN (Neutral). the ground wire connection is not needed by the Roadrunner Comfort, and is likely best left as is.
please be careful, or better yet, call in an electrician.