Sleeping in the tropics can be difficult. The electricity is off, air doesn’t move at all in your mosquito net, little noises in the distance stir your imagination. Cooling off a bit seems like a prerequisite to getting some much-need rest. One solution that we found over the years is to use a small 12 volt fan inside your bed-netting. These fans can be bought in many countries in automobile or electrical supply stores; these devices are normally plugged into the cigarette lighters of cars and trucks. On hot tropical nights we use one of these fans mounted on a small board and place it at the foot of the bed. The fan is powered by a car battery, which is charged either by a regular automotive battery charger or, if need be, by a vehicle as it is being used during the day. The batteries are best kept outdoors or at least in a well ventilated area. The battery chargers are used whenever municipal or generator power is available. An ordinary car battery works well, but a deep-cycle battery is better because it is not damaged by being used heavily between charges. What a difference a fan makes!