Does Evaporative Count?
Being in Perth, its much less "nuclear" in Summer than up north. Up there, summer days north of 104ºF (thats 40ºC) were commonplace.
The central air, dating to 1984 and rated to about 5 tons, carried the freight ALL DAY, even cycling. Although you'd expect that with a setpoint of about 80ºF (27ºC).
That system had a couple of minor repairs. Before we moved in, TX valve was shot on one side of the heat pump.
Then 1 of the original GE fan motors (Trane unit) packed up, then its companion. Had a small gas leak on the charging value, undoubtedly from the techs servicing the TX valve prior.
In humid weather, it also carried the freight. Despite the shortish cycling (fixed with 3M Filtrete filters... LOL), my indoor thermometer reported a humidity of about 35-40% when outdoors it was 60-85% with temperatures in the mid-80s.
Now, onto here in Perth:
Early 1980's "Bonaire" evaporative cooler system. Works pretty well. Needed a new water pump at the end of summer, as the old one (probably not original, by the looks) packed in. Surprisingly, it seems as though the water pump also controls the mains water inlet, in addition to pumping water onto the filter pads - so no water at all reached the unit when the pump died.
Does it Carry the Freight on "Hot, Humid Days?"
Well, think about it. Evaporative cooling + humidity = BLUEGH. Usually it'll get about 1-2ºC cooler than ambient, and about 20% more humidity, based on my indoor thermometer.
But on a hot, dry day, it works great. I understand many units are very conservative with water, some people have added additional pumps to wet the filter pads even better, and noted the units perform exceptionally well. Even in less than ideal conditions.