h a l f b a k e r y
A few slices short of a loaf.
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Lighter A/C
Massive R-134a Car Climate System -- For What? | |
All I need is a plug for the cig lighter (my car's retro standard feature) and two modules for the silly useless two-holer cup holder -- one a mini dehumidifier and the other a small thermos for holding the condensate.
Something that size should hold the car's temp down by about ten degrees and dry
the interior. Does essentially what the hundred pounds of crap bolted to the engine is doing now.
I'm not complaining.
Annotation:
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Makes sense. The waste heat from the exchanger could be used to boil the condensate water for coffee, to keep you warm. |
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Why are so many A/C systems in (non-American, usually) cars so feeble? Also, is a 10º differential enough? |
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<thinks of his former automotive A/C manufacturing employer going down in flames and smiles broadly.> |
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Seriously, though, I think part of the reason is the smaller engines in most non-American cars. Another is an under-appreciation in some cultures for exactly how hot and humid it can get, and how much Westerners (and Aussies) drive. |
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Incidentally, if you _do_ remove your A/C system, be sure and capture all the R134a first. It's a pretty nasty chemical for skin contact, especially when it comes in contact with humidity. Instant hydrochloric aid. |
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Interested to know from UB how well Australian A/C typically works, since Aussie vehicle culture buys into the American oversized engine philosophy, and often takes it a step further. |
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I've noticed though, that the big Euro marques (Mercedes, BMW, Volvo) also have rather anemic A/C (usually climate control systems). American cars, especially American luxury cars, usually have monster A/C that blows ice cold. |
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Australia is often used as a testing ground for Asian and European vehicles, mostly to see how they cope with our heat. |
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Local manufacturers fit pretty good aircon to most models here. Certainly the major two manufacturers, Ford and Holden (GM subsidiary), produce vehicles with enough horsepower to run a small town if need be. Holden seems to be trying to set some sort of record for stupidity, fitting a GM C12 6.2 litre V8 motor into a family sedan, at the top end of the performance market. It turns out 350kW (470 hp). This in a car weighing 1350kg, or thereabouts. The latest performance benchmark seems to be around 250kW for V8s, and 170kW for 6 cyl. models. |
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I've owned a number of European cars... Benz, VW and Audi among them. The V8 Benz had decent air, the V6 Audi was pathetic. It broke 4 times in 2 years, at a cost of $2,200 av. each time. I think they underspec. because it just doesn't get that hot in Europe, normally. When you get a month or two of 40C+ (104F +) days in a row, as you often do here, you put some pretty heavy demand on an airconditioner of any sort. |
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The best aircon I can recall, in a car I've owned, was in a 1991 model Honda CRX. I think that had to do with the fact it was designed to cool the Concerto wagon, but only had to do about 1/3 of the cabin volume, being fitted to a little coupe. |
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I currently have a 1981 Benz wagon with a 5 cylinder diesel. The climate control A/C on that car is the only thing about it that approaches high performance. It does a fine job of dealing with our 115F+ degree days. The A/C in my 1984 BMW on the other hand *would* quite accurately be characterized as anemic. |
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You've gotta love those Eurodiesels. Great taxis, fantastic taxis... |
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[half]: While you're above average in height your standards for A/C are low. |
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<still on a tangent>
Yeah. I'm not a high maintenance kinda guy. Any system that can actually keep you cool in the summer is a good system. My other vehicle has no A/C at all unless you count the pop-up cowl vent and pop-out side vent. I've driven it that way in the desert heat for over 15 years. A/C-wise, anything is an improvement over that.
</tangent> |
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My Cast Iron Saab has A/C, though I won't spoil myself with it - it's built in Sweden fer Kris sake. By choice, I've driven for many years without A/C, as the climate in L.A. is reasonable, though today was toasty. Glad I don't live in the Valley. |
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Any truth to the rumor that Dundee character is a real taste of the Outback? Seems he likes the Subaru alot; to his credit, the Fuji folk seem to have done A/C right … I loved my GL for performance and good climate in both hot and cold extremes. Those copper radiators are wonderful in their own right <gotta go -- feel a rant coming on> |
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I had a Subaru GL - I blacked some letters so it read SUB |
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technically all A/C systems should be banned. they contribute to global warming. |
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oh ok, try driving around when it's 42 degrees and 80% humidity. |
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Technically cows should be banned for the same reason. |
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I'm curious as to how you plan to remove the water vapor from the air without cooling it to the dew point. If you've ever noticed water dripping from your car while the A/C is running, that's your moisture. It's true that dryer air will lighten the load on the a/c system, but how will you dry the air? |
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[Gallo] Not true. The chemical refrigerants are what purportedly contribute to global warming. Also, lithium bromide a/c plants offer no global warming potential (save energy for operation). |
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What's the power requirement of a
typical
car aircon (in kW or whatever)?
Presumably it's a good few kW, since I
know that using the aircon is meant to
have a noticeable effect on performance
of
smaller cars (?). In which case you're
looking at a hundred amps or more at
12V, surely? Or have I screwed up
somewhere? |
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(Edit: I know you're not aiming for full-
blown heavy-duty aircon, so maybe a
manageable power load after all) |
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