Air Conditioning Info.

[skygazer6033]

No need for an apology atomic13. A number of our members are very opinionated and unfortunately these little skirmishes happen. Things get out of hand when "I believe your information to be in error" comes out sounding more like "your a dumba$$". We're all here to share information, ideas, opinions. A lot of us are engineers, electrical, chemical, mechanical, all sorts. Few are English majors though. Occasionally things don't come out the way we intended. (Sarcasm doesn't seem to work at all).

 

[skygazer6033]

Ross --- you can get a heated steering wheel cover on Amazon for less than $30.00. Ebay maybe less.

 

[goofyone]

My apologies for beginning this thread. I only wanted to make sure my passengers are comfortable. Yes I will have passengers on many occasions. If the powers to be would like to delete this post, feel free.

Once again, my deepest apologies to all.

Moderator Comment:

Atomic13, I don't see where you have done anything at all you need apologize for. You shared information you learned at an event and asked some questions which which I am sure many members would like to have answers for. This is exactly the purpose of this forum.

As this is a forum for discussion at times spirited discussions will devolve into personal confrontation which of course is not what most members and the moderators wish to see. When this occurs we simply ask members to use the report button. Several reports on this thread is actually what brought me here.

 

[grampi]

yup, and I'll beat it a bit more. It will still steal HP from the engine because the electricity comes FROM the engine. I did not observe any rear vents when I was in it, did not think to ask about the production model for this.

It's not the same thing. A compressor actually puts more drag on the engine when it's running, whereas an electrical component being used doesn't cause the alternator to put more drag on the engine...the alternator's drag is constantly the same no matter how many electrical devices are being used...

 

[Critter]

It's not the same thing. A compressor actually puts more drag on the engine when it's running, whereas an electrical component being used doesn't cause the alternator to put more drag on the engine...the alternator's drag is constantly the same no matter how many electrical devices are being used...

I have always noticed when connecting jumper cables from my truck to the tractor, the alternator whines, and the engine slows down. I always thought the alternator provides more load on the engine when putting out more power ? Never thought the drag was a constant.

 

[ElioDigger]

better get a big battery. that was one of the issues with the smart back in 08 was a high drain on the battery with the AMT killing the battery.

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

Ithe alternator's drag is constantly the same no matter how many electrical devices are being used...

That is not the case. The alternator draws mechanical power from the engine and converts it to electricity. Exactly how much it draws from the engine is directly proportional to how much electrical load is on it. No electrical load = very little mechanical load. High electrical load = high mechanical load.

 

[Bert]

It's not the same thing. A compressor actually puts more drag on the engine when it's running, whereas an electrical component being used doesn't cause the alternator to put more drag on the engine...the alternator's drag is constantly the same no matter how many electrical devices are being used...

That is not the case. The alternator draws mechanical power from the engine and converts it to electricity. Exactly how much it draws from the engine is directly proportional to how much electrical load is on it. No electrical load = very little mechanical load. High electrical load = high mechanical load.

Correct, the demand on the alternator can cause a bit more drag on the motor when higher loads are needed. The real question is (IMO), is the load from the alternator higher than the AC compresser? The answer is, usually not. AC installed on vehicles usually uses a belt and is mounted right on the motor. It is simple, cost effective, and most car builders had no reason to try any other ways of mounting them.
The electric moter driven compresser on the other hand, can be more effective and reliable, no matter what speed you're driving at, and over all has fewer issues due to heat transfer.
The higher demand from the electric motor on the alternator is no where near as much drag as a belt mounted compressor. A simple test, use jumper cables to start another car, listen to the engine drag down. Now listen to the engine when you turn on the AC. Even the computers in the car are made to increase engine idle speed to counter the large drag a AC compressor causes.
The downside of the electric driven compresser is additional costs.
BTW, Generators are direct current, Alternators are alternating current. Alternators use diode trios and a rectifier bridge to change the current to an even flow. (direct current). Generators on vehicles usually needed to maintain a higher rpm in order to maintain the battery charge. Alternators need half as much rpm's to do the same thing. Alternators are also more dependable, as they have fewer designed to fail parts inside it.

 

[grampi]

That's good to know...I was always under the impression that the mechanical force required to turn an alternator never changed...learn something new every day...

 

[Johnapool]

I may be way off on this, but I have never seen a van that actually had an electric compressor for rear cooling. Many rigs, from the big Chevy Suburbans to minivans have rear AC that uses the main system's compressor and has separate fans to move air through a small set of coils. It would take a lot of energy to operate a separate compressor as well as fan(s) and you still have to exchange that heat somewhere. Expensive. Remember the idea to use common parts. Regular old belt-driven compressors are old technology that has been improved for small cars to use a minimum of energy. There are already cars that get 50 mpg while weighing 2 1/2 times the Elio using standard compressor systems.