Date:         Tue, 13 Nov 2001 18:26:16 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: ## found it: automatic reset fuses for A/C system
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

TinkerMan wrote:

> > What year is your van?
>
> 1990.
>
> > Do you have any idea why your AC is using so much
> > current?
>
> It's not only mine. Many members on this list report
> that fuse holder getting VERY hot. My estimate is that
> it's using about 40A on the high blower setting.
> That's 40x12=480W. That's not totaly impossible, if
> you consider even a small home A/C consumes over 1KW.
> And the A/C clutch current is also included in this
> figure.
> Do you know the actual numbers or are you just
> wondering about this high value?
>
> cheers,
>
>      T-man

I don't feel that your comparison to a house AC is valid.  Electrical
power is used to turn the compressor in that type of unit, while in a
car the compressor is turned by a belt from the engine.  The electrical
power needed to turn the fan and operate the clutch should be
considerably less than that.  I don't have any actual numbers, but 40 or
50 amps seemed like a lot.  Maybe the bearings in the fan are in need of
lubrication, thus causing it to use more than the expected current.
  Of course it's not much fun pulling the evaporator down to find out.

Good luck,
Larry A.