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Date:         Tue, 13 Nov 2001 20:46:38 -0600
Reply-To:     Marshall Ruskin <mjruskin@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall Ruskin <mjruskin@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: AC high current problem fixed and improved AC performance
Comments: To: Ed McLean <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Terrific post, Ed!

Please tell me more about the second evaporator you installed, OK?

From what vehicle did it come, and I assume you plumbed it in parallel (not series) with the other evaporator, right?

Did you do any mods to the compressor - or anything else to make this work?

Marshall Ruskin, 84 Westy Aloha from Winnipeg ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed McLean" <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 07:46 PM Subject: AC high current problem fixed and improved AC performance

> I also have had problems with high current draw from my '86 Westy air > conditioning fan. After a little thought I developed a good solution > that had the added benefit of significantly improving the performance of > the air conditioning system. > > I found my Westy air conditioning fan was drawing a enough current to > overheat the fan switch. In my case, the fan switch would last about a > year before the high speed switch contacts would overheat and fail. I > eliminated the problem with the switch by installing a gang of three 40 > amp load reduction relays inside the air conditioning cabinet to provide > the current to drive the evaporator fan. The current for the fan was > provided by the +12 VDC terminal in the wiring connection box in the > engine compartment via a heavy gauge wire and an 50 amp circuit > breaker. The relays were controlled by the original air conditioning > fan switch, one for each speed. All wiring connectors were crimped and > soldered. I found the high speed relay would stick after long runs so I > piggybacked a second relay in parallel to split the current draw. This > has worked very well with no problems for several years. > > One unexpected benefit is now the air conditioning fan is supplied with > power that has not suffered the considerable voltage drop from the > original fan switch and small gauge wire. I did not measure the voltage > available at the fan in the stock configeration but it had to me much > less than it is now. The air conditioning now works much better because > the fan blows much stronger. The present Low speed is about equal to > the previous Medium speed. The High fan speed is awesome and is more > than adequate in blowing cold air up to the driver and front seat > passenger in hot weather and is actually too strong except for initial > cooling off after sitting in the sun. In fact, I had previously > installed a second evaporator unit over the glove compartment (another > story altogether) to cool the folks in the front. With the improved fan > operation, the second air conditioning unit would not have been > necessary. > > I highly recommend adding load reduction relays to provide adequate > voltage to the air conditioning fan.


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