Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 00:02:15 -0800
Reply-To: TinkerMan <tinkerman007@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: TinkerMan <tinkerman007@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: ## found it: automatic reset fuses for A/C system
In-Reply-To: <3BF1BA27.F2F30D4@enteract.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
--- Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM> wrote:
> 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 completely agree with what you say. Still, that
turbine in my van (I have that a/c duct in my ceiling)
throws a hell of a lot of air...
> I don't have any
> actual numbers, but 40 or
> 50 amps seemed like a lot.
I do. My house a/c fan is rated at 270W (yes, I know
it's bigger), and I estimate that van fan at least
150W. Also, I seem to recall that the radiator cooling
fan takes a hell of a lot juice from the battery. I'm
not sure if there's also a seperate fan for the a/c
radiator, but in any case, when the a/c is working so
is the fan automatically. Also, there's the compressor
clutch solenoid (IIRC, the starter motor solenoid
takes about 10A).
Please note that we're talking CONTINUOUS usage, not
peak like the starter motor, and you have to add to
this the lights (150W) and other stuff (talking
battery and alternator capacity now, not exactly
related but will cause problems if you're not
carefull).
So, here's my approximation:
Compressor Clutch: 10A?
A/C radiator fan: 10A
A/C evaporater blower: 15A
other A/C relays, electronivs, etc: 5A
That easily gets us to the 40A range (don't catch me
for accuracy...). I could easily measure the current
when I have time (the fuesbox is a convenient spot)
but maybe other list members have that info?
Did you check the archives on this subject?
> Maybe the bearings in
> the fan are in need of
> lubrication, thus causing it to use more than the
> expected current.
Yes, of course that's a possibility I was considering
but it's not so noisy yet...
> Of course it's not much fun pulling the evaporator
> down to find out.
Nope, and that's the main reason I'm delaying it. I
wonder if anyone has some info about this procedure (I
hate taking down those A/C ducts. I had them fall two
times (the plastic mounting holes gave in) and last
time I fixed it so robustly that I'd hate to take it
down...maybe the bearings can be accessed from the
openings?
> Good luck,
As always with our vans, we always need this...;-)
=====
Cheers,
TinkerMan
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