Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 12:19:40 -0700
Reply-To: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: An upgrade for a more efficent A/C system?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Roger,
Your thoughts are interesting, but to say the high speed is very noisy is an
understatement. And if you live in Arizona or any other such place, you will hear it a
lot around town. Too bad all that noise can't be translated into some kind of
propeller action to pull the van forward like an airplane :).
I had my '90 Westy converted to 134a at a large A/C shop in San Diego many years ago.
They did add the second condenser, with it's own fan, underneath the van. A new
compressor also. The system is still marginal and leaks. No one has been able to find
the leaks.
My solution was to get as much as possible of the cool air to the front where it dumps
right on me. Having a white van with heat absorbing tint helps.
I will keep my '88 Westy (dove blue and only factory tint) with R12 and aftermarket
things that always create heat and controversy on the list.
Jerry
----- Original Message -----
From: "roger sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:19 AM
Subject: An upgrade for a more efficent A/C system?
> Hello,
>
> Vanagon A/C systems need all the help they can get.With either R12 or 134a ,they
are marginal. I think the main problems are high heat load inside the vehicle, and
small condenser. A second condenser seems to help this situation greatly.That is
expensive and difficult to do. Some have done it with very good results..
>
> It is like driving in the rain in summer.The A/C seems to work much better then.
Mine always does.The reason is that the liquid rain conducts heat from the vaporized
refrigerant (inside the condenser) much more efficiently. More liquid refrigerant is
avaliable for the evaperator, to pick up heat from the interior of the Vanagon.
Cooling occurs with the evaperation of refrigerant.Thats why they call it the
evaperator.
>
> Here is a second way that the condenser situation may be improved upon.The Vanagon
has a two speed radiator fan. Seldom is the high speed ever used. Only comes on in
very hot weather.Sometimes it never ever comes on..
>
> If this fan was to be switched seperately from how it is, now ,perhaps the fan
could be used to run on high when the A/C is first switch on, or at will. The larger
flow of air across the condenser fins is a dramatic way to reduce system pressures,
and increase liquid refrigerant
>
> . Infact the late Vanagon (86-91) has such a high pressure switch to close at
210psi.When this happens,the fan runs on high speed.Why not add a switch on the dash
to close this switch at will? Two wires would need to be added at the high pressure
switch(easy to do), and be connected to the dash switch.This would bypass the switch
when one wanted additional cooling.The existing high pressure switch would still work
as installed by VW..
>
> The high speed is very noisy, but when it is 100 degrees outside, maybe this noise
is not so bad.I hear of 134a systems not working as well as with r-12. Maybe this fix
would help this margin.
>
> In the early WBX. there is no high pressure switch. However,the radiator fan is a
two speed fan.Maybe it could be wired directly,to come on high speed by a dash switch?
More air across the condenser = better cooling inside. This is easily seen on the
highway..Sometimes people say their A/C works better on the highway. Not so in the
city driving.This would add some extra cooling at will, on very hot days.
>
> Dont know if this would cause any other problems.Just a thought..
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
> Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.
>
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