Date:         Sun, 2 Sep 2012 17:39:24 +0300
Reply-To:     tinker man <tinkerman007@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         tinker man <tinkerman007@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      A/C system over heating and proper evaporator fans current draw
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello all,

My van's a/c wiring and control circuits (relays, fuses, wiring) are
overheating just like many other member vans on this list,
constituting a fire hazzard. I'm not sure if it's due to the marginal
wiring gauges, dirty/corroded joints at the connectors or the
evaporator fans drawing excessive current due to more frictions as a
result of degraded bearings. All these issues have been discussed here
many times.  When I measured the total A/C current consumption a while
back with a current clamp, I measured over 40 amps.
So before I start cleaning/replacing wires and connectors, I want to
know what to expect in terms of current draw. The main current
guzzlers are of course the two evaporator fans. Each has it's own 20A
fuse (I think it's those two yellow 20A fuses next to the A/C relays
hidden behind the D-pillar wiring cover). For comparison purposes, has
anyone measured the current draw of NEW fans vs those on a van with
overheating wiring? This can easily be done with a DC current clamp
meter on the wires or a 20A DC ammeter connected in place of each fuse
(not forgetting to still include a fuse for safety...).
So has any one got the numbers?
Thanks!