Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > DIY / How-to
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 07-07-2011, 07:04 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
wyatta4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Blackfoot, ID
Posts: 229

CRX:HF - '89 Honda CRX HF
90 day: 53.05 mpg (US)

NameGoesHere - '15 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEL

NameGoesHere - '15 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEL
Thanks: 20
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Cool The Deadly Heat

Summer is here, we all love it, when we don't have to drive without A/C. I have no A/C option in my CRX HF and no motivation to spend a million dollars (over-exaggeration) on putting it in. I want an alternative. No wet towels and ice packs in my arm pits. I want something useful.
I was thinking of this --->

But reading on creates a doubt of how long the ice will actually last..

Secondly I thought about taking a mini freezer and plugging her in with maybe some fans blowing the cool air around.

In doing all of this I don't want to suck so much power that I start to lose gas mileage like original A/C would do..

Any ideas on how much power putting a freezer in my car would pull?

Also another idea would be one of those portable A/C units somehow wired to my car..

__________________
Check out my project here---> 1989 CRX HF




Follow me on Twitter. @secsieAzul
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 07-07-2011, 07:23 PM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
CigaR007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 679

GreenTurtle (Retired) - '01 Toyota Echo Sedan
90 day: 44.85 mpg (US)

Zulu - '14 Honda CR-Z
90 day: 49.05 mpg (US)
Thanks: 149
Thanked 236 Times in 147 Posts
How about dry ice ? Could be expensive on the long run though.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2011, 07:25 PM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
wyatta4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Blackfoot, ID
Posts: 229

CRX:HF - '89 Honda CRX HF
90 day: 53.05 mpg (US)

NameGoesHere - '15 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEL

NameGoesHere - '15 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEL
Thanks: 20
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Ya, I dont want to be spending a ton..
__________________
Check out my project here---> 1989 CRX HF




Follow me on Twitter. @secsieAzul
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2011, 08:04 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: na
Posts: 1,025
Thanks: 277
Thanked 218 Times in 185 Posts
A refrigerator or freezer will not cool the inside of you car if its inside it too, they move the heat from inside the freezer to outside it so they will make your car hotter. With the freezer door open they will still make the car hotter as the electricty they use mostly turns to heat, its moving heat from front of frig to the back of the frig.

If your in a dry enough climate a swamp cooler could have a chance. Get a 12 volt fan, cover back side with cloth, spray bottle of water, moisten cloth with water, it could cool down to the wet bulb temperature. I've never tried it, but I might have to I have the fan, but humiditys so high not sure if it's work here most days.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2011, 08:42 PM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurcher
 
mort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 333
Thanks: 148
Thanked 109 Times in 80 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by wyatta4 View Post
Ya, I dont want to be spending a ton..
Ha!
Hi Wyatta4,
When ice melts it absorbs heat, 12000 btu per ton, so if you melt a ton of ice in an hour that is the same as an A/C rated at 12000 btuh. An average car A/C is around 50,000 btuh. But you might not need to use the A/C for hours on end. You could have the same cooling performance as a regular A/C for 15 minutes if you could melt a ton of ice in that time. But a ton of ice adds 2000 lbs at the start of your trip. And it takes up some space, about 35 cu ft. So probably not practical.
Now that 50,000 btuh car A/C is not very efficient. Coefficient of Performance is the amount of heat moved divided by the power needed. 4 or 5 for a car. Those window units you plug in to 120 ac can have a CoP as high 9 or 10. So less power wasted, but if you want a full size A/C you'll need a lot of electricity. A 10000 btuh window air conditioner uses about 1200 watts, about 10 amps at 120 volts. You'll need a 100 amp alternator and an inverter and counting the rather poor efficiency of alternators you'll be adding 4hp or so to your engine load. Also you'll need to mount it out the window, which will alter your aerodynamics a bit. Your CRX might only need 10 hp to cruise, so you'd definitely notice the mpg.

-mort
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to mort For This Useful Post:
mnmarcus (07-07-2011)
Old 07-07-2011, 09:40 PM   #6 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
...wear DAMP clothes and stand/sit in front of a FAN = evaporative cooling!
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2011, 09:51 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
CigaR007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 679

GreenTurtle (Retired) - '01 Toyota Echo Sedan
90 day: 44.85 mpg (US)

Zulu - '14 Honda CR-Z
90 day: 49.05 mpg (US)
Thanks: 149
Thanked 236 Times in 147 Posts
How about storing rain water and dispensing it at will in the form of a small mist ? It could be used in combination with the cabin fan for a better cooling sensation.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2011, 10:19 PM   #8 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: duluth mn
Posts: 117
Thanks: 20
Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts
I've imagined a small & efficient ac unit with solar power. Leave it on all day. Seems like you should be able to stay ahead of the solar heat gain of the car.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2011, 11:51 PM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: houston
Posts: 374

Black Knight - '94 Toyota Corolla
Team Toyota
90 day: 58.53 mpg (US)
Thanks: 3
Thanked 38 Times in 33 Posts
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2011, 10:52 AM   #10 (permalink)
Hypermiler
 
PaleMelanesian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,321

PaleCivic (retired) - '96 Honda Civic DX Sedan
90 day: 69.2 mpg (US)

PaleFit - '09 Honda Fit Sport
Team Honda
Wagons
90 day: 44.06 mpg (US)
Thanks: 611
Thanked 433 Times in 283 Posts
Beaded seat cover to get air flowing under and behind you.

__________________



11-mile commute: 100 mpg - - - Tank: 90.2 mpg / 1191 miles
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to PaleMelanesian For This Useful Post:
duane1 (07-15-2011)
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com