More On HEAT

[gc-steve]

Originally Posted by DonR

Is it possible to put defrosting elements onto a windshield yourself?

Yes, you can. There are kits you can buy. I haven't used them, but have seen them for sale (probably find them on ebay even).

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Ben - what about using one of those jumpstart pack with the 120V AC sockets, that you can use as a power source for your heater on return trips? A buddy of mine had a nice Craftsman one (not sure what he paid for it - it was pretty big and heavy and most likely expensive). Probably need to check your heater draw first.


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[bennelson]

Originally Posted by DonR

the wall or the batteries.

Could you make a heat exchanger to extract heat off of the traction motors...?

Nope, the motor doesn't get hot. At all. Ever.

I wouldn't see a big advantage to a portable "jump-starter". Those are still just 12V. There's not a hole lot of any 12V heaters that are really that powerful. (Also, it doesn't provide much of an advantage over the existing car 12V battery. Increased AH capacity being the main advantage, I suppose.)

I do have a little 12V portable heater/defroster. It's pretty wimpy, but I suppose better than nothing for a return trip. Wouldn't heat my feet, but could help keep the windshield clear.

[gc-steve]

Originally Posted by bennelson

I wouldn't see a big advantage to a portable "jump-starter". Those are still just 12V. There's not a hole lot of any 12V heaters that are really that powerful. (Also, it doesn't provide much of an advantage over the existing car 12V battery. Increased AH capacity being the main advantage, I suppose.)

No, I mean the jumpstart packs that have an inverter (120V AC) built-in so you can just plug your existing heater (oil) in. It probably wouldn't work very good because I think they are only around 14Ah. Unless there were larger packs... basically thinking it is something that you wouldn't have to have in the car all the time.

Here's one on Amazon - duracell unit
Says it will take 480-watt continuous through the AC sockets, so probably wouldn't work.

[bennelson]

Ah.

The oil radiator is 1500 watts, but is adjustable - low - med - high. I think low is 500 watts.

[rmay635703]

Although way off the wall, I have read many places that a Dehumidfier produces more watts of heat than it uses (at least if there is water vapor in the air)

I wonder how one would miniaturize one to recirculate and warm the cabin, it would also be an excellent way to remove fog because the air it emits is dry.

Cheers
Ryan

[bennelson]

Hmmm.

Interesting idea.

One of the other issues with EVs is getting snow in them. It's not that tough to get snow in the car on my shoes or boots. Either the snow stays there all winter, or it gets melted by the car's heater. Now you just have a puddle of water, which can freeze solid again later!

A dehumidifier could take care of both problems.

Too bad I have never seen a mini one, or I would try it!

[Frank Lee]

I have thick rubber floormats with deep lugs and such that trap and hold most of the snow and even quite a bit of water w/o spilling. Get those, and the habits of stomping your boots off well before entering the car, and dumping the mats out religously, and fogging is reduced noticeably.

Don't say I never gave you good advice!

[Ryland]

Dehumidifying is part of what first got me thinking about Peltier junctions, mostly because they are really small and no moving parts, in theory the cold side should condense water out of the air, or you could have the cold side hooked up to your plug in hot water tank, then instead of pulling heat out of your hot water tank until it was close to cabin temp you could pull heat out of it until it was cold, after all you would have to add energy to a oil filled radiator or water storage tank to get it from ambient temp up above cabin temp and unless you have a way to pull that energy out of your heat storage it will be wasted.