Starting My A/C Seat project

[dremd]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

The issue that i have with peltier based coolers is that hte heat has to go somewhere. That's why i'd rather just be cycling ice blocks in my basement freezer. Let the heat go into the water, then dump it out when done. Otherwise you're heating your car's cabin space to cool down your seats.

I'll just run the A/C every now and then, mostly while coasting shouldn't be to much of a hit.

I'd also rather not having to add anything other than fuel to the car; but it will almost definitely start with ice.

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Reminds me of the morons that I saw leaving a fridge open to try to cool down their house.

Now that right there is funny; I don't care who you are.

[dremd]

And My post

Last night there was a show on history channel regarding cool suits. They were in the factory, and there was the exact tubing I bought being sewn in. LOL

Said the apollo mission NASA suit had 250 feet of tubes, and I think 75 feet in the typical suit. I have 20 feet right now, I'll try and stop by pets-mart for 2 more packs; although I'm thinking 40 feet per seat is about right due to the fact that I am not covering my chest.

Just had a thought about the copper screen; sew thick fabric edging along the edges.

[Yaristock]

After reading your fist post on this page it blew my idea out for you but someone else it may help. If you plan to occasionally use the ac/heat you should run the tubing(1/2") around/ through the ducts under the seats for added cooling/heat. If your using the ac/heat any ways why not utilizes it to increase the effectiveness of the seat cooler. Of course I like to over complicate things so in my head, why would I want to tear up my seats in my car when I could go purchase those beaded covers spend numerous hours either weaving the tubing into them our drilling holes into some of the beads to lace the tubing into... while somehow still managing not to ruin the seat cover. because lets face it over time you simply getting in and out of the seat will rip and tear in the places where you have cut lines for the tubes; unless you always got directly up and down never turning or shifting in any way. Once the integrity of the foam has been compromised it is easily destroyed. Buy a seat from a junk yard and test it first, so as to not ruin yours. Any seat should do really.

[Concrete]

The issue that i have with peltier based coolers is that hte heat has to go somewhere. That's why i'd rather just be cycling ice blocks in my basement freezer. Let the heat go into the water, then dump it out when done. Otherwise you're heating your car's cabin space to cool down your seats. Reminds me of the morons that I saw leaving a fridge open to try to cool down their house.

I agree with what you are saying, and the ice will be more potent than any thermo electric cooler,
but we are talking about a Peltier device not a blast furnace, you can just roll down the window

Dremd is looking for bonus cooling to limit A/C, but if you are using a wet towel and No A/C...
a peltier device is a step up, even if your dumping heat to the cabin.
Or perhaps I should say - a BTU off the Butt is worth two out of the cabin

BTW Matt
one of your thermodynamic "morons" did a review on a peltier cooled seat
- read the third one down
View All Reviews
"it helps to cool the whole interior a little bit"

obviously it doesn't - but I interpret that as a cool seat feels like a cool cabin

roll on Dremd!

[dremd]

I actually set up a total gehtto rig last night (seat only) and it does work; more details when I wake up

[justpassntime]

Originally Posted by dremd

I actually set up a total gehtto rig last night (seat only) and it does work; more details when I wake up

Take a nap and get to the details!

Damn...Just like my wife "I'll talk to you later!" Then you sit all day trying to figure out what you did wrong.

[Concrete]

Dremd,

your right this kind of project could easily take more than hundred bucks.
found the stupid Coolorheat seat cover on line for $111 after shipping and bought it

I'm going in expecting mediocre performance, but I can mod it right?
I think the edges can be trimmed off leaving the core cooling sections & perhaps it will fit under the stock upholstery. I have a thermoelectric device salvaged from an old cooler which could be stacked it in series to get more cooling or improve the heat sinking could be improved, who knows, maybe I'll build an icebox booster section.

I could not resist (because I am idiot for gadgets)
Just made a short (150m) road trip in the truck & got +30 mpg avg outbound without a/c (and sticking to the seat). Did some ABA on return trip - because it was HOT - and the A/C was easily pulling me below 25 mpg. 5 mpg is too much to pass up. I will keep you posted if this device is good seed material for what you are trying to do.

dcb,
I hold you responsible for waving half-baked yet interesting gizmos in my direction and getting me off on a tangent. just kidding

[dremd]

Holly poop I'm sore, and I've got a lot of work to get done today.

Basically I stole a fountain pump out of a fountain; ran it on an inverter; took some 1/2"od clear vinyl tubing stretched it over the pump; cut the tubing in half; shoved a bolt in the dead ends (leaked) then I took sprinkler barbs ___________ drilled them in to the 1/2" vinyl then attached my silicone tubing. then threw it on my seat.

Flow was pretty bad pump was definitely running in surge I "Think" I will have about 4* the flow so I "should" be able to get it out of surge and maybe then it will be acceptable. you can definitely feel cool under your butt.

[dremd]

Good News; I get Wednesday off; I'll try and get a non Gehtto (like under the seat cover) version up and running then.

[justpassntime]

Friggin Awesome! I can hardly wait!