Aircon for citi golf?

[ToxicBunny]

Its an option that you might want to investigate... And i honestly don't know if its possible or even worth it..

But investigate things called Peltiers... The MIGHT be able to make it more bearable in the car

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Wiki on Peltier

Interesting read.

Some computer CPU coolers use Peltier units.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yup....

Heard awhile Ago that the aircon on things like a Fiat is Peltier based...

 

[hj2k_x]

Wiki on Peltier

Interesting read.

Some computer CPU coolers use Peltier units.

Interesting...

What exactly would this thing look like and whence to get it?

 

[hj2k_x]

Then suck it up - you've survived without aircon, you can survive a bit longer without it

But yes, I know it's not nice to drive in a hot car, getting hotter in a traffic jam, whilst world+dog have aircon.

Yeah man, thing is, in summer I spend about two hours a day in my car. That leads to a lot of sweating and unpleasantness

 

[Gnome]

I have explored the peltier option and discussed it with a prof. whom I know well from Electronic Engineering @ Tuks. I suspected it might be worth trying but he pointed out some facts that pretty much put a damper on the entire project.

My idea was: I would 2 closed loop coolants, one would go to a heatsink that was in the air intake area of the car (Like a air conditioner) and loop through a hot plate which was attached to the cold side of a peltier. The other system would have a heatsink in the engine bay which would loop on the hot side of the peltier.

Sounds feasable but the problem is a Peltier can theoretically achieve a maximum of 50% efficiency, I didn't test it but in the hot operating enviroment of a car I think you would be lucky if you got 40% efficiency.

Anyway to my point, a conventional air conditioner gets at least 60% efficiency if I remember correctly.

 

[hj2k_x]

Does anyone know, seeing as VW offer the option of a factory fitted air-con with new citis, if I could have one of those put in now? I realise it wouldn'y be exactly factory fitted, but for R4k, it is worth considering, if it actually works...

 

[ToxicBunny]

My guess is that the 4k is probably just the aircon motor as it were... and not the cost to fit the entire system. You're probably looking at closer to R10k with all the labour and such.....

 

[hj2k_x]

My guess is that the 4k is probably just the aircon motor as it were... and not the cost to fit the entire system. You're probably looking at closer to R10k with all the labour and such.....

I see....Well, 10k it is not worth

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah, thats kind of the problem with fitting an aircon to a car that doesn't have it.

Unless the car is a classic thats going to increase in value, its never worth it.

The Peltier idea is never really to replace an Aircon, but if it is cost effective it might be a useful way of making the interior of your car more bearable.

I'm guessing you've done all the other tricks like tinting the windows to help keep it slightly cooler?

 

[hj2k_x]

Yeah, thats kind of the problem with fitting an aircon to a car that doesn't have it.

Unless the car is a classic thats going to increase in value, its never worth it.

The Peltier idea is never really to replace an Aircon, but if it is cost effective it might be a useful way of making the interior of your car more bearable.

I'm guessing you've done all the other tricks like tinting the windows to help keep it slightly cooler?

I have not really tried anything else, seeing as window tints are not cheap and don't really help all that much I didn't think.

VW have actually replied to an email I sent them yesterday. Reckoning they have a Dunair system for R6700 incl VAT. They don't do the fitment inhouse but rather with Dunair. Says nothing about labour...

 

[ToxicBunny]

Double check on the labour charges... but even if the R6700 includes labour... its quite steep.

Just btw : Tints do help if your car sits for quite awhile in the sun.. makes it not QUITE so hot when you get in.

 

[hj2k_x]

Double check on the labour charges... but even if the R6700 includes labour... its quite steep.

Just btw : Tints do help if your car sits for quite awhile in the sun.. makes it not QUITE so hot when you get in.

R6700 does seem a lot. Even with labour, which I doubt it includes

Maybe I should just fix a nice 30cm desk fan to my dash somehow. That should cool me down a bit

 

[hj2k_x]

Double check on the labour charges...

VW have got back to me and reckon that they don't do the fitting themselves so I should contact someone who does directly. So...I am gonna have a look around and see what I can come up with. R6700 is not worth it IMO.

 

[c10n3d_0r6]

I personally just use the car fan that blows outside air around the car. Keeps me cool enough.

 

[hj2k_x]

I personally just use the car fan that blows outside air around the car. Keeps me cool enough.

My Velo seems not to have the dial that you can choose to circulate the air from in the car or outside. So on a hot day, it just blows hairdryer-hot air at you at full blast

 

[hj2k_x]

Anyone know the largest fan you can get that plugs into the 12V outlet in a Citi? I can only remember tiny 10cm ones which you could hardly feel at all...

 

[AirWolf]

My Velo seems not to have the dial that you can choose to circulate the air from in the car or outside. So on a hot day, it just blows hairdryer-hot air at you at full blast

I tried the fan on speed 5 (max) today, with the hot/cold dial set on the coldest. Sure it's nowhere near as cool as an aircon, but with airvent's adjusted to hit your face/chest area it is not half bad.

 

[hj2k_x]

I tried the fan on speed 5 (max) today, with the hot/cold dial set on the coldest. Sure it's nowhere near as cool as an aircon, but with airvent's adjusted to hit your face/chest area it is not half bad.

Really? Maybe I must have mine seen to...But even on the 'coldest' setting, the air being blown at your face is warm at best.

 

[griffin_man]

I installed a air cooler that runs off the battery in my Mazda Midge 1.3 years ago. It worked well but you need to keep the water bottle full. And not forget to switch it off. It was around R1800 that time.....don't have the car anymore.....I have a new one with AC..grin