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Sedans Toyota Avalon Toyota Avalon Climate Control Questions
193 messages, Last post on Oct 08, 2009 at 5:22 PM
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Replying to: amauhry (Jul 15, 2008 7:16 pm) |
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Replying to: nimimi (Jul 16, 2008 5:38 am) |
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Replying to: nimimi (Jul 16, 2008 5:38 am) Actually, the evaporator core has a drain pan (or condensate pan) where it collects the water from the moist air being ‘conditioned’. A hose connected to this pan drains the water to the exterior, underneath the vehicle. The design is such that water flow throughout the drain system is by gravity. Amaury '08 Limited |
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Replying to: nimimi (Jul 16, 2008 5:38 am) Amaury '08 Limited
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Replying to: amauhry (Jul 16, 2008 6:30 am)
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Replying to: amauhry (Jul 15, 2008 7:16 pm) "not so humid" "winter season" I grant you that there are some instances, TOTALLY RANDOM instances, wherein an automotive A/C system can be of help in dehumidifying the COLD and DRY incoming airflow in order to PREVENT windshield or window fogging. It MAY even be of some help in removing condensation from the windshield once it is present. But as you most correctly point out, during the winter season the atmosphere is "not so humid", PREDOMINANTLY of low humidify. Since the Automotive A/C system CANNOT be allowed to drive the evaporator surfaces below freezing, or not even very close to the freezing level, the probably of the system driving the temperature of the COLD incoming airflow down to its DEWPOINT, the point at which airborne moisture begins to condense out of that airflow is TOTALLY RANDOM, a function of mother nature ONLY. "There's no need for this combined heat/cold mode for a home, as such an option would be redundant and a waste of energy both on the cold and heat side." "I feel sorry for those home owners with such as option on their HVAC not because of the wasted money (in case they're filthy rich) fbut because of their ignorance." Methinks you just inadvertently labelled over 50% of automotive owners as being ignorant. Not only does that ignorant class constitute a HUGE market for standalone humidifiers and dehumidifiers to increase their comfort level at home they also use a combined cool/heat mode in their automobiles NEEDLESSLY. The automatic climate controls in my '01 AWD RX300, my '01 911/996, and my '92 LS400 have all been modified so they do not NEEDLESSLY waste energy by first COOLING and the REHEATING the system airflow at any time of the year. My '92 LS400 gets the coolant control valve for the heater core wired firmly closed during the cooling season and the A/C compressor clutch circuit disconnected during the winter months. The 911 has a DIY switch mounted in the console glove box to disable the A/C compressor during the winter. My RX300 has two c-best options in this regard. The first is set such that I can turn the A/C off ONCE and it will remain off INDEFINITELY until I turn it on again, "enable" it, manually. The second option is set such that the A/C is unlinked from operating automatically in defrost/defog/demist mode. Applying HEAT to the inside surface of the windshield will ALWAYS be the most reliable way of preventing condensation AND removing condensation once it has formed. I'm not against, absolutely not, the use of A/C as an aid for these things but absent my body finding a way to know that the current dewpoint is conducive to same I will continue to rely, first and foremost, on HEAT. To most quickly COMBAT windshield fogging in my '92 LS I have a switch mounted under the dash by my left knee that when actuated adds a slight resistance to the IAT (Internal Air Temperature) sensor such that the climate control ECU "thinks" the passenger cabin has suddenly gotten VERY COLD. If I see condensation beginning to from on the LS's windshield I actuate this switch and then switch the system to defrost/defog/demist mode. The ECU reacts to the DIY switch by changing the system to HEATING mode and raising teh blower speed. In the case of the RX a quick clockwise twist of the cabin temperature setpoint knob accomplishes the same task. The 911, when switched into defrost/defog/demist mode will ALWAYS react with HIGH HEAT and HIGH blower speeds, even on the hottest day of August. So, two bottom lines. You can improve the FE of your vehicle via somehow bypassing the reheat/remix mode winter and/or summer. Human comfort involves not only the surrounding air temperature, and the radiant effects of our surrounding environment, but also the Rh of the surrounding atmosphere, with 40% being within our comforts zone. Now, once our A/C system has cooled the home's interior atmosphere and surfaces to our selected comfort level how does it compensate for humidity above 40%, well above 40%, absent using a reheat/remix system..?? A portable de-humidifier...??
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Replying to: nimimi (Jul 16, 2008 6:57 am) How high..?? Enough to result in A/C drainage... 
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Replying to: wwest (Jul 16, 2008 9:15 am) My friend I respect your knowledge (truly), but I was referring to residential HVAC, since you said that “…the remix/reheat method is currently in daily use in many homes, for the very same reason for which it is used in automobiles”. Notice that I used the noun “home owners” and not “drivers”. I mean, it’s damn good to have this great exchange of ideas. Amaury (mechanical engineer) ’08 Limited
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Replying to: amauhry (Jul 16, 2008 1:53 pm) The point that I was trying to make was that if, as you stated, the use of a reheat/remix cycle in a residence shows ignorance on the owners part then that implies, by default, that most modern day owners of vehicles with automatic climate controls are also ignorant. But in reality it is the automotive manufacturers that continue to insist on using an outdated, FLAWED and patently unsafe HVAC design in our vehicles. Interior windshield fogging should be considered a COMPLETELY separate issue vs keeping the occupants comfortable. First, almost all home dehumidifiers use a reheat/remix cycle. I'm from the south, AR, originally and even when the air temperature is quite satisfactory, <75F, you might still be miserable inside your home with 90% humidity. How do you get comfortable in that situation..?? If you already have A/C you might well want to run it to dehumidify the inside atmosphere, but now the interior temperature will likely get discomfortingly COOL unless you somehow reheat that atmosphere you just cooled.
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Replying to: nimimi (Jul 16, 2008 5:38 am) Thats strange.. I have an 07 Avy and there is almost always a puddle of water on the garage floor after running the a/c. But I do live in Louisiana where the humidity is outragiously high.. Roland |
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