Air Conditioning Tech Thread.

[Z2TT]

Hi,

I've started up an Air Conditioning tech thread, talk about everything from retrofits, refrigerants, system components and troubleshooting.

In the situation shown below, what is the best place to put an electric fan to provide the maximum cooling for the a/c condenser?

Either in A as blow through or B as draw through?

Cons and Pros of each option?

Forgot to add it in, but the rad already has a fan behind it.



Thanks

[banana_socks]

I've seen examples of cars with the aircon thermo at the very front, and others just with two fans on the rear of the radiator. However I think the former is more common.

My completely unreasearched opinion is that having it in front of the condensor allows you to maintain airflow for the aircon without the full airflow through the radiator. Ie, you always want maximum cooling of the condensor for comfort, but not necessarily max cooling of the radiator.

[JZA70R_92]

I would go with A boris that is like factory and it works also another trick I learnt from Peewee is to cover all the aircon lines in tubing or some kind of heat wrap as it helps with the aircon

[CrUZida]

Are you running thermo's or clutch fan?
If its a clutch fan I probably wouldn't bother, as that would keep the condensor cool enough under most conditions.

If you are running thermo's, I'd use those and hook then up to a speed sensor.

[mattysshop]

i think the actual thermo fan would be more of a concern.. eg davis craig, SPAL, Comex etc... the last 2 almost double the CFM of davis craig units in thier comparable sizes..

[matty12]

If its a clutch fan I probably wouldn't bother, as that would keep the condensor cool enough under most conditions.

.

I would use A, just about every factory setup is like that, or has two on the rad side but thats not one of your options.

Clutch fans are can be horrible for a/c and normally lead to high head pressures when stationary. Some vehicles will run a thermo fan on the front if they have clutch fans.

[privatealpha]

Nissan Pulsars run the condenser fan on the rear.
So either way should work, probably easier to mount on the front though.

[Rhyno]

Hi All,

This is something that I have to deal with quite reguarly in my refrigeration role, and im a fan off fan's

Matty you are completly right - clucth fans are shit, especially when you are using in Darwin with high ambients and 33 degrees + tempatures. Not to mention HP robbing.

There are a few issues to consider;

Firstly the type of fan being used atm is important. What is it?

Secondly, Are you using a cowling? E.g. something to draw all (or at least, MOST) of the air through the condensor and radiator?

Thirdly, What are you tring to acheive? A colder AC or a cooler engine? Cause their are better ways of doing both these things...

P.S. What type of car?

[oldcorollas]

pull is about 10-15% more efficient than push.

fit what fits...

[Rhyno]

Yes due to natural cowling affect that happens from sucking the air through.

Your right, at the end of the day, what fits and works it what counts the most :-)

[Z2TT]

Hi,

Currently it has a clutch fan, this does not create nowhere near enough flow for good a/c performance when crawling through traffic or idling.

Colder vent temps and more efficient A/C System is what I'm after.

My Low side a/c line is wrapped in some sort of plastic tape, not sure if I should wrap it with something else or leave it be.

I'm wondering why do most factory setups have quite some spacing between the radiator and the condenser (see my diagram), that further decreases the draught as air will flow through the path of least resistance, and that is through the sides, so not as much will draw through the condenser especially with a viscous hub fan at idle.

I was always thought to believe pull is better as OC Said, I've found that an 8" Davies Craig DCSL8 will fit as a puller in location B, looked at SPALS but don't think i found one that will fit as a puller.

[matty12]

it quite possible that older cars did infact have some sort of sealing between the rad and condensor but most of it would be long gone now. Most stuff seams to have foam or plastic shrouds etc to seal it all together.

[JZA70R_92]

do you have a 1J or 1G???

[CrUZida]

I was always thought to believe pull is better as OC Said, I've found that an 8" Davies Craig DCSL8 will fit as a puller in location B, looked at SPALS but don't think i found one that will fit as a puller.

Chances are that a SPAL in pushing arrangement will outflow a Davies Craig in pulling anyway.

[Z2TT]

Thanks Cruzida, I will see what SPAL has in their range.

Carlo, 1g at the moment, will be 1jz later.