A/C experts........opinions.
08-18-2012, 04:24 PM
#1
A/C experts........opinions. What do you think would happen to the performance of the A/C system if the condensor was exactly half the size as factory stock?
I would of course expect it to not be as cold on a real hot day, but I don't know for sure. Is that a guarantee that it'll blow warmer? Would it totally kill the A/C system?
My thought was to have a custom made condensor half the size.....put a pusher fan on the front of it. This will allow 50% more flow to go directly into the radiator without passing through the warm/hot condensor first.
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I would of course expect it to not be as cold on a real hot day, but I don't know for sure. Is that a guarantee that it'll blow warmer? Would it totally kill the A/C system?
My thought was to have a custom made condensor half the size.....put a pusher fan on the front of it. This will allow 50% more flow to go directly into the radiator without passing through the warm/hot condensor first.
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08-19-2012, 06:40 AM
#2
AC systems are highly calibrated for operating conditions, size of the components, etc. If you run a smaller condenser and the coolant doesn't come down in temperature to where the compressor needs it, (like on a very hot day) I'd think it could over stress or even destroy the compressor.
08-19-2012, 10:25 AM
#3
AC systems are highly calibrated for operating conditions, size of the components, etc. If you run a smaller condenser and the coolant doesn't come down in temperature to where the compressor needs it, (like on a very hot day) I'd think it could over stress or even destroy the compressor.
Just how much can be cut away, thats the question? Maybe a 10 inch hole in the middle where a badass pusher fan could fit into....?????? So you would lose that surface area, but gain airflow to the radiator.
Just thinking..........maybe one day I'll have a shop make me one just to see what happens. Imagine if a smaller one works that allows much better cooling to the radiator.....what a winner product that would be. Especially for us with iron blocks and boost........
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08-19-2012, 03:53 PM
#4
If, ultimately the issue you have is a hot running engine (due to a lack of airflow across your radiator) - then I'd suggest a more conventional route first: Change your Dexcool for standard coolant (or simply water and a couple containers of those 'magic' additives - "Wetter Water", etc...), add a 160 degree thermostat, and finally re-program your PCM to turn your current fans on HI at as low a temperture as possible.
All these will cost less and not negatively impact your AC.
Just a thought...
All these will cost less and not negatively impact your AC.
Just a thought...
08-19-2012, 07:42 PM
#5
Yea ^^^. A/C systems are highly engineered and calibrated. 100% guaranteed that the compressor won't be happy or the car won't cool at all if the amount of refrigerant cooling is cut back.
This stuff works like canned air. As the air expands, the can cools down. (More precisely, it absorbs a ton of heat from the surface of the can.) If you don't cool the refrigerant enough, the stuff going in to the compressor won't be as dense and you may not even compress the refrigerant enough to do any cooling at all.
If you want better engine cooling, I'd recommend upgrading the radiator. If you want to cut back on the A/C capacity to cool the car, I'd recommend getting a matched condenser and compressor set from a smaller car and putting all that in.
This stuff works like canned air. As the air expands, the can cools down. (More precisely, it absorbs a ton of heat from the surface of the can.) If you don't cool the refrigerant enough, the stuff going in to the compressor won't be as dense and you may not even compress the refrigerant enough to do any cooling at all.
If you want better engine cooling, I'd recommend upgrading the radiator. If you want to cut back on the A/C capacity to cool the car, I'd recommend getting a matched condenser and compressor set from a smaller car and putting all that in.
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08-22-2012, 08:51 PM
#8
AC systems are highly calibrated for operating conditions, size of the components, etc. If you run a smaller condenser and the coolant doesn't come down in temperature to where the compressor needs it, (like on a very hot day) I'd think it could over stress or even destroy the compressor.
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08-22-2012, 10:32 PM
#9
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I too would avoid messing with the condenser.
The purpose of the condensor is to "condense" the hot, high volume gas into a low volume liquid that the compressor can pump. If you were to reduce the condensor size, I would guess that you would drive up the system pressure to the point that the compressor would trip out.
As an experiment; put some guages on your AC system while it is running, and then pull the fan relay. I would think that the refrigerant pressure sensor will tell the PCM to disengage the compressor clutch.
The purpose of the condensor is to "condense" the hot, high volume gas into a low volume liquid that the compressor can pump. If you were to reduce the condensor size, I would guess that you would drive up the system pressure to the point that the compressor would trip out.
As an experiment; put some guages on your AC system while it is running, and then pull the fan relay. I would think that the refrigerant pressure sensor will tell the PCM to disengage the compressor clutch.
