Easy Climate Control Fan-Only Solution - 5 cents, 5 mins

[wwhitney]

I initially used the same cheap pipe-insulation that is common, but I didn't really like it, plus the R value (insulation ability) is better on this metallic bubble wrap. According to the lowes website, this stuff is R4, vs the foam pipe insulation which is only 2.4

The manufacturer calls it R-4, but it is really only R-1.1 plus the radiant barrier. They are assigning a value of R-2.9 to the radiant barrier under some choice of standard conditions. But the value of that radiant barrier varies according to conditions. Anywhere it is up against another material, or anywhere it gets dirty, the radiant barrier has no insulating value.

Cheers, Wayne

[EV1]

Thank you very much, BetterLeaf!
You just made this world a little bit better place

I was already working on option 3 (deluxe) and I can confirm that my "MosFET in the drawer", a ZVN 211 0A is NOT compatible with the schematic. Probably because the voltage on the gate is too low. But when searching in the drawer for another FET, I realised that I did not have al the possibilities with option3 as one would have with option 2. (for example: AC-compressor ON & heater-PTC "hard"-OFF)
So I went for an option 2 variation. I will post the pictures later.

Thanks again for sharing information!

[EV1]

@ jclemens
Hope you didn't go to too much trouble putting that isolation on, because, to be honest, you should put the reflecting coating inwards, because its meant to shield/reflect heat.

[hornstudio]

after insulation i stepped up from 4500 to 1800 in carwings although we have fall temperatures now and not summer anymore. not bad at all.

[wwhitney]

Hope you didn't go to too much trouble putting that isolation on, because, to be honest, you should put the reflecting coating inwards, because its meant to shield/reflect heat.

No, the reflective side is only effective when facing an air gap. If you put it in direct contact with another material, then heat will pass via conduction. When facing an air gap, the reflective side will reduce the transmission of heat via radiation in either direction.

If the radiant heat source is external, it is easy to see that the reflective side will reflect back some of the incident radiant heat. But the reflective side also has a low emissivity--it is a poor emitter of radiant heat. So when the reflective material is hot, it doesn't lose as much heat by radiation as it otherwise would.

Cheers, Wayne

[jclemens]

It is reflective on both sides.
and yes, there is an air gap (lots of gaps) between the hot fluids and the reflective insulation. The bubble wrap likeness also provides an additional airgap within the insulation.

If you have something better, please post it.

[bowthom]

I've been reading this thread and had an idea. Excuse me if someone mentioned it but I must have missed it.

Why not install a switch and resistor to set the outside temp sensor at 60*? The heater should not come on nor should the a/c if the temp is set to 60*

For us northern lattituders that would give us heat if we set the temp up a little and we can turn if off by adjusting down. Easy it seems.

It's not like our leaf needs ambient temp for any other purpose (like ICE FI density calculation).

[jfsquires]

I've been reading this thread and had an idea. Excuse me if someone mentioned it but I must have missed it.

Why not install a switch and resistor to set the outside temp sensor at 60*? The heater should not come on nor should the a/c if the temp is set to 60*

For us northern lattituders that would give us heat if we set the temp up a little and we can turn if off by adjusting down. Easy it seems.

It's not like our leaf needs ambient temp for any other purpose (like ICE FI density calculation).

Seems like a good idea. Any idea how to do this?

[Ingineer]

This will not work, as the LEAF considers the inside temp, and the temp of the heater coolant loop too.

Even if you could make it work, you'd end up with a bunch of hacked wires, and non-elegant extra switches that defeat the auto temp features.

-Phil

[EV1]

Option 2 variant:

I remove the pins from the connector to slide over the shrink tube.

The switch above the "gas"pedal