Installing car air conditioners - is it worth it?

For the serviced premises, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation perform filtration, heating, cooling, humidification and dehumidification. At the same time, air conditioners offer not only comprehensive air treatment, but also distribution with specified characteristics. As an economical option, multi-split systems with integrated controls are used.

Prices are valid for 2020 - 2020.

Types of dehumidifiers

Currently, the automotive industry uses three types of filters in its air conditioners. Each type has its own design features.

1. Option with expansion pipe. When turned off, the gas inside the entire system is under the same pressure. When the compressor is turned on, it is pumped into the condenser. After cooling, the gas changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state and is supplied through an expansion pipe (which is a constant-section nozzle) to the evaporator. Then the liquid freon expands and cools the evaporator (the air pumped by the fan, passing through it, is cooled and enters the car interior through the air ducts), while turning back into a gaseous state. Next, gaseous freon enters the receiver-dryer, preventing liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor. In the absence of a “boiler”, those small drops that did not have time to transform into a gaseous state will lead to rapid failure of the compressor. The housing has sufficient volume so that the gas can expand and is guaranteed to prevent the escape of liquid refrigerant. Inside the flask there is a mesh for purifying the gas from inclusions and a bag with an absorbent (silica gel or equivalent) to remove moisture. The volume of moisture that the absorbent can absorb is limited, so it is necessary to adhere to the change cycle established by the manufacturer. The design of the “boiler” completely eliminates the release of liquid freon from the outlet pipe (subject to compliance with filling standards). In this case, the cooling power is changed by changing the compressor performance or by cyclic switching on and off. The element is non-separable and, if it fails, changes entirely. The composition of the absorbent inside the “boiler” is different (depending on the type of freon), so it must be replaced with a similar one.
2. Option with thermostatic valve. The principle of operation of the installation is the same, the only difference is that the filter element is located in the high-pressure circuit and, in addition to filtration, serves as a receiver of liquid freon. It is installed in the section between the condenser and the thermostatic valve (which changes the cross-section of the nozzle depending on the temperature of the gas leaving the evaporator). For stable operation, the valve needs a strictly liquid phase of the refrigerant, and to prevent gaseous freon from entering the valve, a receiver is installed. Inside, just like in the first option, there is an element that prevents the passage of contaminants and a granular absorbent to remove moisture. Freon is taken from the very bottom of the glass, which prevents unpurified or gaseous freon from entering the valve.
3. Option with dryer installed on the condenser. This design is used on most modern cars. This option is serviceable and will not require replacing the entire element, as was the case in previous versions. Structurally, this is an ordinary glass (as in the version with a valve), soldered to the condenser. There is a technological plug at the bottom (in most cases, a mesh filter is installed on it), by unscrewing it, you can remove the bag of absorbent and replace it with a new one. The designs of some cars allow replacement without removing the condenser, but only by unscrewing the plug from the bottom. This type of service will cost an order of magnitude cheaper than the first two.

What kind of air conditioner can you buy today?

When deciding on climate control equipment for your home or office, you first need to understand what models are on the market. Not only its functionality, but also the installation method will depend on the type of equipment. Today you can buy air conditioners in Moscow for your home or office of the following types:

• Columned. The simplest design, which simplifies the installation process. As a rule, it is placed on the floor without being mounted on the wall. Treats premises with an area of ​​more than 100 square meters. Choice for offices and shopping centers;
• Split systems. The most modern and popular option, wall-mounted air conditioning, is widely used in furnishing apartments and private houses. Its main feature is its division into two parts. The first, the external unit, is placed on the wall outside. Installation of the indoor air conditioner unit is carried out inside the room. Thus, the equipment operates almost silently and does not take up much space. Allows you to cool rooms with an area of ​​15-50 sq.m. If you want to buy an air conditioner of this type, then consider the installation location and air direction;
• Channel and cassette. They are usually mounted in the ceiling. This arrangement ensures uniform air distribution. In addition, the installation is built into the ceiling without occupying useful space. This is a popular home air conditioner not only for large apartments, but also for offices, shopping areas, restaurants and so on.

Of course, there are also unique models. For example, a portable air conditioner for an apartment or a floor-ceiling split system. But they are not so common on the market.

Functions

1. Stores oil and refrigerant when not in use.
2. Cleans and removes moisture from the system. Moisture can enter during installation, maintenance, or when the system is depressurized (from the air).

Failure can occur when there is excessive moisture in the system. High humidity can cause corrosion, ice jams and impair the oil supply to the compressor. Also, when water and refrigerant interact, acid can form, which will destroy metal parts and rubber seals.

Features and malfunctions of the car air conditioning circuit

The main problem with any car air conditioning system is the constant natural loss of refrigerant. Unlike stationary ones, car air conditioners

have a larger number of docking units, which is due to the need for ease of installation and carrying out preventive work on flushing the air conditioning system. The individual parts of the system are connected using rubber gaskets, which over time lose their elasticity and become covered with small cracks that promote the evaporation of freon, which is what actually causes the loss of refrigerant with the refrigerant oil. Such leaky connections can be quite easily identified visually by the presence of oil stains or a special dye on the connecting points, which is charged into the circuit along with the refrigerant.

Attention! If you find an oil film or dye on the connecting joints, you should contact a car service center to diagnose and fix the problem.

The operation of the air conditioning system is not affected in the best way by the presence, even in small quantities, of water in the system circuit. Moisture inside the system promotes the formation of pockets of corrosion on the metal surface, and also leads to freezing of the evaporator tubes, which leads to disruption of refrigerant circulation.

Replacement method

If you have enough experience and equipment, you can make the replacement yourself. If experience and tools are not enough, it is better to turn to specialists, since even a small amount of air entering the system can damage the entire unit.

1. The refrigerant must be removed before replacement. This can be done using a special installation.
2. Then you should disconnect the car from the power supply by disconnecting the terminal.
3. Disconnect all terminals suitable for the filter.
4. Next, you need to turn off the supply and return lines. After disconnecting, you need to close the lines to prevent debris from getting into them.
5. Now you can unscrew all the fasteners that secure the dryer to the car and remove it.
6. For further work, we will need a new air conditioning dryer for the car; its instructions should indicate how to add oil to the system. It is added either directly to the glass itself, or mixed in when filling with freon.
7. Now you need to replace all the o-rings with new ones; they can come complete with the filter, or they need to be purchased separately.
8. Install the new desiccant in place (it is important that the packaging is sealed, since if the packaging is damaged, the absorbent will pick up moisture from the air, which will significantly reduce its service life) and screw all the lines into place, and then screw the mount to the car.
9. After that, connect all the disconnected terminals and install the terminal on the battery.
10. Then, after checking the fastening of all components, you need to start the car engine, raise the engine speed to 1500 rpm, connect the filling station and start filling the refrigerant.
11. After refueling, check all lines and components for leaks.
12. If the seal is not broken, start the air conditioner and check the uniform cooling of the evaporator.

This type of repair is not complicated, but it cannot be done without specialized equipment. You can do some of the work yourself, but it is better to entrust refueling to specialists.

How does a car air conditioner filter receiver work?

The design of the receiver-dryer is quite simple, but effective. It is a tube filled with an adsorbent - granules of synthetic zeolite, which has the property of actively absorbing water. For systems operating on R134a refrigerant, XH-9 zeolite is usually used. A high-quality filter can absorb up to 60 g of water. To monitor the condition of the refrigerant flowing through the filter, a transparent window is made in the receiver housing of the car air conditioner. Through it you can see:

• the contents are greenish in color without bubbles in the liquid - the system is working normally;
• the contents are yellow - the receiver requires replacement, as the zeolite has absorbed a lot of moisture;
• the presence of bubbles in the liquid – the refrigerant pressure is below normal or its temperature is too high.

The filter drier is installed in the high pressure line between the condenser and the evaporator. After cleaning from moisture and impurities, freon enters the evaporator, where it again turns into gas, while taking thermal energy from the air.

You might be interested in

Receiver-dryer CK-8030i (MERCEDES BENZ) 950 rub.
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Universal receiver-dryer 6mm RUB 1,200.

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Universal receiver-dryer with sensor RUB 1,600.

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Dehumidifier (Rocket) SK-3044 RUR 700

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How it all began

When drivers got hot, they took a table fan into the car. A compact household device with blades, which was a primitive design consisting of an electric motor, an impeller, a switch and a wire, was connected to the on-board 12 V network and circulated air around the cabin. However, this air was not cooled because it remained inside the cabin. Only the volume of the air mixture that was initially in the cabin circulated. There was a slight effect, but the driver did not experience much relief. But the idea of ​​getting a compact device as a source of coveted coolness haunted both car enthusiasts and manufacturers. There is a need for a so-called manual air conditioner, which can be easily connected to the cigarette lighter and enjoy the flow of cold air. Even today, not all cars have a split system, so a portable car air conditioner is a popular device.

Advantages and disadvantages

The manufacturer of mini-air conditioners initially warns that such a device is quite finicky to maintain. You will have to regularly clean the mechanism, otherwise the already existing possibility of fungus development will increase. The main disadvantage is the power, which you are also warned about right away.

Naturally, more advantages are stated, but even a dozen pluses cannot cover the last minus. But what attracts consumers if not the direct functions of a portable split system?

• Easy installation.
• Can be moved and installed in any vehicle.
• Ability to function when the engine is off.
• Heating, ventilation and dehumidification functions.

In other words, if you don't like throwing antlers, this type of conditioner will not be useful. But don’t be upset, I’m offering a cheap alternative, although you’ll have to do a little tinkering.

I won’t monotonously tell you how to construct a real small air conditioner with your own hands. As they say, “it’s better to see once than to hear a hundred times.” Watch the video below and you will understand everything. See you!

Air conditioner installation - typical scope of work:

• Screw the compressor with the coupling to the location specified by the manufacturer
• Replacing the serpentine belt with a longer one used in a car with air conditioning and routing it according to the instructions
• Replacing the poly V-belt tensioner
• Installing the air conditioner cooler in a specially designated place, connecting the air conditioner fan to the power supply
• Filter Dryer Installation
• Partial disassembly of the dashboard and center console
• Installing the evaporator and control unit under the dashboard
• Installation of additional air conditioning sensors
• Installing the air conditioning control unit in the center console, connecting it to the vehicle's electrical system
• Installing the air conditioner control panel in place of the plug and connecting it
• Installing high and low pressure hoses, fittings and components to keep them in the right places
• Check for leaks
• Filling the system with gas (coolant) and mineral oil

For some car models, various problems may arise - lack of space under the engine hood, the need to install a special tab to hold the compressor, the need to dismantle the entire dashboard, etc.

Due to the complexity of the work (interference in the electrical installation, replacement of the belt and tensioner), as well as the need to have a suitable device for checking the tightness of the system and filling it with coolant and oil, the installation of the air conditioner must be taken to a specialized workshop. Installing an air conditioner in a standard car model can take several hours, in a complex car - 2 days, and in a car in which the manufacturer did not install air conditioning - even several days.

How to care for your car's air conditioning system after installation?

What applies to servicing split systems?

Maintenance of climate control equipment includes diagnostics of operation and cleaning of the air conditioner.

Service by specialists includes:

• External inspection of the air conditioner for mechanical damage;
• Dry cleaning of the evaporator of the indoor unit;
• Prevention of the drainage system;
• Filter cleaning;
• Cleaning the outdoor unit condenser;
• Measurement of working pressure in the system;
• Refill with refrigerant if necessary (up to 100 g);
• Checking interblock connections for refrigerant (freon) leaks;
• Elimination of minor faults that do not require disassembling the equipment;
• Inspection of contact connections;
• Testing the operation of the system as a whole, in all modes; -Partial disassembly of the internal unit.

For household ones, the recommended frequency of service is 2 times a year. This applies to air conditioners installed in small offices, apartments, and private homes.

Multi-split systems, cassette and duct models are serviced more often - once a quarter. They are used in business centers, large stores (without food products) and administrative buildings. It is also recommended to carry out maintenance of server rooms at least once a quarter.

For places with high pollution, servicing is required once a month. This category includes industrial premises, restaurants, grocery supermarkets, car services, hairdressers and dentists. In such buildings, fan coil units with chillers, VRR and multi-split systems are used.

The cost of servicing an air conditioner depends on the model, number of units, degree of damage and components requiring replacement. Call or contact us at +7 (495) 142 59 17 to call air conditioning service professionals.

Cost of services:

What's included in the price:

1. Cleaning filters
2. Cleaning the evaporator
3. Blowing out the drainage system
4. Cleaning the outdoor unit
5. Measurement of working pressure in the system.
6. Diagnostics
7. Checking electrical components.
8. In general, visual inspection of equipment for mechanical damage.

REFILLING up to 100 grams as a GIFT!!!

Efficiency of car air conditioning from the cigarette lighter - practice and marketing

As we know, virtually all of the cigarette lighter air conditioners that have appeared are supplied to us from China - a kind of trading Mecca that offers the most unimaginable answers that for some reason European, Japanese or American manufacturers do not indulge us with.

This is correct, think about it: why, if it is so easy to make an air conditioning device from an on-board network, is it not created by large companies, including automobile concerns, which would easily be able to offer this kind of accessory as additional equipment? Studying the documentation on the sequence of such products, we did not find any indication of the power output of the product.

For that

In order to completely understand the situation, let’s delve into the theory. Let's leave aside mathematical calculations, graphs and curves, and just look at the issue from a life perspective.

Those motorists who owned cars with built-in air conditioning accurately noticed that the power of the power unit when the climate control was turned on noticeably decreased. This decrease is noticeable right away - idle speed drops, the car begins to accelerate more slowly. Along with this, this is especially noticeable on small cars.

Well, now let’s estimate: the average engine power of a simple municipal runabout is about 100 horsepower. When you turn on the air conditioner, the power decreases by 5 to 7 forces, and even more when driving in traffic jams or in extreme heat.

The air conditioner takes just so much power that it diligently cools the car interior. Along with the

When the car is stationary in the heat, the temperature in the cabin can be about 60-80 degrees near the windshield. Imagine how much energy the climate control system needs to cool it when it starts moving.

Now let's imagine that we proportionally reduce the entire air conditioning system to a power that would allow us to use a cigarette lighter as an energy source, in other words, a 12-Volt outlet.

To maintain the compact dimensions of the device, everything is significantly reduced, including the total amount of refrigerant, the size of the fans, pump and, of course, radiators. In physics, as we know, miracles do not happen, and with a decrease in mass and size, the non-specialized performance of the air conditioner will decrease in direct proportion.

On average, an air conditioner from a cigarette lighter is 15-20 times less than a stationary one. The reduction in its power will be approximately the same. In practice, it turns out that the decrease will be even greater.

Let's remember that many motorists who use excellent acoustic components, additional lighting equipment or other energy-intensive consumers in the car quite often encounter the corresponding fuses “burning”.

In fact, this means that the power of a car air conditioner, powered from the cigarette lighter, a priori cannot be more than 250 watts; otherwise, the vehicle’s electrical network simply cannot withstand its presence, which will immediately lead to burnout of the safety units.

In other words, the sold models of compact air conditioners obviously use less remarkable electric motors. Besides

, everyone definitely noticed that “huge” air conditioners draw air from the external environment through a special tube or other devices.

This is due to the fact that any air conditioner built on the split-combination principle cannot work effectively in a confined space. In it, it will simply function as a heat pump, which supplies heat from one container to another. And because heat is released due to the work being carried out, in fact, such a device will not cool the surrounding space, but, on the contrary, heat it.

Having generalized the entire theory, without going into complex calculations, we easily come to the conclusion that there is no practical value at all in an air conditioner from a cigarette lighter. In the form it is offered by manufacturers from China, it not only cannot cool the interior of the car, but also bring coolness to one passenger or driver even when very close to the face. At best, you will feel a slight breeze of cool air, which is easily unable to overcome the surrounding heat.

It must be emphasized that in our article we are not trying to completely deny the possibility of compact design air conditioners appearing in the future (probably very distant).

In the studies of a succession of scientists at the beginning of the twentieth century, including the Austrian physicist Viktor Schauberger, various options for obtaining cold from heat were considered, but information about those experiments has actually not been preserved to this day.

Let's say moreover, such studies belong to the direction of the so-called other physics and require fundamental studies, which have not been carried out and are unlikely to be carried out at the time. On the currently available technical basis, the creation of an effectively working device of this kind does not yet seem probable.

But, in practice, there is one development that can possibly be used for compact air conditioners in cars. This technique involves the use of so-called “cold batteries,” which are cheap on sale, or “dry ice,” which is often used by ice cream sellers.

In principle, installing a battery in a cartridge with a fan will help keep the car interior cool. The downside to this combination is the fact that the cartridges need to be changed as they melt.

This is, perhaps, the only method now to take the semblance of a standard air conditioner in a car without the significant cost of reworking the installation and vehicle of a wonderful split-split system.