Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Removing interior heat (was window tint physics)
From:Roger Reynolds
Date:Sun, 9 Mar 2003 10:09:13 EST

In a message dated 3/9/2003 12:35:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET writes:

> I can see that.  It really would depend on what you're trying to
> assess.  How long it takes the van to reach a given temperature would be
> useful if you're concerned about how long you can leave your dog or
> musical instrument in the van before it's likely to suffer brain damage
> or delaminate, respectively.  On the other hand, I typically don't leave
> animals or instruments in the van any length of time when there's that
> possibility.  What I want to know when I get into my 120 degree F van is
> how quickly is it going to cool down!  :^)
>

OK,

Let me first state that I am not suggesting reinventing the air conditioning
system.

So.... since there seems to be some concensus that, with or without window
tinting to slow down the energy input into the vehicle's interior, eventually
the interior temp is going to be elevated reletive to the ambiant (outside)
temp.

Now my question is has anyone (or can we) come up with a nifty way to remove
this built up heat more rapidly than occurs naturally by loss through the
walls of the vehicle by, for example, installing a small fan in such a way as
to exhaust the hot air while pulling in cooler outside air.  I realize that
this would not make the interior temp cooler than the outside air temp but
would hopefully help to keep it from being significantly hotter.  Then the AC
would have an easier time getting rid of the built up heat when it is first
turned on.

I'm thinking of maybe a PC type fan hooked up to a small solar panel so it
would run whenever the sun was out.

Roger Reynolds
Charlottesville, VA
Dark Blue Topped '89 Westy

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »