Climate control, well, controlling the interior temperature!

[ghost123uk]

Found this post of mine and Ralph's while looking for summat else

I often wondered why no vehicles (up till more recently), had any sort of regulated temperature control for the cabin. All it would take is a K type probe in the "cockpit" area, feeding a VERY SIMPLE circuit that would operate a solenoid valve in the heater pipes. You could then "set" a desired heater temp like you do on your domestic central heating radiators. Would save all that moving the lever up and down at different speeds etc.

And a wind pressure sensor (as simple as a vane'd micro-switch) could be arranged to turn the heater fan off at, say, more than 30mph

Actually, that sounds like a useful mod. Agree on the levers, its a very clunky approach to managing cab heating although certainly typical of the real v-dubs line

I did wonder about leaving the Propex on, with the stat set appropriately, but it's output is not enough to keep up with rapidly changing cabin temperatures at different road speeds and opening windows when smoking a fag etc.

Just thinking out loud here really. The gains in designing, making and fitting a temperature control system in the heater circuit are probably not worth the effort








From that same (old) topic =

Perhaps we should come up with a project to maximise the charging of the leisure battery Ghost. There would seem to be much scope for improvement in this area.

Ah, you see, my recent "poor mans Sterling" charging system, now in full use

[kcbart]

There were cars with temperature control in the 80s, albeit at a price! My Porsche 944 has it - there is a vent in the dashboard that constantly takes in air and measures the temperature and adjusts the heater to maintain whatever temperature you have selected. Works very well.

As an aside, my 944 would have cost about 3 times as much as my camper originally. Now it's worth about half as much! Brilliant to drive though and not that expensive to run........and it has pop-up headlights!

[lloydy]

I seem to be able to set the heater lever 'just so' and get a nice temp in the cabin, speed doesn't seem to affect it at all? When it's icy, I move the heat lever right over then when it's warm enough, move it back over and all is good. Obviously not as good as modern car, but good enough.
Also, by reading other posts I feel like I'm the only person who leaves the blower on all the time? Winter or summer it's always on speed one

[AdrianC]

Also, by reading other posts I feel like I'm the only person who leaves the blower on all the time? Winter or summer it's always on speed one

You're not the only one...

I also had '80s cars with automatic temperature control, with the heater slide marked in degrees not just red/blue, and thermostatic control. Not even so "rarified" as Porsches - Citroen CXs. But let's not forget we're talking about _vans_... "Keep it simple" applied until VERY recently, and people buy vans because of solidity and cost of ownership. They don't want brochurebation and fripperies.

[Moonrakers]

I like the old three slider set-up, it is basic, entertainingly retro and reassuringly simple. I find that using the fresh air vents is the ideal way of quickly modifying the cab temperature and avoiding that stuffy atmosphere on a long Winter run. Full heat with open vents keeps the air warm and fresh, and keeps the passengers warm in the back too.

Our old '80's Merc estate has air-con that still works (a £4000 option when new ), thermostatic controls marked in degrees and even split-zone heating for passenger and driver. The best thing about it is the short warm-up period... the van takes 3 times as long to blow warm but then that's a WBX trait, I know.

On a related topic, I get an occasional spell of very irritating squeaking from the heater fan. I don 't want to ask whether lubrication is the answer in case I am told I have to take the dash off!

[Moonrakers]

Ok, does the dash have to be removed to access the blower motor? Will I be spending my Christmas break in the garage instead of on the sofa?

[ghost123uk]

Ok, does the dash have to be removed to access the blower motor? Will I be spending my Christmas break in the garage instead of on the sofa?

= https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... eplacement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; = lots to read there on that, including the often futile "quick fix" = drill a hole and squirt some grease on the bearing = been there, done that !

[Ralf85]

I seem to be able to set the heater lever 'just so' and get a nice temp in the cabin, speed doesn't seem to affect it at all? When it's icy, I move the heat lever right over then when it's warm enough, move it back over and all is good. Obviously not as good as modern car, but good enough.
Also, by reading other posts I feel like I'm the only person who leaves the blower on all the time? Winter or summer it's always on speed one

I agree. What I like about the temperature control in the van is that it is very adjustable, so you get just the temperature you want, by slowly moving the lever back from max, once warmed up. None of our modern family cars are as adjustable.

[busbuddy]

I did wonder about leaving the Propex on, with the stat set appropriately, but it's output is not enough to keep up with rapidly changing cabin temperatures at different road speeds and opening windows when smoking a fag etc.

my old bay window had no heating other than the propex, it was mounted in the passenger footwell and fed directly into the T heater tube that rose from the floor which subsequently fed the dashboard vents so the windows could be demisted/defrosted. the stat was mounted in the rear of the van and I will admit I do not smoke so no window opening needed but the propex coped well at keeping an even temp in the van, even on 6 hour non stop drives at night to cornwall in winter. worked fine in the van for about 4 years (I think) until I sold the van, had to get the propex serviced a few times during ownership but that's to be expected due to the permanent use it was subjected to during that time

[ghost123uk]

Good input busbuddy I have actually been leaving the Propex on whilst driving to work and you are right, once the vans inside has warmed up the Propex does work pretty well as a temperature regulator. For many the cost would be an issue of course, but I use a legally refillable SafeFill bottle so my gas costs are MUCH lower than swapping cylinders.

I just worked out that my Propex runs at about 4p per hour (at ~50% duty cycle) with the 15L red Safefill bottle compared to about 25p per hour if using a 4.5Kg conventional cylinder

[CovKid]

Only way to regulate cab heating would be a thermostatically controlled valve. More trouble than its worth to be honest. Whatever you do, its cold when you start - unless you're Propexed - is that a word?

I've just about got my Propex stat set right now and once the cab heating starts belting through, the Propex shuts off. Mind you, then I find the cab heating too hot and have to fiddle with that. Hey, it gives us something to do. Just feel sorry for the poor automatic drivers, nothing to do except stare out of the window.