Automotive Air Conditioning Systems

By Staff

Published: Monday, May 5, 2008, 17:54 [IST]

Air conditioners are inevitable accessory in any car and a perfect air conditioner makes the journey a jovial and comfortable experience. Today, as people drive automobiles, a great many of them, can enjoy the same comfort levels that they are accustomed to at home and at work. With the push of a button or the slide of a lever, the seamless transition from heating to cooling and back could be created in the car. Since the advent of the automotive air conditioning system in the 1940's, many things have undergone extensive change. Improvements, such as computerized automatic temperature control which allow you to set the desired temperature and have the system adjust automatically and improvements to overall durability, have added complexity to today's modern air conditioning system.

Today most of the cars are fitted with environment friendly air conditioners which offers pollution-less cooling or heating in accordance with the international laws of emission. Early automobiles were not exactly comfortable. They were open vehicles and their skinny tires and rugged construction provided for a very rough ride. In winters, passengers bundled up and in the summer, air conditioning was a breeze that resulted from a top speed of 15 mph. And when the car companies started closing up the hoods, things got worse. The interiors got very hot and something serious needed to be done. After so many unsuccessful ideas, the first car with an actual refrigeration system was built in 1939, the Packard.

Today, heating and air-conditioning systems are very efficient. Modern Automatic Temperature Control set-ups are more dependable than the older vacuum and thermostatic creations. Computers also insure that both the passenger and driver are comfortable, maintaining the optimum temperature. Now there are new electronic and compressor designs. The concern over the chlorofluorocarbon emissions and the damage they cause to ozone layer has induced innovations in order to reduce the emissions. Most cars today use a new refrigerant called R-134A, which contains no chlorine.

When buying an automotive air conditioner you should concern three things primely:

Cooling Capacity

The ability of a unit to cool an area is measured in BTU/hour. The higher the BTU, the more cooling power the unit has. However, don't chose a model with too much cooling capacity, it will cycle on and off too often, wearing on the machine and not staying on long enough to remove humidity from the air.

Energy Efficiency

Look for high efficiency units. Efficiency is measured by the EER, energy efficiency rating. Once switched on the system should not make your engine running on short millage.

Installation Requirements

Make sure that the unit is the right size for your car to mount it in. Also, make sure you have enough help in installing the unit. Prefer a unit built for your car model.

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Article Published On: Friday, December 21, 2007, 14:13 [IST]

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