How to turn on the air conditioner in the car: operating rules

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Such convenience in the car as air conditioning is not only an element of luxury, but also the first necessity when traveling in the hot season. At this time, you can even feel how the asph alt melts under your feet, almost literally. I immediately want to be on some icy mountain to freshen up. Of course, most drivers know how to turn on the air conditioner in a car, but do they all know how to use it correctly ?! This question is interesting, entertaining and worth exploring in more detail.

Not a luxury, but a necessity

Currently, air conditioning is present in almost every car of foreign or domestic production in the middle price category. And its inclusion, by and large, is purely reflex, like how we always close our eyes when sneezing. Many owners of their vehicles do not even know how refrigeration equipment works. Therefore, there is a high probability that it is being used incorrectly.

Manufacturers make every effort to ensure that the use of air conditioning was as comfortable as possible. All the driver needs to do is press the power button and select the desired temperature setting. Everything else the system will do without human intervention.

With all the ease of air conditioning control, there are certain nuances, some of which are known to many drivers. But there are some that are hard to find on your own. Therefore, it is necessary not only to know how to properly turn on the air conditioner in the car, but also to understand a little how it works.

Interesting observations

Creating a favorable and comfortable microclimate means maintaining a certain temperature regime and humidity level. And this applies not only to premises (residential, work, industrial) - some of us spend most of our time in the car due to the specifics of work.

In fact, it is not about achieving the necessary level of comfort. Back in the distant 50s, some observations were noticed. So, at a temperature of +30 ° C and above, the reaction rate decreases in a person. And for the driver, this is especially important, because situations on the road require increased attention and quick response.

Exceeding the value of +25 °C leads to increased fatigue. And at +10 ° C, hypothermia of the body can occur. Few of us can withstand the effects of temperature, especially its fluctuations. The car air conditioner provides the driver with the necessarya level of comfort that keeps him in good spirits at all times.

Air conditioning unit

The question of how to properly turn on the air conditioner in a car in summer is of interest to many drivers, but how it works is no less curious.

Depending on the car model, the air conditioning device is different, but in any case, the main components are:

• compressor;
• capacitor;
• evaporator;
• fan (sometimes there are several);
• safety valve;
• receiver dryer;
• expansion valve.

Also, two lines can be distinguished in the device of a car air conditioner:

• high pressure line;
• low pressure line.

Of all this, the most important component is the compressor. This is the most complex unit of the entire air conditioning system of any car. His job is to compress the gaseous refrigerant, which has a low temperature and pressure. As a result of compression, pressure increases and temperature rises.

Additional safety devices

Sometimes a number of additional safety devices are included in the car's air conditioning system. For example, with the help of a low pressure sensor, the operation of the compressor is controlled. When the pressure is less than 2 kg/cm² it turns off, and when it reaches 2.3 kg/cm^{2 it starts working again. Some drivers are wondering: why is the car warming up whenair conditioner on? Perhaps this indicates a malfunction of one of the sensors, but in most cases a dirty radiator is to blame.}

The duty of the high pressure sensor is to turn off the compressor when the pressure in the system rises to 30-34 kg/cm², and turn it on at 26 kg/cm ². The sensor responsible for the operation of the blower fans starts to work as soon as the pressure in the system reaches 19-22 kg/cm², and turns off as soon as the pressure drops to 14-16 kg/cm 2^.

There may also be a compressor temperature sensor, which is located on its body. Upon reaching 90-100 ° C, it turns off the electromagnetic clutch. In some models, instead of a whole set of sensors, combined elements can be installed that can perform several tasks.

Dehumidifier receivers can also be equipped with a protective system in the form of a safety valve with an easily alloyed insert. Everything works as follows: as soon as the temperature of the device rises to 90 ° C, the insert melts and the refrigerant comes out.

How the equipment works

To solve the question of how to turn on the air conditioner in the car, it is worth drawing a parallel. According to the principle of operation, a car unit can be compared with a similar household appliance that is present in every kitchen. It is based on a well-known regularity by physicists: the substance evaporates - thermal energy is absorbed, and when the substance, on the contrary,condenses, heat is released.

One has only to press the button to turn on the air conditioner, as the electromagnetic clutch is activated, which causes the pressure plate to be magnetized to the pulley, and the system starts to idle. The pulley, in turn, is connected to a belt through which rotation is transmitted from the crankshaft. Thus, when the engine is running, it always rotates.

What is happening at this moment? The compressor begins to work, which compresses the refrigerant and directs it to the encoder, thereby creating pressure in the system. There, under the action of a fan (one or more), it is cooled and condensed, after which it enters the dryer, where it is filtered. The purified freon bypasses the expansion valve, which monitors and regulates the level of refrigerant superheat. Perhaps this knowledge will help in solving the problem that drivers often talk about: "I turn on the air conditioner, the car stalls."

Next, the gas enters the evaporator through the pipeline. And since freon is already under low pressure, it has a low boiling point. And as you can understand from the name of the device, the refrigerant begins to evaporate in it, that is, it changes from a liquid state to a gaseous consistency. At the same time, heat is actively absorbed.

As a rule, the evaporator is located directly under the instrument panel. Then comes the fan, which directs the cool air flow into the cabin through the vents.

After the refrigerant evaporates, it enters the compressor, and the cycle repeats over and over again an infinite number of times. Knowing this, you now need to use the car air conditioner more competently.

Conditioning features then and now

Refrigerant fills the entire air conditioning system of a car. At first, R12 freon was charged into the system, but later it was found that it was unsafe for humans. This problem is more serious than another question that many drivers have: when the air conditioner is on, the car twitches. Therefore, I had to look for an urgent replacement, which was not long in coming - freon R134a. True, the new refrigerant is less efficient, but it does not pose a danger to the human body.

Due to the fact that the new gas has an increased fluidity, the work of engineers has become much more complicated. In addition, the novelty has finally put an end to the possibility of using the old R12 freon. This is because each refrigerant uses a different oil to lubricate the compressor. Mineral oil was used for the old refrigerant, while R134a freon requires a polyalkylene glycol lubricant. Thus, old and new generation freons are incompatible with each other.

To avoid any problems, manufacturers place a special sticker under the hood cover, which indicates the brand of refrigerant. And to make sure there is no confusion, these labels are of different colors. FreonR134a is identified with a green color and R12 with a yellow tint.

Proper operation of the air conditioner

In the heat, without air conditioning, it is impossible to travel comfortably by car. How to turn on the air conditioner in the car, and do it right every time? First of all, make it a rule that you should only park your car in shaded areas. Finding the perfect spot every time is unlikely, but if possible, you should always park in the shade. It doesn't hurt to know, if possible, where she will be at some point in time.

If the parking lot is directly under the sun's rays, then usually in the morning the car will be in the sun, and in the afternoon with a high probability there will already be a shade.

When parking in an open parking lot, you should use special protective equipment that covers the windows. This will avoid excessive heating in the cabin. But what can be done if the car is still very hot? In this case, you cannot immediately turn on the air conditioner - you must first ventilate the interior. To do this, just open the windows and take a little ride. A speed of 10-15 km / h is enough for hot air to leave the car interior in a hurry.

It is equally important to turn off the air conditioner correctly

It is important not only to use the air conditioner correctly - it is necessary to turn it off correctly. Then, probably, you won't have to think about why, when you turn on the air conditioner, the car stalls. And above allit is worth remembering that upon arrival at your destination, do not immediately turn off the engine, as this negatively affects the operation of the air conditioning system. And to save it, you need to follow simple rules:

• After stopping the car, the first thing to do is turn off the air conditioner, let the engine run for a while. Although it is better to do this at the entrance to the destination - the air will still remain cool for a sufficient time.
• After the air conditioner is turned off, the fan must be left on.

Regarding the last point - running the fan allows the evaporator to dry out. Otherwise, the development of various bacteria, including moss, cannot be avoided. This, in turn, can lead to the formation of an unpleasant smell in the cabin, and as a result, diseases of the respiratory system will not be long in coming.

Maintenance issues

Do not neglect the maintenance of the air conditioner. Namely, to regularly replace the filter, as well as monitor the condition of the capacitor (aka radiator). If necessary, clean it with compressed air. In addition, use antibacterial agents annually to clean the air conditioning system. Otherwise, the following situation is not ruled out: when the air conditioner is on, it drips under the car.

From time to time it is necessary to change the refrigerant itself, which is done only in a specialized service. In addition, it is advisable to purchase only originaldetails.

Cautions

When using the air conditioner, remember that running refrigeration equipment takes some of the engine power, resulting in increased fuel consumption.

Differences in temperature also deserve close attention. If the temperature is high outside, do not turn the interior of the car into a refrigerator. The human body does not tolerate serious changes. In some cases, you can lose consciousness, being again in hot conditions.

It is enough to maintain a temperature of 24 ° C in the cabin. In this case, the driver will always remain dry and save himself from he alth problems. After reading the material, how to turn on the air conditioner in the car will no longer be a problem. And the device will be safe, and the driver and passengers will be he althy.