On 01/16/2014 10:49 AM, Allen Beddingfield wrote:
This is my Facebook status this morning, but I thought I would throw
it out here for people to discuss :)
With all of our technology, why do we not yet have an instant-on
source of heat for defrosters in cars? Sure, the manual in the car
says that modern engines don't have to be warmed up, etc... what good
is that if I still have to let the car sit for ten minutes to warm up
the coolant enough to make the defroster blow warm air? Otherwise, the
windshield and windows are just going to fog up completely about a
mile from where you start? If the engine is running, couldn't we
generate enough electricity to power a heater pointing at the
windshield for long enough for the engine to warm up?!
My guess is no. An idling engine doesn't put out all the current the
the alternator can produce. I'll have to run the numbers but even if
it's 15 amps (which I doubt) that's only 180 watts. Compare that to a
space heater at 1500 watts. It would be a drop in the bucket.
Install a tank heater and plug it in at night. The engine coolant will
be warm in the morning and take less time to get up to temperature.
You will get warm air from the vents right away, albeit not enough to do
much warming of the car.
Jim.
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