Re: Ceramic heating element efficiency

[jon <jon@kenneke.com>]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but good old JC Whitney has 
little defrosters/heaters that have a cigarette lighter plug attached, all 
ready to go:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml?CATID=59029&BQ=jcw2
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=5639&BQ=jcw2
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=5632&BQ=jcw2

Yeah, yeah, I know these draw some amps, but for a short drive, 
they certainly make life a bit clearer.

Jon

On Tue, 22 Oct 2002, Thomas Shay wrote:

> The coat and boots and other cold weather clothing can
> only solve half the problem.  Defogging and defrosting the
> windows needs heat applied to the glass.  Yes, the coat
> sleeves do work as defoggers, but not nearly as well as warm
> air directed at the glass.  This isn't just a comfort issue, it's
> a safety issue, too.  In most venues,  there are laws about
> driving with obscured windows and sometimes citations are
> issued.
> 
> Tom Shay
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rod Hower" <Rod.Hower@ametek.com>
> To: <ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 5:09 AM
> Subject: Re: Ceramic heating element efficiency
> 
> 
> >
> > I have found the best heater is a good winter coat and some boots.
> > This may sound stupid, but the 25-40amp current draw on my 200V NiCd pack
> > seems to be more than I'm willing to give up when the winter coat works
> > just fine.
> > My wife disagrees, but I just tell her the heater is broken and save
> plenty
> > of amp-hours
> > in the process :-)
> > Rod
> >
> >
> >
> > On 21 Oct 2002 at 17:40, Victor Tikhonov wrote:
> >
> > > Can one estimate how efficient ceramic heaters are in terms of
> > > converting electric watts into Joules (sorry, BTUs)?
> > >
> > > I want to know if I get, say 100V 5A ceramic heater(s) in the place
> > > of former heater core and blow an air through it, will I get
> > > more/equal/less heat than if I get 100V 5A water heater, immerse it
> > > in a small water tank circulating hot water through the stock core,
> > > and blow equal amount of air through that core?
> >
> > The more direct the connection between the busy little electrons and the
> > occupants' bodies, the lower the losses.  Probably the ideal heater is
> > heated
> > suits for the driver and passengers.
> >
> > If you are going to heat the air in the vehicle, the more efficient way is
> > to heat
> > the air directly with a heating element of some kind.  IMO, the only
> > advantage
> > to a liquid heater is that it's easier to install because you can leave
> the
> > old
> > heater core in place.  But it heats up more slowly, and (potentially)
> > wastes
> > more energy through losses in the tank and plumbing.
> >
> > David Roden
> > Akron OH USA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 

-- 
Jon Kenneke KA7PGB
Kenneke Communications
http://www.kenneke.com
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