Trying to stay cool!

What is an A/C system?

It is an independent system riding piggy back as an accessory on almost 80% of the vehicles manufactured today. The design in almost every vehicle application is very close to the same with very few changes in design between manufactures, since 1939 when it was first introduced to the automotive industry.

An A/C system has many components linked together with a series of hoses, steel or aluminum pipes. In simple terms the pressurized system works in theory, very similar to your refrigerator using almost the same components, adapted to function in a mobile environment.

The Air-conditioning system is a relatively simple system to understand!

If you understand how the air-conditioning system works it will help you make decisions about maintaining or repairing your vehicles A/C system. To help illustrate the simplicity of the pressurized A/C system, think of an automotive air-conditioning system as a tire. If the tire is full of air, the vehicle can be run on it. If the tire is flat it will need to be filled back up again. However, you have to ask the question: “Why is the tire flat? Does it have an obvious leak or a slow leak? How much will it cost to repair the leak so that it will function, under pressure, the way it was intended to?

There are many different reasons that an A/C system stops working.

One of the key requirements of automotive refrigeration is a full charge of refrigerant. If the system does not have a full charge, performance will be compromised significantly. In an effort to minimize the damage that can be caused to the hart of the system, (the compressor) by running the system without a sufficient charge, most systems have a low pressure switch to monitor the internal pressures of the air-conditioning system. If the static pressure falls below a preset minimum, the electrical circuit to engage the compressor clutch is interrupted to prevent the Compressor from engaging.

Refrigeration in an automotive environment.

I like to compare the automotive A/C system to a refrigerator as the theory for the most part is the same with one major difference. That being the mobile nature of the automobile. Many adaptations to the system are necessary to allow a refrigeration system to become portable and function independently in an automotive environment.

Some of the challenges are: Vibration and the need for flexibility between components. Exposure to the elements constantly changing like temperature & humidity. Vulnerable components placed at the very front of the vehicle subject to stones and impact. Fatigue on components as a result of all the vibration that takes place in a vehicle causing unnecessary ware.