The times when only one interior heater was included in the car “winter package” have long sunk into oblivion. Manufacturers have learned to make cars that provide their owners and passengers in the cold season with exactly the same comfort as on warm summer days. We decided to remind you which "winter" options you should pay attention to, and collected all the "amenities" in the perfect "winter package" that will be useful to any car owner.
1. Heated rear-view mirrors
Heated side mirrors is one of the most important "winter" options that directly affects traffic safety. In the absence of electric heating, external mirrors will give you a lot of headaches: the mirror elements will have to be manually cleaned of fogging and ice, and the view will be much worse than in similar heated mirrors. Today, this option can be considered mandatory for absolutely any car. It's definitely not worth saving.
2. Heated seats with step adjustment
The regular heating of the front seats and rear sofa is also very pleasant and useful option, available now even in cars of the lowest price segment. If you carry in a car, as a rule, only yourself, your beloved, it will be enough to heat the front seats, and if available big family if possible, it is worth considering the inclusion of rear sofa heating in the package. Pay attention to the convenience of using the option: quality cars heating certainly has several levels of adjustment, but not a key like on / off.
3. Heated steering wheel
If you sometimes have to drive in extreme cold, the electric steering wheel must certainly be present in the car. Thanks to this simple option, you will not need to warm your hands with your breath and wear slippery, uncomfortable gloves. Regular heating of the "steering wheel" is a different level of comfort, which makes no sense to refuse.
4. Electrically heated front and rear windows
If the electric heating of the rear window has long become a mandatory option for all cars without exception, then windshield heating is not yet available to everyone. If possible, do not refuse this simple but useful option. It helps to free the windshield from fogging and ice much faster, allows you to spend less winter washer and, ultimately, increases traffic safety in difficult winter conditions.
5. Heated washer jets
Cleanliness windshield heated washer nozzles also contribute. Isopropyl alcohol, on the basis of which winter windshield washer fluids permitted in Russia are mixed, tends to thicken strongly in the cold, which often leads to the inoperability of the entire glass cleaning system. Nozzle heating is an important option, without which you will have a hard time at temperatures below -20 ° C.
6. Headlight cleaning system
Headlight washers are the prerogative of cars in the middle and higher price segments. In this case, the option is often not very effective. However, with high-quality performance, it will save you from many problems when driving in bad weather in autumn-winter-spring conditions. clean hands and best review, especially in dark time days - not all the advantages of this option.
7. Heated armrests
Buyers of really expensive and comfortable cars sometimes quite exclusive winter options are offered. For example, Mercedes E- and S-classes have heated armrests. Why not! Keep your hands warm!
8. Floor mats
However, there are things that will not interfere with absolutely any car operated in the cold in Russia. These are, for example, rugs that protect the floor from dirt or snow. They greatly facilitate the cleaning of the interior and help keep the car in good condition. perfect condition, protecting, including the body floor. This option is a must-have.
9. Electric drive tailgate
If you're buying a hatchback or station wagon, look out for the tailgate lock. Due to the aerodynamic features of such bodies rear end car will always be in mud or snow. This means that every time you open and close the door, you will dirty own hands. Electric drive will save you from such a problem and help save a lot of nerve cells. Do not be stingy or choose a neat sedan.
10. Remote start/preheater
Importance of the system remote start it is difficult to overestimate in Russia. Thanks to it, you can not spend extra time bringing your vehicle V working condition or freeze in it, waiting for someone to deign to go out of the ventilation ducts warm air. Preheater salon - also a very pleasant and useful option that improves mood in the cold.
11. Heated "glove box"
Cooled "glove box" for most motorists has long become commonplace. But many probably did not even think about the possibility of heating it. If in the heat you may need to cool drinks, then in the cold, on the contrary, warm them up. You should definitely not underestimate this option!
12. High capacity battery
The battery plays a critical role in winter period operation. Many automakers that officially supply cars to Russia already supply their products with a high-capacity battery from the factory. Remember: what more capacity battery life, the more likely you are to start your car during extreme cold weather.
13. Washer level indicator
Washer fluid tends to run out quickly and suddenly in winter, especially if your car has a headlight cleaning system. In order not to get into an unpleasant situation, motorists are forced to carry a supply of “anti-freeze” with them or navigate by the reservoir indicator. The latter is not on every model. Meanwhile, your safety directly depends on its presence.
14. Full-size "spare" in the trunk
A conventional split system is used at outdoor temperatures ranging from -5° to +43°C. To cool the room in the frosty season when the thermometer marks on the street down to -30 ° C, a low-temperature kit or a winter package is installed in its outdoor unit, which includes several separate components. It solves a number of important technical problems, which will be discussed below.
Without such equipment, it is impossible to start the air conditioner in winter, as this provokes a breakdown of the device in a very short time.
This article will cover the most frequently asked questions regarding this equipment: what is its purpose, how it is arranged, how to install it, is it possible to operate the air conditioner in winter time not only for cold, but also for heating with such protection.
Operation of the air conditioner in winter
Before proceeding to the study of the main topic, it should be immediately stipulated that the use of a protective complex makes it possible only to cool the room in cold weather, while heating is excluded. You should not believe the reviews of users who have installed a winter kit for the air conditioner and claim that they have been successfully heated for more than the first winter. Even if the equipment does not fail immediately, then frequent repairs guaranteed in any case.
A device that ensures the operation of the air conditioning system for heat when low temperatures, simply does not exist, since it is impossible to arrange it purely technically.
The fact is that the working substance in the air conditioner - freon - when circulating along the circuit, absorbs heat and gives off cold, due to which the air is cooled. If this process occurs in cold weather, the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit becomes too large or oversized. To eliminate the problem, a rational solution was found - reducing its size by slowing down the rotation of the fan, which provides a rotation retarder or the so-called variator. It is part of the winter package for the air conditioner and maintains the necessary blowing of the heat exchanger with a fan.
When the heat exchanger, on the contrary, becomes too small or undersized. The solution to this problem has not yet been found, since it is impossible to increase this node purely physically. From this we can conclude that the low-temperature package does not affect the quality of heating in any way and is not able to provide it.
What generally happens when you start the air conditioner in winter for cold / heat, when the thermometer shows below 0 ° C? For normal heat transfer, the phase transition temperature must be 10-15°C lower than the ambient air temperature. If the thermometer shows less than 0 ° C outside, then the evaporation temperature will be minus. This causes freezing of the heat exchanger and a drop in performance, since there is a direct dependence on the evaporation pressure.
There is simply a lack of power for normal evaporation, and freon begins to flow to the compressor suction.
Those who allow the operation of the air conditioner in winter without additional equipment, risk damaging the equipment, since most often when the temperature limits set by the manufacturer are violated, a water hammer occurs, the compressor overheats due to freon getting there and its final breakdown.
Since it is impossible to increase the performance of the air conditioner during heating operation in cold weather with any winter set, it is recommended to use heat pumps with an enlarged heat exchanger to obtain heat.
The device and purpose of the winter package
What is included in the standard winter package installed on the air conditioner? This:
- fan rotation retarder;
- compressor crankcase heating;
- drainage heating.
The first component has several more names that can be found in the installation instructions. winter set on the air conditioner or in professional literature: fan speed variator, condensing temperature controller and fan speed retarder.
Its purpose is to change the performance of the outdoor unit fan according to freon pressure and optimize the operation of the air conditioner in a wide range of outdoor temperatures. The fan may then slow down or speed up depending on the electrical power going to its electric motor. The variator consists of:
- fees;
- connecting cable;
- temperature sensor.
The board is compact and is mounted on self-tapping screws in the electronics compartment, where dirt, dust and moisture are excluded. For installation, special mounting holes are provided. It has silicone layer protection and intelligent control. A temperature sensor is required to control the condensing temperature. Regarding its measurements, either the device is turned off or turned on. The colder, the more intense the work. When warming, as a rule, most modern winter kits have an automatic shutdown.
Compressor crankcase heating provides a warm start of the air conditioner. It heats the oil in the crankcase to normalize it. physical properties, thereby providing correct work compressor. If it happens cold start, then the oil foams and fills the cavity of the compressor, after which it breaks down.
In split systems, moisture removal from indoor unit It is made through a drainage hose, which is most often pulled outside. In winter, the condensate freezes very quickly. Drain heating eliminates this problem by heating the outlet tube. Ice does not form on the outlet, and condensate does not flood the room.
Most often, this element cannot self-regulate its work, therefore, a separate switch is provided at the facility so that the user can turn it off when the temperature rises.
Installation and connection of the winter kit
Before proceeding to consider the issue of installing and connecting the winter kit to the air conditioner, it should be noted that it was originally provided for on/off models. In inverter systems, there is no need for a control board, since the variability of changing the fan speed is already included in the control module of the external unit. They require only heating of the drainage and the crankcase of the compressor, that is, the installation is supposed to be in a truncated version. Any installation and commissioning work begins with studying the circuit diagram for connecting the winter kit to the air conditioner, which can be found in several places. For most devices, it is printed on the variator board or placed in the installation instructions for the winter package, which is included with the device itself.
Peculiarities
The circuit diagram cannot be the same for everyone, therefore, in each individual case, use the option recommended for a particular model.
Why is that? There are many nuances here. The fact is that split systems that work only for cold do not have a four-way valve, so the process is simplified. In devices operating in the heat pump mode, this element is present, which somewhat complicates the installation and connection of the kit to the air conditioner. Depending on the number of fan speed modes, installation can occur either in a phase break or in a neutral break. Some fans have a minimum speed mode corresponds to the minimum possible turnover, so installing a fan speed controller may not be practical.
Compressor crankcase heater and rotation controller
So, the installation of the winter kit on the air conditioner begins with the analysis of the outdoor unit housing. First, the module is dismantled, then the protective and top cover and remove the front panel.
First of all, the compressor crankcase heating is fixed. It is put on the lower part of the crankcase so that the oil is heated more efficiently. It is necessary to ensure the availability constant voltage. This will eliminate the possibility of cold start and foaming of the oil. After that, the rotation regulator is connected to open the fan circuit. For start-stop models, this usually requires individual nutrition. It is taken from a separately laid wire.
Also, when connecting the winter kit, it is envisaged to simultaneously turn on the variator with the start of the air conditioning compressor, while it should be possible to restore the previous split system scheme in case of elimination of the modification equipment.
The fan retarder has a temperature sensor. It is installed on the condenser coil, located in the middle of 1/3 of the upper part of the heat exchanger in the direction of freon movement. This is where their optimal contact takes place, providing precise definition condensation temperature. The variator itself is installed and powered, focusing on circuit diagram connecting the low-temperature kit to the air conditioner, while it is better to fasten its wires with plastic clamps - this will reduce the load on the terminals.
After connecting the power, the external unit is assembled, ensuring that all elements are securely fastened to their original places. Clamps connect the wires into one knot, trying to fix them so that they do not come into contact with the body of the device and the connecting lines of the two blocks. Be sure to check the performance of the regulator by first starting the air conditioner in cooling mode, and then in heating mode. Readings are taken with a pressure gauge or thermometer.
Drain heating
Then, drainage heating is installed, fixing it with plastic clamps to the drainage hose, and powering it. As a rule, if the external unit of the air conditioner does not have a power terminal, then an additional power cable is laid along with the interconnect cable. If there is a supply terminal, the drainage heating, as well as the compressor crankcase heating, is powered from it.
At the end of the article, an approximate winter kit connection diagram will be given, which is suitable for on / off models. For inverter split systems, the equipment is first diagnosed and only then the installation is carried out according to a suitable scheme. Some manufacturers produce air conditioners that are compatible with winter kits only of the same brand.
After all the installation steps are completed, you can start the air conditioner in operation, but for reliable operation in winter, the external protection of the outdoor unit must also be provided. In a private house, it can be placed in the under-balcony space, and in conditions apartment building the device is hidden under a special canopy that blocks direct access to precipitation.
Before installation, it is necessary to study the product passport with a circuit diagram.
What can warm modern car? In the simplest versions - only the rear window. The next step is heated rear-view mirrors. Its absence today is a sign of initial configurations, and even then not for all cars.
Warm front seats and a windshield became popular later, but now almost everyone has it. budget models on the Russian market. The heating of the rear sofa has already come to the B-class crossovers and, apparently, in a year or two it will appear at the classmates of the Lada Grant. A warm steering wheel has already taken this step. But heated washer nozzles, despite all their relevance for our country, are relatively rare.
There is also a genuine exclusive. Mercedes E- and S-classes are able to heat the armrests: the first - only for the front passengers, the second - for both rows of seats. However, they hardly have a place in our today's ranking. "Eshka" with this option costs more than 3.6 million rubles, "eska" - from 5 million.
In the late 1990s, there were still cars in which the heated rear window might not be factory equipped. We are talking about the VAZ-2106, which, however, was supposed to be compensated for such inferiority in the form of front power windows. Now you can't find these cars. So, if such a modest set is enough for you, then you can opt for the cheapest offers. Sedan Lada Granta costs from 383,900 rubles (hereinafter, prices for cars made in 2016 excluding promotions and special offers), the cheapest of foreign cars are Datsun on-DO(436,000 rubles) and Ravon R2 (469,000 rubles).
Heated exterior mirrors appear on the Grant worth 441,700 rubles. Here the gap with foreign brands is narrowing: for example, the option for Datsun sedan on-DO can be obtained by leaving 462,000 rubles at the checkout of a car dealership. True, the cheaper Lada will have air conditioning.
But in terms of heated front seats, Datsun puts all competitors on the shoulder blades. He has a couple of treasured keys included in the basic package on-DO models for 436,000 rubles. On the Grant, the same pleasure is available for at least 451,100 rubles, and of the “real” foreign cars, the cheapest offer is the Ravon R2 for 539,000 rubles.
Heating windshield- the fourth and last "warm" option available to Lad customers. With her, Grant will pull 467,000 rubles. An advantageous offer, because a similarly equipped Datsun on-DO will already cost 518,000 and at the same time has less powerful engine(87 versus 106 hp).
Want even more warmth? Prepare completely different amounts. has a heated windshield washer nozzle already in basic configuration for 585,000 rubles: this is the most profitable proposition options on the market. For comparison: related Volkswagen Polo acquires them only in the Comfortline version, which costs from 659,500 rubles, Hyundai Solaris with warm nozzles is estimated at at least 699,900 rubles, Kia Rio- at 794 900.
But the “Czech” and “German” do not have steering wheel heating, which they are ready to offer Korean stamps. For a Kia Rio with a warm "steering wheel" you need to pay 679,900 rubles. But Hyundai Solaris offers it only in the top configuration, which is estimated at least at 766,400 rubles. There is this "bells and whistles" and the sedan Ford Fiesta, but the price bites: from 900,000 rubles.
With an amount of about a million rubles, you can aim for more. So, Kia Soul for 904,900 rubles it has heated rear seats. True, the heating of the nozzles and the entire windshield will be in the red (only the wiper rest area is heated).
Advanced in terms of "warm" options can be Russian car. The latest update brought steering wheel heating to the UAZ Patriot in addition to the previously available wind and rear windows, mirrors, front and rear seats. There are no only warm washer nozzles. With a full set of factory heating, the Patriot costs 1,008,000 rubles.
| Heating of the entire area of the windshield, one might say, was included in the list of mandatory options for Russian market. In the initial versions of state employees it is not, but in more advanced trim levels modern machines will surely be found. Heating of the entire area of the windshield, one might say, was included in the list of mandatory options for the Russian market. In the initial versions of state employees it is not, but in more advanced trim levels of modern cars there is a must. |
Well, for real full set for humane money offers only one model - a hot novelty of this year, a crossover Hyundai Creta. For 1,024,900 rubles you will have warm front and rear seats, wind and rear window, mirrors, steering wheel and windshield washer nozzles.
Summarize. If we restrict ourselves to a basic set of “warmers”, then for a minimum of rubles they are offered by Lada Granta and Datsun on-DO. You can add Ravon R2 to them in the company, which is more expensive, but equipped with automatic transmission gears. Extended sets are more attractive with the "Koreans", and a completely complete set is a privilege of Hyundai Creta.
The winter kit for air conditioning allows you to use climatic equipment at low temperature indicators, turning this device into a universal one. And how he does it, let's try to figure it out now.
Basically, the heating function in the air conditioner is practically not used, since there are strict limits for the operation of climate systems in the cold season. If the outdoor temperature exceeds zero mark, then it is no longer recommended to use the device. Only some manufacturers make theirs in such a way that they can be used up to -7 ° C. Why is it so harmful to the modern split system?
Why You Shouldn't Use Air Conditioning in Winter
In order to understand why it is impossible to use the air conditioner in the cold season, you need to remember its principle of operation: the compressor pumps freon into the condenser-heat exchanger where it is cooled. After that, it compresses the gas to a liquid state and delivers it to the evaporator, in which the capture of warm energy from the air during evaporation takes place. After that, this energy is transferred by gaseous freon back to the condenser, where it gives it to the surrounding air, cooling and passing into the liquid phase. Giving heat to the street air, the gas becomes cold and transfers this cold from the street to your home, giving the brought cold to the evaporator, and at the same time to the air blowing it.
When climate system starts to work for space heating, the location of the condenser and evaporator is reversed using a device called a four-way valve. So why not use it in winter, many will ask.
The fact is that the principle of operation of any split system is based on condensation and evaporation, on heating and cooling. What happens when cold metal meets warmer, moister air? That's right, condensation forms, i.e. moisture, which simply freezes in cold air. When moisture appears in the air conditioner, it flows down the drain pipe outside the room. If this moisture freezes, and it will definitely freeze at temperatures below zero, then it will have nowhere to go and it will begin to seep through the pipeline connections into the device case, which will inevitably lead to its failure.
- In addition, in the cold, the oil in the compressor freezes, which can lead to a stop or serious wear.
- In conditions of cold air, freon will have nowhere to take heat to transfer it to the room, so the efficiency of air heating becomes almost zero.
- Cold freon may not have time to move from the liquid phase to the gaseous one, and will enter the compressor, which can cause a water hammer and simply kill the compressor and the freon line.
How a winter kit can help
The winter kit for the split system includes:
- A sensor that, at low temperatures, gives a command to the controller, slowing down the operation of the fan of the outdoor unit. This reduces the appearance of instrument icing.
- Special compressor oil heater when the air conditioner is not running. This maintains little in the liquid state and enables an easy start of the equipment.
- A device that heats the drainage pipeline, which saves it from freezing condensate and the formation of an ice plug.
Currently, some manufacturers produce the so-called low-temperature split systems, which are immediately equipped with equipment similar to the winter kit. They can work perfectly for cooling the air in the room, up to the temperature "overboard" -25C °. It is for cooling, and not for heating, since everything in this world is subject to physical laws, and especially the law of thermodynamics. It is impossible to get heat from the cold without spending energy on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsR0gLum_dU We foresee indignant exclamations about what the winter set is for, and who will cool the apartment in winter! The thing is that the cooling of the room in the winter is not necessary for people, but for some mechanisms and such rooms in which a large number of computer technology. In addition, cooling to certain temperatures is necessary in some laboratories and in certain technological cycles. It was for them that a winter air conditioner was invented, which can work for cooling even at sub-zero temperatures.
How to mount the "winter kit"
As a rule, such a set consists of three blocks:
- Compressor oil heater.
- A device that automatically adjusts the fan speed.
- Device for heating the drainage pipeline.
Connecting these devices will not be difficult for a person who is versed in technology, because on each of them, for clarity, a connection diagram is drawn. So, after connecting the devices, and especially the fan speed controller, you need to check its operation, that is, apply voltage to the contacts. If the fan starts spinning full force, and then slowed down according to the command of the temperature sensor, then the regulator is connected correctly.
Tip: If you really need to run the air conditioner when sub-zero temperature outdoor air and decided to install a winter kit, then contact the service department. And if you want to do at least something with your own hands to protect your split system, then purchase and install, which will protect it in the cold season from the harmful effects of precipitation.
