DIY: A/C Insulation

[talnlnky]

well, since the heater tube didn't bend as well as I had hoped for I had to use more electrical tape, and make more pieces of tube than I had wanted. So, it doesn't look as nice as I was hoping, but it still looks decent. I also ended up deciding to go without any foam.

The electrical tape is good to 220 degrees F, and the tubing i'd think would be good to at least 300 F. The tubing is fairly thick, so I don't think foam is necessary.

Yesterday I was able to finish the first lil curved pieced located near the radiator before the fiance got home. Will try and finish the rest tonight.

I won't have numbers on mine, since I only use AC about every two months when I do a 1000 mile trip. If nothing else, wrapping it in rubber tubing should help protect the pipes from corrosion or any damage from happening to them.

[supmet]

Originally Posted by talnlnky

I won't have numbers on mine, since I only use AC about every two months when I do a 1000 mile trip. If nothing else, wrapping it in rubber tubing should help protect the pipes from corrosion or any damage from happening to them.

That's an interesting point. If you wrap it in foil tape, it keeps water out. But if its just foam and zip ties like most people, I wonder if there is a chance of it actually increasing corrosion, giving the water somewhere to sit touching the pipe, rather than just hitting the pipe and evaporating or just sliding off.

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by supmet

That's an interesting point. If you wrap it in foil tape, it keeps water out. But if its just foam and zip ties like most people, I wonder if there is a chance of it actually increasing corrosion, giving the water somewhere to sit touching the pipe, rather than just hitting the pipe and evaporating or just sliding off.

well... moisture will only foam where there is air present, so, if the foam is perfectly on the pipe with no gaps or pockets for air, there will be no moisture. That's not practical however.

Another point tho.... moisture will only form where there is a significant change in temperature.... gotta drop the temp below the dewpoint with the given humidity....so, even if there are pockets of air under the foam, if the foam is insulating well from the outside, it still shouldn't be much of an issue.

I'm not a huge fan of using the foam simply for fire/heat issues.... and covering it up with that aluminum tape.... ehhh... looks ugly I think. I'm sure foam and tape however will be a better insulator than what i'm doing. I however don't really have much of a complaint with my ac to begin with... but figure this will help some, and on long trips, this might help me keep the AC off a bit more... thus increasing mpg's. Total weight added will be less than a pound too.

[ricepower]