car ventilation

Submitted: Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 20:48

ThreadID: 3216 Views:2246 Replies:7 FollowUps:11

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Andrew

Evening all, I'm looking at a way to ventilate my patrol while I'm running my chescold fridge on gas while parked. Essentially I would like to be able to lock and secure my truck, and be able to leave it for several hours(up to 5 or 6), making running on 12v out of the question. Is there some 12v window mounted exhaust fan that is water proof, easily installed and removed, and reasonably break in proof? I hate having to leave the windows down a little bit for 3 reasons (1) in case it rains (2) It doesnt really extract the gas unless very windy (3) paranoid someone is breaking in to my truck while i'm bushwalking 2hours away? Thanks in advance. Andrew...(P.S Engel doesn't suit my needs).

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Reply By: bruce.h - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:04

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:04

Andrew
saw in an inavations catalog a solar powerd window fan that you rolled the window closed on so nobody couled get into car as it left no gaps have n't seen them since but that may give you starting point
Regards Bruce

AnswerID: 12438

Follow Up By: Thepublican - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:26

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:26

Sold at Super Cheap Auto.

FollowupID: 7252

Follow Up By: Bruce Henderson - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:28

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:28

are they any good havnt tried them my self but have got other stuff fromm inivations cat. & have been happy with the quality

FollowupID: 7253

Follow Up By: Thepublican - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:46

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 21:46

Work well ,best to use 2, we use ours on L/R rear doors ,try to park nth/sth so at least 1 unit catching sun to power fan,at a rough guess would say locked vehicle temp 7/10 deg less in summer using fans than without use; have not had any security problems while in use,

FollowupID: 7255

Follow Up By: Andrew - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 17:23

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 17:23

Sounds ideal. Do they cover the whole width of the window, or are there different models for different cars? How much roughly?

FollowupID: 7294

Reply By: Truckster - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 22:38

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 22:38

Remember if you park your car for 4-7 hours etc and leave it in remote area, wont matter what you do, 1 rock thru window and they are in..

Easily installed and secure are hard to find on anything like that.. If its quick and easy to install,its gonna be the same to uninstall....

Good luck!

AnswerID: 12447

Follow Up By: Andrew - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 17:20

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 17:20

I appreciate what you say, however it is mainly for van parks and similar where it is just to keep the soft criminals out, kids, passers by, opportunists. Sad though, everyone isnt as honest as ouselves!

FollowupID: 7293

Reply By: Eric - Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 22:54

Monday, Feb 03, 2003 at 22:54

Andrew.
Just a suggestion; You have a fan already under the dash connected to outside air, why not put a solar panel on the roof and run the vehicle fan, you would nead a diode in the wire from the heater switch to stop the solar panel trying to run other accesories. Eric.

AnswerID: 12450

Reply By: G.T. - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 09:20

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 09:20

I may be wrong, others will correct me if I am, but I thought that L.P.G. is heavier than air. If this correct, a fan would have to be mounted at floor level to have any effect, also it would have to be vented to the outside of the vehicle as well at this level. A window mounted vent would not have much effect as the gas would be lying at floor level. Has any one else have any comments re this.Regards G.T.

AnswerID: 12466

Follow Up By: Member - Mal - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:04

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:04

GT, one would hope that the LPG has combusted thus producing Carbon Dioxide and water vapour if my chemistry is correct, so would not be much of a problem.
Mal T.

FollowupID: 7270

Follow Up By: Stephenf - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:10

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:10

Ideally that's true, but what if there was a gas leak for any reason? The LPG pools on the floor, the driver opens the door and there is a small spark as the courtesy light switch operates .....

Thats why caravans with gas appliances are required to be ventilated.

Stephen.

FollowupID: 7271

Follow Up By: Member - Mal - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:27

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:27

Stephenf,
I agree with you whole heartedly. That's why I would never leave any flame burning in my vehicle. If I wanted to leave my gas fridge while bushwalking, I would build a steel cage for fridge and gas bottle and secure it to the outside of the vehicle. Most opportunist thieves don't carry hacksaws or bolt cutters, only those who would break into your vehicle anyway are that prepared. Just my 2bob's worth. Mal T.

FollowupID: 7272

Reply By: Bruce Henderson - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 16:28

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 16:28

interesting point guys i know there was i guy killed in perth about 12 years ago got into his van which had his gas gear for his plumbing business started the motor & blew the car & himself sky high , he didnt even smell the gas, next question is it legal to leave agas fridge running inside a car???

AnswerID: 12485

Reply By: Andrew - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 17:16

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 17:16

Thanks for the inputs. Those solar panel fans sound ideal and yes i would get two. However, am a little concerned about the explosion possibilties. I must say I never just get in the car and start it straight after it has been locked up, I always open all the doors and windows for as long as possible before starting car. I'm not sure the courtesy light is an issue as it is only on the ceiling not doors and i always have it switched right of so it doesn't come on automatically. Don't know about not smelling the gas, not surprised a plumber didn't smell it, those poor guys become imune to anything that smells bad. I can always smell a bad gassy smell. (i hope). Andrew...

AnswerID: 12489

Follow Up By: Brian - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 18:42

Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003 at 18:42

I think that the risk of lpg escaping is to great and would spend the money and get a dual battery system. Also don't know weather the insurance company would like gas running in the car!!
my 2¢ worth
Brian

FollowupID: 7297

Follow Up By: Stephenf - Wednesday, Feb 05, 2003 at 13:04

Wednesday, Feb 05, 2003 at 13:04

Andrew, the spark occurs at the switch, not the light, and almost every courtesy-light switch I have seen is in the door opening at about seat level.

Stephen.

FollowupID: 7316

Reply By: bruce - Wednesday, Feb 05, 2003 at 10:55

Wednesday, Feb 05, 2003 at 10:55

If engel or whatever 12v fridge does not suit your needs they would be a lot cheaper option than having to replace your rig out of your own pocket if some thing did go wrong , I am not sure if your insurance company would be very happy with you leaving a flame burning inside your vehicle and unattended...but... good luck

AnswerID: 12534