"Normal" Condenser Temp ?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Oklahoma City
"Normal" Condenser Temp ?
What is the Normal operating tempature range for an automotive A/C condenser?
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Truck Pictures
99 XLT 5.4L Regular Cab 4x2 120" Wheelbase 4 wheel disc brakes/ABS 5 star larait style wheels Toreador Red/Silver 3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL Delta toolbox, Ford Running Boards, Ventshades, Bugflector, Bullrings, Donnelly compass mirror, 2" Rear drop.
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)powered by a Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp
Kicker ZR360 for the 2 Audiobahn AWC10 subs
regcab54@sc.rr.com
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Truck Pictures
99 XLT 5.4L Regular Cab 4x2 120" Wheelbase 4 wheel disc brakes/ABS 5 star larait style wheels Toreador Red/Silver 3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL Delta toolbox, Ford Running Boards, Ventshades, Bugflector, Bullrings, Donnelly compass mirror, 2" Rear drop.
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)powered by a Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp
Kicker ZR360 for the 2 Audiobahn AWC10 subs
regcab54@sc.rr.com
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11
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From: New Orleans, La
45-48 degrees usually. Depends on conditions.
At Max fan and temp on 100+ degree days you will be lucky to get 50 degrees out. Cool mornings its possible to get in the upper 30's. It all dependes on the system and even the specific vehicle. A 99 F150 should work well and have no trouble meeting or exceeding the Temperatures above. R-134a doesnt cool as effeciently as R-12 though so if your system runs 3 or 4 degrees hotter than your friends older truck, its normal.
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1989 F-150, SWB 302 5spd 4+2.
K&N Filter, Turbo Exhuast
At Max fan and temp on 100+ degree days you will be lucky to get 50 degrees out. Cool mornings its possible to get in the upper 30's. It all dependes on the system and even the specific vehicle. A 99 F150 should work well and have no trouble meeting or exceeding the Temperatures above. R-134a doesnt cool as effeciently as R-12 though so if your system runs 3 or 4 degrees hotter than your friends older truck, its normal.
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1989 F-150, SWB 302 5spd 4+2.
K&N Filter, Turbo Exhuast
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 84
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From: Plano, Texas, USA
54,
My expertise in HVAC is primarily residential and commercial building systems, but they operate similar to what's in your truck.
The discharge air temp. of the condenser will vary for several reasons: heat load on system (i.e. how hot the cab is), ambient air entering the condenser, speed of vehicle and/or compressor (the major difference between house a/c and car is the constantly variable rpm's of the compressor), and the refrigerant charge.
What's a normal range? Well the old rule of thumb for R22 systems was 20-30 degrees above ambient is an average discharge air temp. I don't know if the R-134A systems run under similar values, since I haven't worked with that grade of refrigerant much, but my hunch would be you would find a comparable value. Since the condenser coil is mounted directly ahead of the radiator, it would be kind of tough to measure the temp, since the air leaving the radiator would carry the combined heat discharge from the engine and a/c system.
If you have a gauge manifold, a small set of numbers on the dial corresponding to what refrigerant is in the system will give you an approximate air discharge temp, since temperature and pressure in refrigeration are relative.
Sorry for the long post, but hope this helps!
[This message has been edited by Crazy C (edited 04-18-2000).]
My expertise in HVAC is primarily residential and commercial building systems, but they operate similar to what's in your truck.
The discharge air temp. of the condenser will vary for several reasons: heat load on system (i.e. how hot the cab is), ambient air entering the condenser, speed of vehicle and/or compressor (the major difference between house a/c and car is the constantly variable rpm's of the compressor), and the refrigerant charge.
What's a normal range? Well the old rule of thumb for R22 systems was 20-30 degrees above ambient is an average discharge air temp. I don't know if the R-134A systems run under similar values, since I haven't worked with that grade of refrigerant much, but my hunch would be you would find a comparable value. Since the condenser coil is mounted directly ahead of the radiator, it would be kind of tough to measure the temp, since the air leaving the radiator would carry the combined heat discharge from the engine and a/c system.
If you have a gauge manifold, a small set of numbers on the dial corresponding to what refrigerant is in the system will give you an approximate air discharge temp, since temperature and pressure in refrigeration are relative.
Sorry for the long post, but hope this helps!
[This message has been edited by Crazy C (edited 04-18-2000).]
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From: Oklahoma City
20 to 30 degrees.
Exactly what I wanted to know.
Just collecting info for my electric radiator fan mod.
When the A/C condenser goes over 120 degrees it will kick on the electric fan.
This will prevent it from running on the HWY unless its REALLY hot outside.
Exactly what I wanted to know.
Just collecting info for my electric radiator fan mod.
When the A/C condenser goes over 120 degrees it will kick on the electric fan.
This will prevent it from running on the HWY unless its REALLY hot outside.