likwidchz

So as the topic says, I want to replace the heater core in my civic with an electric one, I honestly don't like the way the heater crap is setup in most cars with that valve becoming sticky and not allowing you to turn up and down the heat level easily. so I figured cap the lines on my h22, shave the hole "no pun" remove all the hoses, and simply wire it up to come on when the blower comes on.


So do they or does anyone know of a electric heater that would fit in the eg heater spot, if it sorta fit's that's ok I have plenty of time to modify it as it will be getting colder around here and I'll need it.

--Aaron

srmofo

I would think an electric heating element inside a big giant plastic box is a bad idea. why not just fix the "sticky" valve and be done with it.

Also there is more going on inside the heater box assembly then just air moving. Most of the heat change takes place because of the blend door. The valve just shuts off coolant flow to keep it from heating the entire assembly and being counter productive to AC.

IMO an electric heater is just asking for a car fire

likwidchz

Thank's for your input,

Although the way it would be wired, it would only be on when the blower motor is on 1, 2, 3, 4 speed.

Plus my engine bay is nearly shaved so id like to continue on that and find a different heating solution that isn't tackey.

--Also my car doesn't have ac, it's honestly stripped down to the bare minimum.

kzelisko

There shouldn't be any problems with fires as long as the heating element doesn't get any hotter than the stock heater core. It could theoretically be on all the time the car is and it shouldn't matter because once the engine is hot the heater core is hot until the engine cools off again. It would waster engine power when it is on unlike the stock heater core but i kind of doubt it would be noticable at anything above idle.

srmofo

^^^you obviously have no idea what you are talking about....Its an electric heater, it will get much hotter than an aluminum heater core because they operate differently (just look inside a toaster, thats the exact principal that electric heaters work on). The heater core does not get hot unless you turn the thermostat to the hot position. Thats what the water control valve is for. Adding an additional electrical load is not going to take any power from the engine either. The alternator is already spinning, the voltage regulator is just going to adjust.

fcm

Sorry srmofo, this time I have to disagree, but only because you don't know that they do make ceramic heating elements that can be placed in the plastic heater box to replace the heater core...
http://airwolfeautoair.com/Rides.html see the S10 in the last pix, it has a 4" ceramic heating element in it, the car is a 144V electric car, the heater is 12V.

You are correct, the ceramic heater could become very hot, but cont oles like, never on without blower on, 4 temp. settings tagged to the 4 blower speeds, over heat shut down and blower even with ign. off, if temp. above preset safety.

likwidchz just Google something like ceramic car heaters and go from there, should be available from electric car suppliers. 94

srmofo

I was unaware they made ceramic heaters that run off of 12volt....That definetly opens up the possibilty, but precautions like you mentioned must be taken to make sure that baby doesnt over heat and turn your car into a CAR-B-Q....I never really though to much into the electric vehicles and what they are using....The only electrics I work on are the prius's. Their AC compressors are electric motor driven.

kzelisko

Not all cars come with water control valves, there are plenty out there with coolant flow through the heater core all the time. And as for the alternator load, while it is spinning all the time, the force going against the pulley increases as load increases. If you listen while operating high electrical load you can hear the idle fluctuate slightly as the ecm compensates for the additional engine power requirement.