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hvac:insulation [2022/01/21 23:03] princess_fluffypants [Tips and Tricks] |
hvac:insulation [2023/06/20 12:27] mahkato add uninsulated option |
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====== Insulation ====== | ====== Insulation ====== | ||
- | Boy oh boy is this a complicated topic. | + | There is no clear solid consensus on what the " |
[[https:// | [[https:// | ||
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Insulation can help retain heat in cold weather, and reduce transfer from hot body panels in direct sunlight in warmer weather. Insulation will not, by itself, make your van cooler than ambient in the summer or warmer than ambient in the winter. But it will help when aided with either [[hvac: | Insulation can help retain heat in cold weather, and reduce transfer from hot body panels in direct sunlight in warmer weather. Insulation will not, by itself, make your van cooler than ambient in the summer or warmer than ambient in the winter. But it will help when aided with either [[hvac: | ||
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+ | ==== The Uninsulated Option ==== | ||
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+ | If you are willing and able to [[camping: | ||
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+ | Financial considerations might mean you need to consider your vehicle a [[rv: | ||
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+ | Temperatures inside an closed uninsulated vehicle can get dangerously hot when the sun is shining, even when it's not particularly hot outside. Keep in mind that water tanks and lines need to be protected from freezing at all times. If the weather takes a particularly cold dip when you aren't expecting it, you need to heat or drain your water first. In hot weather, warm tanks will grow bacteria more quickly | ||
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+ | [[https:// | ||
===== Tips and Tricks ===== | ===== Tips and Tricks ===== | ||
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4-Way stretch carpet is ideal for this. Because it has some give to it, it's possible to mold it over and around all the sort of crazy compound curves that makes up the van body. Many videos on youtube showing this process, here https:// | 4-Way stretch carpet is ideal for this. Because it has some give to it, it's possible to mold it over and around all the sort of crazy compound curves that makes up the van body. Many videos on youtube showing this process, here https:// | ||
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+ | ==== Open-Cell vs Closed-Cell insulation ==== | ||
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+ | https:// | ||
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===== The effect of " | ===== The effect of " | ||
- | Total R-Value is the //total// R-Value of a given construction. This takes into account the fact that different | + | Total R-Value is the //total// R-Value of a given construction, taking |
- | + | ||
- | Total R-Value is the calculation that works out, when given the square inches/footage of the different R-Values, what the effective R-value of the whole structure will be. | + | |
- | Vans are really hard to insulate well in the first place, because they' | + | A basic van insulation build for the walls will have an R-Value of **~5** ((some sheet insulation like 400 thinsulite, some mini-cell foam for the floor and a basic liner to cover up all of the ribs and make sure we don't have any exposed metal)), and a crazier build for ski bums might have an R-Value as high as **8-10** ((Filling every single nook and cranny with 600 Thinsulite, mini-cell foam and poly-sty sheet for the floors, maybe poly-sty for the walls as well covered with plywood or wood slats or even 4-way stretch carpet)). |
- | Single-pane windows (Such as used in cars) has an R-Value of 1 ((actually closer to .91)). | + | Single-pane windows (Such as used in cars) has an **R-Value of 1** ((actually closer to .91)). |
Let's look at some examples of how this dramatic heat loss from windows affects the total insulation of your van using [[https:// | Let's look at some examples of how this dramatic heat loss from windows affects the total insulation of your van using [[https:// | ||
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**WUT?!** You went bat-shit nuts and lost a ton of interior space, and your van is still leaking heat like a sieve because of the massive loss through those windows. | **WUT?!** You went bat-shit nuts and lost a ton of interior space, and your van is still leaking heat like a sieve because of the massive loss through those windows. | ||
- | BUT. Let's assume we do a bit of insulation on the windows. Nothing crazy, just add some window covers | + | BUT. Let's assume we do a bit of insulation on the windows. Nothing crazy, just add some window covers |
{{ : | {{ : | ||
//WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT!// Just by covering the windows, poorly, and insulating the rest of the van to a kinda-mediocre level, you've got NEARLY TWICE the total system insulation as if you did a completely nutso, bonkers, over-the-top insulation job but haven' | //WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT!// Just by covering the windows, poorly, and insulating the rest of the van to a kinda-mediocre level, you've got NEARLY TWICE the total system insulation as if you did a completely nutso, bonkers, over-the-top insulation job but haven' | ||
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+ | **TL;DR - COVER YOUR DANG WINDOWS IF YOU'RE TRYING TO STAY WARM** | ||
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+ | Speaking of... | ||
+ | ---- | ||
===== Windows ===== | ===== Windows ===== | ||
Many companies make window coverings for vans, some are available with Reflective coating to help keep the sun out. Others are thickly insulated to help keep heat in. Prices and quality range from very minimal, to very expensive. | Many companies make window coverings for vans, some are available with Reflective coating to help keep the sun out. Others are thickly insulated to help keep heat in. Prices and quality range from very minimal, to very expensive. | ||
- | Some sources: | + | Van Essentials has a pretty good [[https:// |
+ | |||
+ | Some other sources: | ||
* https:// | * https:// | ||
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If you don't have panels, the heat from the sun can easily make the interior sheet metal burning hot to the touch. Covering it with some insulation (and [[hvac: | If you don't have panels, the heat from the sun can easily make the interior sheet metal burning hot to the touch. Covering it with some insulation (and [[hvac: | ||
- | ===== further | + | ===== Further |
See [[https:// | See [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | See [[https:// |