AC evaporator runoff

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Well that certainly wouldn't work in the desert. The evap doesn't produce any water here! I also don't have a need for windshield washers or defrosters.
 
Originally Posted by dishdude
Well that certainly wouldn't work in the desert. The evap doesn't produce any water here! I also don't have a need for windshield washers or defrosters.

Exactly what I was gonna say
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Mine only drips a few days a year.
 
Right. But water is better than an empty reservoir I think.

Not that anybody buys the wiper fluid from a dealer -- but Honda, for example, doesn't sell you the wiper fluid as a liquid anymore. What they have is solid pellets that are placed into a gallon of water to produce a suitable fluid to wash the windshield.

The logical endpoint of that, I think, is that the evaporator runoff can be used in conjunction with a solid like this.

https://www.collegehillshonda.com/product/08798-TABS.html
 
Originally Posted by jharrison
Right. But water is better than an empty reservoir I think.


Maybe in Florida since you have a ton of bugs and it doesn't freeze, but in areas where it does freeze a system full of only water could cause some damage.
 
The effort and cost to engineer and implement the system isn't worth it when you can purchase water and washer fluid for relative pennies. Just my opinion!
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Originally Posted by cpayne5
The effort and cost to engineer and implement the system isn't worth it when you can purchase water and washer fluid for relative pennies. Just my opinion!
smile.gif



Have to admit it's not a bad idea! I like the creativity.
 
It doesn't need any type of pump, etc. You would just make the reservoir low and wide so the whole assembly sits below the evaporator and let Isaac Newton run the show. You would just drop the pellets into the reservoir periodically instead of a liquid. The guys in the desert would recover more evaporate if it drained directly into a tank and the people in colder climates would benefit from the chemicals in the tablets. And you could always top the tank up with a liquid if you needed to.
 
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Originally Posted by jharrison
It doesn't need any type of pump, etc. You would just make the reservoir low and wide so the whole assembly sits below the evaporator and let Isaac Newton run the show. ...
It might be awkward to mount it low enough for that to work. You'd also need to filter the dirt (from air) and mold out of the water, so would have one more filter to change.

The washer is needed mainly in winter. "Evaporator runoff" happens mainly in warm weather.
 
Originally Posted by jharrison
Right. But water is better than an empty reservoir I think.

Not that anybody buys the wiper fluid from a dealer -- but Honda, for example, doesn't sell you the wiper fluid as a liquid anymore. What they have is solid pellets that are placed into a gallon of water to produce a suitable fluid to wash the windshield.

The logical endpoint of that, I think, is that the evaporator runoff can be used in conjunction with a solid like this.

https://www.collegehillshonda.com/product/08798-TABS.html


The pellet thing is actually pretty cool.... no jugs relatively bulky windshield washer fluid jugs taking up shelf space. But as someone who's had their windshield washer fluid freeze on them, I'd definitely take a dry reservoir over it all freezing.
 
Originally Posted by Skippy722

The pellet thing is actually pretty cool.... no jugs relatively bulky windshield washer fluid jugs taking up shelf space. But as someone who's had their windshield washer fluid freeze on them, I'd definitely take a dry reservoir over it all freezing.


The pellet doesn't offer any freeze protection.
 
Originally Posted by Linctex
Originally Posted by Skippy722

The pellet thing is actually pretty cool.... no jugs relatively bulky windshield washer fluid jugs taking up shelf space. But as someone who's had their windshield washer fluid freeze on them, I'd definitely take a dry reservoir over it all freezing.


The pellet doesn't offer any freeze protection.


Now it is no longer a cool idea...
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But now I have a business idea, I just need a chemist.
 
Related, household air conditioner condensate comment. I used the thread a garden hose on the drain, and run it over to the pecan trees. It could keep 2 well watered. In the heat of summer it ran a continuous trickle. About the only advantage to Missouri high humidity. Needed to be moved 2X a day. This also avoids the wet spot next to the house that can function as a termite attracting area.

Rod
 
Sort of related, in the interest of economy---Dad's 69 VW Van used a hose that you screwed onto the valve stem on the spare tire (which was in front) to pressurise the water bottle. Worked great, although a gage woulda been nice.
 
My home A/C runoff drains into a bowl that multiple animals drink from.

It's very clean water as long as there's not biological build up in the system.
 
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The pellet doesn't offer any freeze protection.

*Those* pellets don't offer any freeze protection, but there's no reason why you couldn't offer a formulation that does - ie. employing polyethylene gylcol.
 
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