Electric Heat, Any good way to add it? Options

[914fun]

Anyone know of a way to add electric heat and defrost? I have no heat exchangers and instead of adding them Id like to come up with a way to add some heat with electric heaters. The car will not be driven when it is very cold out.

[r_towle]

Has anyone looked into using a peletier device/ thermoelectric device?
I was under the impression that they produce heat/cold with low amperage requirements. This electric requirement is lower than a hair dryer type electric heater.

http://www.americool.com/aa.htm
One example.

I know that this has been tested and used in both Nasa and submarines with great success. It is also used in the Iraq war because it is low sound, this keeps it more stealth,,,all the while cooling the computers in the backs of the trucks, or on the backs of the soldiers.

Couple of questions.
What is the largest alternator that we can get for a 914?
Can a stock alternator be rewound (enough room) to make a large output

rich

[davep]

Has anyone looked into using a peletier device/ thermoelectric device?
I was under the impression that they produce heat/cold with low amperage requirements. This electric requirement is lower than a hair dryer type electric heater.

What is the largest alternator that we can get for a 914?
Can a stock alternator be rewound (enough room) to make a large output

Forget thermoelectric devices, I work with them every day, and I would not consider therm for use in a vehicle for either cooling or heating. First, they suck power BIG time. Second, in heat mode they are not really any more efficient than straight resistance heat but cost ten times more. Third, in cooling mode I doubt you could find the necessary room to mount a capable device, afford it, or power it.

Stock alternator is 50 amps, the biggest I have had made up is 90 amps and that is the limit of the stock housing. Try and price out a 200 amp alternator. It also will suck extra HP from the engine.

That is why the stock system works so well. Not to knock the oil cooler design , but also consider that it may slow the engine warmup time, and the engine may never get up to temperature in some situations.