Dehumidification!

Post by **Cam** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:10 pm

So, has anyone got any tried and tested ideas for dehumidifying a Minor?

Only I have a bit of condensation in Gracie and would like to be rid of it.

I have thought of a small mains powered heater and dehumidifier but wondered if anyone has any other tried and tested solutions?

Post by **Matt** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:43 pm

How about a big bag of silica gel? every so often take it out and put it on a radiator and put it back....

was going to do that in the traveller but never got around to it...

Post by **Packedup** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:17 pm

Not sure if this is any good: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... nisers.htm

Been thinking about getting one myself sometime as my rear demist on the daily driver doesn't seem to work, and the rear carpets are a bit damp too.

Post by **Cam** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:23 am

Packedup, I've been looking at those and wondering how effective they would be. I wonder how they work too.

My dad's also offered to lend me his home dehumidifier, but I think it might be a bit over the top.

Matt, where would you get this big bag of Silica gel from?

Post by **Matt** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:36 am

well you get little ones in all the electrical stuff you buy and you collect it all up.....

or you get some freindly person who can order chemical supplie to order a kilo of it for you....

Post by **wimor** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:21 am

Hi Cam,

One this site you can find information. http://www.munters.com We have good experiences with this company. It’s important that for car storage the relative humidity is 45%.
Success.

Wimor

Post by **sixdogs** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 1:17 pm

I have found that dehumidifiers are not very effective at low temperatures. To remove any signififcant amount of water, the temperature needs to be in excess of 20 Centigrade.

Also. at low temperatures, it takes very little introduced water to send the relative humidity soaring. Just a little moisture off the tyres is enough to raise the humidity in my unheated garage to 100%.

I think the best option, given that it will cost the earth to heat an uninsulated garage, is to use a modest amount of heat to maintain a temperature above that where condensation will occurr, and allow ventilation whenever the weather conditions are favourable. The main thing is to make sure the temperature in your garage is above the outside temperature.

Clive.

Post by **wimor** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:45 pm

Clive,

You are right. The best way is heating up to 20 degree Celsius. The relative humidity shows the relation between the actual quantity water in the air and the maximum quantity water that the air can contain at a definite temperature.
How higher the temperature how more water the air can contain. In this perspective the ideal situation for storing your car is; 20 degree C and 45% relative humidity in an isolated garage.

But, when you have not de possibility to heating up your garage to 20 C and you have a humidity problem (condensate). You must dry the garage as far as possible away from the dew punt. Dry the air until the air absorbs the water. The only realistic way of doing this is with use of a mechanical way. An absorption gel will saturate to quick.

See the mechanical principle as shown in the picture below. Soory its in Dutch

Greetings, Wimor

Post by **Peetee** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:07 pm

Cam, if the engine and heating work the simplest solution is to run the engine and heater for about half an hour to get the inside of the car nice and hot/warm. that hopefully will allow the air to absorb the condensation and you just open all the windows and get the stuff out!

Post by **sixdogs** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:35 pm

wimor wrote:Hi Cam,

One this site you can find information. http://www.munters.com We have good experiences with this company. It?s important that for car storage the relative humidity is 45%.
Success.

Wimor

On further reflection, it would not be easy to keep a heated house to 45% relative humidity in this country in Winter, let alone a garage. 65% would be dry as things go, considering it is usually in excess of 90% outdoors. It's a case of letting the inside humidity build up or open a window and let even wetter air in !!. I hang a bit of MIG welding wire inside the moggy garage and check it for rust from time to time.

Clive.

Post by **Cam** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:22 pm

Thanks guys. I was thinking of borrowing a dehumidifier and running it after heating the inside of the car up with a small oil-filled radiator. Of course that's a 'one-shot' solution and not a permanent arrangement.

My MG in the workshop garage is fine. Nice and dry and dusty! But Gracie under the car port is a bit damp. I might just dry her out manually (carpet removal and heat up the inside) and see how she goes.

Thanks for all the info and suggestions though folks.

Post by **MikeNash** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:43 pm

Dear Adolf,
Have you seen the product tests in the current issue (February!) of Practical Mechanics? Cheapest of their Recommended is the £139.99 Screwfix 10370 model. Tests include checks at 1C which is important for us. Their Best Budget Buy is the Clarke CD1150 at £99.99.
And a Merry Wotsit to you all, MikeN.

Post by **Cam** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:00 pm

Ooooh! I have not seen that as I don't read anything with 'practical' in the title.

Well, practically anyway...

Seached in machine mart for the CD1150 and they don't seem to stock it.

Oh and Merry wossname to you too!

Post by **MikeNash** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:25 pm

Dear Mr Cam,
Just seen these (now tries new skill on wormholes)
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_te ... fiers.html
Regards, MikeN.

Post by **MikeNash** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:28 pm

Corr! Wot happened there then? Just go thro' the front door at
www.dry-it-out.com -there's a comparative test. MikeN.

Post by **Cam** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:54 pm

Cool. Thanks for the links Mike. Bit expensive though. I saw a cheap 1200W fan heater in Halfords for £20. That might help a bit too!

Post by **lowedb** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 1:25 pm

I use one from B&Q, but it's not perfect this time of year.

Like some of those tested by practical classics, it's meant to work down to 1C, and for a while it does. It has a reverse cycle, or hot gas defrost which works for a bit, but doesn't completely defrost it. After a while the frost builds up so much that it never clears until you switch it off.

The other problem is that the electronics are just above the evaporator, and condensation ends up forming there. This would be OK but the PCB is not humidity resistant and the elctronics give up the ghost. Had do employ a design modification to fix this (now at least doesn't stop working when it's damp) but still have to switch off if its below 3 for more than a couple of days.

Post by **MikeNash** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:44 pm

Dear Mr Cam,
Don't know if you got sorted, but if not, have you seen the SLEMCKA dehumidifiers being sold by Woolworths' under the name of Tranquility Air?
They're about 12in highx10inx8in and say they'll remove 350cc per day and hold 1litre capacity before needing to be emptied. Apparently they were £39.99 now reduced to £19.99.
Saw them two days ago at the giant Woolies on the Newcastle Shopping Park (at the top end of the Fosse Way). Couldn't break open a box to see the principle of operation or read more 'cos I was carrying the grand-daughter. Regards, MikeN.

Post by **Cam** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 5:50 pm

Not got it sorted yet Mike but thanks for the info. When you say Newcastle I assume you mean upon-Tyne and not Staffs?

Post by **MikeNash** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:37 pm

Yes! Didn't know there was another one! But there'll all up there with you anyway. (Andover to Newcastle and back! 600 miles cruising at 60-65 all the way! Ahh, wot fun!) MikeN.