Frank Fontaine

Wonder if anyone for the heck of it tested their car on the dyno with and w/o a/c? I've always felt as if the a/c took a noticable amount of hp at low speeds.

wdave

Probably less than 2 hp. My room unit is 7.5a max at 120v - that's 900 watts (and a lot bigger space to cool). 1hp = 746 watts. Most automotive ac systems disengage the compressor clutch at WOT, bet the Max does too.

Soon2BMaxed

wow, do u think its only 2hp? it weird that you can really tell the power loss when you turn it on and its an amount that little.

wdave

That might be conservative as the pulley system and compressor might not be terribly efficient but it still wouldn't be much. Note that gas mileage will be better at highway speed with AC on and windows closed than AC off and windows open.
2hp is a lot at idle - how much hp is the engine making at that speed?
Notice that you don't feel it at highway speeds where the engine is making some hp at 2500 or so revs. Look at the power curve and think what even 5hp would do to you when not in the power band.

mattattax

don't some people take out their compressors b/c they weigh so much? I think Integra Type-Rs didn't even come with A/C for that reason

Yellowbrother

i think when i read the haynes manual it said at wot the compressor is turned off...

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

same hp at WOT as the UDP at WOT

xHypex

iTrader: (1)

The compressor does shut off at WOT, but I think you have to keep it at WOT for a little while. You'll really notice it on the highway in 5th while accelerating It gets warm really fast.
-hype

Cumalot

iTrader: (8)

Yup, I don't think the compressor shuts off immediately at WOT. You have to keep at it for awhile. I just shut the a/c off when I'm racing someone to make things easier.

Turbo95Max

iTrader: (25)

remember when the ac isnt on its a free running pulley. meaning if its not on, there is no drag on the motor. the only thing is the weight that slows you down.