[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;]This thread is to gauge interest in an off the shelf configurable T7Design Heater for the VX220. [/color]
This is not a commitment to buy and when the time comes any purchases of Heaters and Controls will be directly from T7Design, with whom I have no connection, with purchasing preference in the list order.
Most of the text below is from the “Heater Not Great’ thread that can be found here: http://www.vx220.org...ater-not-great/
T7Design were already working on a LHD Speedster heater based on their Midi unit, but it was a long way off. To get things moving (and selfishly to get me a heater immediately) T7 agreed to sell me the midi based prototype, with 3d printed parts (finished unit will be alloy) and in return I worked out the simplest installation I could, making some small components, testing the results and sending back pictures, measurements and the like.
[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;]Once the pain of getting the old heater out is over, I'm thinking anyone could fit this in an hour, it is pleasingly precision machined and the components used, like the powerful compact Spal twin fan, are well considered and very efficient, the temperature knob turns freely with full travel in each direction and most importantly it blows and heats…..a lot. [/color]
[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;]While I’ve mainly focussed on the heat produced in the original thread, when the heater is turned to COLD the matrix cools quickly, as it uses a bypass valve sending the hot water back to the engine, and the fan is much more powerful than the Elite one so I can actually feel that cold air blowing on my smiling face.[/color]
The only thing to be resolved at this time is that the heater valve works in opposition to the knob position.
[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;]The finished unit will be anodized silver or black, with bespoke fixings for the VX and options such as a larger [/color]
[color=#225985;]heater core[/color][color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;] for speedsters in colder climates, an integral filter is also being looked at.[/color]
Pictures here are of the prototype, so bear in mind its not anodised and some of the components I have made would not be up to a T7design production finish.
[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;]First try of this prototype of a VX 220 heater. Outside temperature is 0'c, radiator fans locked running to keep engine temp down at a steady 80'c. Output shown is from one of the [/color]
[color=#225985;]windscreen[/color][color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;] dash vents. Impressive as it's drawing ice cold air and no front clam is fitted so the unsealed heater box and hoses are also exposed. I should justify the temperature as running on the lowest fan speed and only through the [/color]
[color=#225985;]window vents[/color][color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:Helvetica;].[/color]
Video of first prototype working: [color=#0f72da;]https://youtu.be/IT9726PfWXc[/color]
Edited by 'Buchos', 05 March 2017 - 06:11 PM.