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Venting humidity from the cabin

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Mileage_Mofo, May 3, 2019.

  1. Mileage_Mofo

    Mileage_Mofo New Member

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    I'm looking for a way to vent the humidity with the windows up while camping in the car at night.
    I was thinking of trying to vent it through the dash vents, but I'm not sure if that's a viable option.
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you running a/c?
     
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  3. Mileage_Mofo

    Mileage_Mofo New Member

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    No, most nights without a/c
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you're not running the engine or hvac, you would need a fan set up to the battery vent or cracked window. not sure how effective it would be though.
     
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  5. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    On our cross country trips I carry a rechargeable jump starter along with a portable air compressor in case of emergency. It also can be used to power other things. How about getting a small, portable dehumidifier and powering it all night from that? That way it won't tax the car's systems.
     
  6. Mileage_Mofo

    Mileage_Mofo New Member

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    That's a good idea, I'll look around for a battery powered dehumidifier
     
  7. landspeed

    landspeed Active Member

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    Did you find a dehumidifier? Most use a compressor so actually use a lot of power and will drain the 12v battery very quickly.

    However you can run the fans built in to the car with the car off, using this info:

    Prius camping

    I like this mod, and need to look into how to run it off an external 12v (alternatively, get a new 12v if yours is worn and carry a jump pack just in case. I have jumped my car from a tiny 7ah 12v house alarm battery before so even one of those, kept charged, could be a good emergency jump pack!
     
  8. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    But it will tax the hell out of the portable battery.
    Any real dehumidifier will draw WAY too much power for that to work.
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    If you blow the humid air OUT, you must have an opening to draw fresh air IN.
    Maybe the vent ducts would do that; don't know.

    Search for a cheap "solar powered" window mounted car vent that runs on 12 V.
    That should have a low enough draw that it would run for a long time on a portable battery.
     
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  10. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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  11. landspeed

    landspeed Active Member

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    The car has vents in the rear - hidden behind the plastic covers and behind the bumper; if you use hobbit’s circuit in the link above, it will keep air flowing constantly from the front to the back.
     
  12. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    For what reason would someone avoid running the A/C?
     
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The built-in A/C will convert the humidity to condensed water, and vent the water out a drain tube through the floor.
     
  14. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Did I miss something? What would be the problem with water draining onto the ground?
     
  15. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Apparently you did.
    I didn't see him say, imply or hint at that being a problem.
     
  16. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Perhaps I read too much into someone posting immediately after "For what reason would someone avoid running the A/C?" with "The built-in A/C will... vent the water out a drain tube through the floor"
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the thread got messed up after you post #12. chap wasn't replying to you, he was letting the o/p know what a/c would do.
    o/p didn't say he didn't want to run a/c, he said most nights, he wasn't running a/c.
     
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  18. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Ok.

    I'm still wondering what is the purpose of building a Rube Goldberg device to avoid turning on the AC, but I'm just a dumb woman, so what can be expected?
     
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  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's probably too cool to run the a/c
     
  20. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I'm pretty square and I run the A/C routinely