Best dehumidifier for in the car

[Technoholic]

Hi all

My TVR has to live outside all year round which is normally fine but now we’re coming to this time of year, I’m suffering from a lot of condensation inside, partly due to the weather and partly due to the fact that I’ve not got it totally dry inside after some leaks (a job I need to do, if anyone can suggest something I can dry it out with easily hat would be great)

So I want to get some dehumidifiers to our inside the car. What’s the best out there that aren’t too expensive, and maybe that can be dried out and used again? I’d probably look to put 3 or 4 in there just to be extra sure so shouldn’t be too expensive either.

Also, what are people’s opinions of using those low powered sealed waterproof greenhouse heaters inside a car to keep it dry/dry it out?

Thanks

[Technoholic]

Scrump said:

I used a greenhouse heater tube under my motorbike which sat in my unheated garage under a cover for a few years. I wired it via a thermostat and it worked well.
Not sure how effective it will be in a car, it will heat the interior (if it can heat a greenhouse) but will it have any effect on condensation? You would also need to run a power cable into the car which presumably would leave open a route for more moisture to enter.

I was thinking more from a drying it out perspective. But yeah I'd need to find the best way to get the cable out with the smallest gap, which could be hard

[Technoholic]

Demelitia said:

You can buy bulk silica desiccant on the internet.
Fill a Tupperware box with a load of tiny holes drilled in the lid and stick it somewhere in the car.
Once it starts to lose its effectiveness you can bring it in and dry it all out in a baking tray in the oven at something like 110-120c.

When out driving, as you’re a minute or so away from home, turn the heating all the way down, fan up high and open the windows.
This gets all the moisture you’ve been breathing out that’s held suspended in the warm air away and stops it from condensing on the windows as soon as they cool.

As far as drying it out is concerned, either a very long drive with the blowers and heat on full whack, windows cracked open, or borrow a proper house dehumidifier off someone on a dry day. Extension lead out in to the car, though a slightly open window.
Put a towel in the gap to make sure you’re only drying the air in the cabin.

Being mindful to always try park it in what little sun we get can also help.

Good suggestions, I will look into bulk silica and maybe hiring a dehumidifier. But will a dehumidifier actually draw moisture out of the carpets etc? I will use a wet vac to get the actual major wetness out but obviously the remaining water is going to be trapped in the carpet. I don't know how a dehumidifier could get that out?

[Technoholic]

designforlife said:

big bag of this-



and a couple of these-



The refillable traps work better than the sealed bags, and you'll have the satisfaction of emptying them... useful round the house too, i have a few on the go this time of year.

Are these different to silica beads in a tub?

[Technoholic]

Sounds good, I think I've used these before indoors, where I've had to empty a tub rather than dry beads out, and they always collected a lot of water.

Are these reusable or just need to be replaced when done?

[Technoholic]

Thanks, these sound good. I just want to clarify, once the tub is full and needs emptying, does that mean the crystals also need replacing at the same time or can those crystals be "dried out" and reused?

[Technoholic]

Ah ok perfect, I will get some ordered! Thanks

[Technoholic]

Thanks all, I've just put 3 of the large moisture traps full of Calcium Chloride into the car. Don't know how long I can expect before I see any results but I'm hoping these will help.

Thanks