Heater Valve Control

GreatOldOne · #1 4th August 2009, 09:56

Does anyone know if the push pull type valve controls that used to be on minis are SVA / IVA OK?

I'm running out of room to put a control in my centre console - it's tight behind the panel, and I'm ducting the air from the heater box to outlets at the bottom and two sides of the console, so I'm running out of space on the 'face' of the console.

A push pull control would fit... But I guess it may fall foul of the projection rules.

Chris Cussen · #2 4th August 2009, 11:57

GOO to quote the IVA Manual

You may get away with it if you put it in the excempt zone (see attached piccie)

1. Interior design features and fittings in the “specified zone” which are contactable with a 165mm sphere must have a radius of curvature of 2.5mm or greater, except where a projection from a panel is less than 3.2mm where the edges must be at least blunted. (see note 3, 4and 9) see annex 1 and 2

2. Interior design features and fittings below the “specified zone” that are not adaptations for a disabled person and which are contactable with a 100mm sphere forward direction must have a radius of curvature of 2.5mm or greater, except where a projection from a panel is less than 3.2mm where the edges must be at least blunted. (see note 3, 4 and 9) see annex 2

6. All switches, control knobs etc which are mounted on the instrument panel which are within the "specified zone", contactable by a 165mm diameter. Sphere and protrude from the instrument panel by more than 9.5mm must be likely to retract or detach with no sharp edges when subject to an impact of 40kgf (see Note 5)

GreatOldOne · #3 4th August 2009, 12:11

Thanks Chris - Something to think about... Don't really want to put a heater control up there though...

Did any of you chaps that have passed SVA have problems with sliders?

I've taken the 'trap door' one off my heater box, along with the door itself and plated over the hole it's left, leaving a fixed plenum. I'm never going to fit a roof to the car, so couldn't see the point in having a leaver to turn the demisters on...

I'll get pics of the setup later today, to show you what I mean and where I think i can put a heat control on.

The only other thing I can think of is an electrically operated heater valve, like Patrick's.

Chris Cussen · #4 4th August 2009, 13:34

I used a set of knobs off a Mk4 Escort.Two of the knobs have cables they push/pull and the other is a rotary 4 position switch. You can see them in the picture below the indicator stalk. I think they would look neater than a slider, which is very 1980s!

peterux · #5 4th August 2009, 20:42

Hi Jason,
I fitted a 'push-pull' mini heater control knob and then removed it before the SVA as it was over on the passenger side of my centre console and I didn't want to risk a fail on that.
I then discovered I could reach the valve itself with my left hand under the dashboard from the drivers seat, so didn't bother putting it back.
(You can also shout commands at the passenger if you want a voice activated handsfree switch, but like most voice controlled devices, they do not always understand the command

)
The hole in the dashboard came in handy later for the windscreen washer push switch.

...peter

GreatOldOne · #6 4th August 2009, 21:48

I managed to fit the slider control that came with my valve when I got in from work, above my switches on the centre console. It seems to be OK, and it's behind the plane of the dash. If I where to hit anything in an accident, I'd hit the dash first.

I'll try and remember to get some pics of it tomorrow and post them up. I'm quite proud of my metal folding!

GreatOldOne · #7 5th August 2009, 16:41

Pic of the console:

It'll get wrapped in the same colour vinyl as the dash, and the heater outlets will have polished grills in them. I'll be cutting the slider lever down as well, so it doesn't protrude as much, and it'll get a polished steel knob on it.

totaly unrelated, but here's a pic of the rear light cluster - I had some stainless rings cut by a local engineering firm, and I've polished them to a mirror shine.

I think it'll look pretty smart against dark green paint.

MartinClan · #8 5th August 2009, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

Thanks Chris - Something to think about... Don't really want to put a heater control up there though...

Did any of you chaps that have passed SVA have problems with sliders?

I've taken the 'trap door' one off my heater box, along with the door itself and plated over the hole it's left, leaving a fixed plenum. I'm never going to fit a roof to the car, so couldn't see the point in having a leaver to turn the demisters on...

I'll get pics of the setup later today, to show you what I mean and where I think i can put a heat control on.

The only other thing I can think of is an electrically operated heater valve, like Patrick's.

I used the mini heater slider control and knob. I made a similar box to you (albeit using wood and ally). I placed the box so that it was well behind the dashboard thinking that they might not check it for radius because of its position. But - it was checked very carefully and it passed....

Robin