How to stop the car from heating the cabin?

[ratsbew]

I'm still new to my Model 3. Sometimes I notice that the car is heating (red user interface for the HVAC) when I really just want low AC. If I set the temp to 74 and it's already 73 then it seems to want to turn on the heater to change that 1 degree.

There should really be a software toggle for "Do not run cabin heater" especially since the heater is a huge energy hog that could kill range if you're not careful.

 

[flashflooder]

I'm still new to my Model 3. Sometimes I notice that the car is heating (red user interface for the HVAC) when I really just want low AC. If I set the temp to 74 and it's already 73 then it seems to want to turn on the heater to change that 1 degree.

There should really be a software toggle for "Do not run cabin heater" especially since the heater is a huge energy hog that could kill range if you're not careful.

Totally agree with this.

 

[dhanson865]

I'm still new to my Model 3. Sometimes I notice that the car is heating (red user interface for the HVAC) when I really just want low AC. If I set the temp to 74 and it's already 73 then it seems to want to turn on the heater to change that 1 degree.

There should really be a software toggle for "Do not run cabin heater" especially since the heater is a huge energy hog that could kill range if you're not careful.

The 2011/2012 Nissan leaf doesn't have a heater off switch and does something similar.

My workaround is to leave the temp set to 60F year round and turn the fan up or down as needed for comfort (as well as adjusting vent positions).

Tesla needs a disable heat setting in the options so you can just turn it off in the summer months.

Nissan's solution in the 2013 or newer leaf was to have a physical button for disabling the heater (push button on/off with LED to show status). Tesla is obviously not going to add a button to the dash so a software setting is the only logical choice remaining.

 

[goodjon24]

I haven't driven a Model 3, but is there not a manual mode like there is in other cars with Automatic Climate Control?

 

[BerTX]

The 2011/2012 Nissan leaf doesn't have a heater off switch and does something similar.

My workaround is to leave the temp set to 60F year round and turn the fan up or down as needed for comfort (as well as adjusting vent positions).

Tesla needs a disable heat setting in the options so you can just turn it off in the summer months.

Nissan's solution in the 2013 or newer leaf was to have a physical button for disabling the heater (push button on/off with LED to show status). Tesla is obviously not going to add a button to the dash so a software setting is the only logical choice remaining.

Model S is the same -- I usually just turn the system off until the temperature in the cabin bothers me, then turn it back on with the higher temperature setting. Agree a "heater off" setting would be great. Not sure where it would rank on my extensive list of things Tesla COULD do, but don't.

 

[TLej]

I don't have a 3, but the pictures I found online show there's an "auto" button like my S has. I always leave it off the "auto setting", my theory being if I set it to it's lowest point and it's not on "auto", it's just going to continue blowing cold air. It's never managed to actually hit the lowest setting that I am aware of, thus no heater in the summer. I use the same theory in the winter months, just reversed. Seems to work.

 

[mknox]

There should really be a software toggle for "Do not run cabin heater" especially since the heater is a huge energy hog that could kill range if you're not careful.

That was a HUGE discussion topic when the Model S first came out. Tesla makes it work the same way it does in an ICE, but in an ICE, heat is just waste whereas in an EV you use battery energy to generate it. so YES, there should be an over-ride setting for the cabin heater.

For those who just want just ambient air circulating, you have to manually switch off A/C then set the temperature to LO. Air will circulate but no energy is expended heating or cooling.

 

[Atoms]

AGREE. I’ve seen it do this with 117F temperatures here in Phoenix! WTF I don’t need heating. I don’t need the heated seats to turn on. WTF. I don’t even need those icons ever. Just in the way.
I also hate it when sometimes it won’t turn on the AC when I get into the car, but if I touch the fan icon the Ac turns on. The AC was in auto all all along so there is no reason the AC was off. Really bad in 117F heat!

Definitely a lot of wonky coding in this car associated with what should all be coded by a state machine descriptor rather than C code. All the logic is being lost in the code.

 

[FoghornLeghorn]

seems like a pretty simple s/w change that IF the interior temp is > than the set valu, AND the exterior air is warmer than interior, THEN just allow more outside air into the airfow w/out turning on the heater.

 

[Runt8]

Definitely a lot of wonky coding in this car associated with what should all be coded by a state machine descriptor rather than C code. All the logic is being lost in the code.

You should fix it then. I’m assuming you’re a Tesla programmer, right?

 

[ratsbew]

seems like a pretty simple s/w change that IF the interior temp is > than the set valu, AND the exterior air is warmer than interior, THEN just allow more outside air into the airfow w/out turning on the heater.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[dhanson865]

seems like a pretty simple s/w change that IF the interior temp is > than the set valu, AND the exterior air is warmer than interior, THEN just allow more outside air into the airfow w/out turning on the heater.

And if a user has recirculation set, how much outside air is acceptable against that users wishes? What do you do if x% outside air doesn't even the temp?

 

[beachmiles]

Those seat warmer icons need to move off the main screen to the air conditioning sub panel gui.

If you turn off Auto mode then there should be a heater toggle button right next to the AC button. Ideally there should be a way to disable any extra heating done and only allow the "free" heat when the battery needs to be heated. So maybe we need 2 heater buttons or a Heat slider. Level 1 is "free" heat from the battery heating only, and Level 2 is both battery heating and extra cabin heating.

Many cheap $20 portable heaters have the switch to toggle from level 1 to level 2 heating. Limits the current draw I'm guessing.

 

[ratsbew]

My wife's first generation Volt at least will tell you if the heat is on or off so you can see that it's being dumb and manually change the temperature. If I want vent air in my Tesla I set the temp to "LO" so that I know it isn't using heat.

 

[xilex]

My wife's first generation Volt at least will tell you if the heat is on or off so you can see that it's being dumb and manually change the temperature.

I like that; least controversial implementation. Simple icon above vehicle roof, an addition to the energy bar, etc.

 

[justsomeguy]

My wife's first generation Volt at least will tell you if the heat is on or off so you can see that it's being dumb and manually change the temperature. If I want vent air in my Tesla I set the temp to "LO" so that I know it isn't using heat.

There should just be a fresh air mode that changes the < > buttons to control fan speed instead of temperature. Wouldn't that be awesome..