Tesla Model Y Heat Pump vs Model 3 eAC Compressor Comparison By Sandy Munro

Sandy Munro compared the Model Y’s heat pump with the Model 3’s eAC compressor in his latest video. The Model Y heat pump was a new addition to Tesla’s vehicle design. Thus far, Tesla has received mostly positive comments about its heat pump addition.

Tesla’s heat pump was first discovered when the Model Y Owner’s Manual came out. The heat pump was one of the most popular topics that came from the manual because Tesla had never placed one in a vehicle before.

Sandy Munro decided to address a comment about the Model Y’s heat pump that owners of the crossover brought to his attention. Apparently, some Model Y owners have told Munro that the heat pump on the Model Y was too noisy.

Munro explained that he never had the chance to do a test to see if the Model Y’s heat pump was indeed too noisy because he wanted to get straight to the teardown. However, he did want to talk about the difference between the Model Y heat pump and the Model 3’s eAC compressor.

First, Munro talked about the Model 3 compressor. According to the auto consultant, most vehicles were equipped with a similar AC compressor like the one in the Model 3. The one found in Tesla’s affordable sedan was protected by a container, which Munro explained “kept the noise down.”

Then Munro moved to the heat pump in the Model Y he had been meticulously inspecting for his teardown. First, he pointed out that the Model Y’s heat pump was isolated, allowing it to “jump around” and shake.

“When something is allowed to jump around, that means that this [heat pump] is going to shake—there’s no question about it—and that shake does not turn into noise vibration and harshness that you’d find inside the car,” said Munro.

Then he suggested that it would have been better Tesla made a container for the Model Y’s heat pump—like the EV automaker did for the Model 3’s eAC compressor. He explained that a container--like the one the Model 3’s compressor was in--could have reduced the noise coming from the heat pump.

Sandy Munro Finds Fun 'Octovalve' Tesla Model Y Easter Egg During Teardown https://t.co/PbZDy15KIS pic.twitter.com/AvMoFMpALd

— Tesmanian.com (@Tesmanian_com) April 5, 2020

After he addressed the noise some Model Y owners may have been hearing from Tesla’s heat pump, he explained how it worked. Based on Munro’s explanation, the Model Y has a compressor that goes into its heat pump.

The compressor pumps the refrigerant through a medium-sized heat exchanger coil, where it evaporates into a gas state and absorbs heat. The gas either goes to the condenser or enters the cabin of the Model Y as heat.

If the gas goes into the condenser, it is chilled down so it can be used for air conditioning later. The gasses in the condenser can also convert back into a liquid state. After condensation, the liquid goes back into the compressor through a larger pipe, and the whole cycle begins again.

Featured Image Credit: Munro Live/YouTube