2025
An exploratory 12V cabin heater prototype for the orange SARIT, using a compact ceramic heater and a 3D-printed hood intake duct.
![[sarit climate caddy installed]](/assets/[sarit-climate-caddy-installed].jpg)
Climate Caddy prototype installed in the orange SARIT; the system worked, but the low mounting position limited its usefulness.
Quick Read
- Explored whether a compact 12V heater could act like a small SARIT climate system.
- Built CAD around an off-the-shelf ceramic heater from product photos and dimensions.
- Added a 3D-printed hood scoop to route outside air to the heater.
- Installed and ran the prototype in the orange SARIT / SARIT 8.
- Worked in limited cold-weather use.
- Not recommended for production.
Need
The heated accessories research looked at seat and handlebar heating.
Climate Caddy asked a different question: could a compact heater and intake duct become something closer to cabin climate control?
The answer was technically yes, but practically limited.
Heater
The heater was a compact 12V ceramic unit about the size of a large travel mug.
It had adjustable louvers and was intended to mount around a cup-holder-style location.
No manufacturer CAD was available, so the model was built from Amazon photos and listed dimensions.
The mount placed the heater low on the dashboard near knee level. That was the available space, but it meant the heat mostly pointed toward the driver's legs instead of the upper body.
Hood Scoop
The hood scoop was a 3D-printed intake duct that clipped onto the front hood panel and connected to a hose running to the heater intake.
The geometry came from a scaled screenshot of the SARIT hood panel.
That was not ideal, but it was accurate enough for the prototype.
![[sarit hood scoop prototype]](/assets/[sarit-hood-scoop-prototype].jpg)
Printed hood scoop used to feed outside air to the heater intake; the part proved the idea could be installed without permanent body modification.
Performance
The heater worked, but only within limits.
On a cold morning, the cabin felt warmer after a few minutes.
At around -5°C it was a real improvement. At around -15°C it was still a winter-jacket situation.
In summer, it was just a fan blowing warm air, so it was left unplugged.
Outcome
The prototype showed that a 12V cabin heater and printed intake duct could be installed on SARIT without permanent modification.
It also showed the limits:
- Low mounting position.
- Low airflow volume.
- Weak value in warm weather.
- Worse cost-to-benefit than heated seats or handlebar grips.
The Climate Caddy was not recommended for production.
What I Would Improve Now
I would not start with cabin air heating.
For the SARIT cabin size and power level, heating the occupant directly through the seat and grips is probably a better first step than trying to warm the air.