BYD Atto3 (2023 Model) Wireless Charger Tray Cooling

I found that my phone got quite warm charging in the wireless charging tray of the BYD Atto3.

This is just a problem with wireless chargers in general, but because of the location of it in the car I thought I could do something about it.

This print redirects some of the airflow from the air vents just above the try so that it flows onto and over the phone.

There are two versions:

• one with an extended “lid” over the top of the phone to better contain the air, and because it hides the phone from view it also reduces driver distractions
• one with no “lid”, which makes access to the phone easier, but may have a slightly lesser cooling effect

Both work equally well in terms of airflow redirection, though (as noted) the one with the lid keeps the phone a bit cooler (and may also keep the sun off the phone).

The “lid” version was the first one I made, and I have used it for more than a year with great success - my phone comes out feeling like it's been in the fridge, and for the driver and front passenger there's no noticeable lack of airflow from the vent.

The newer “no lid” version is just because with the “lid version” you have to take it off to get your phone out at the end of the drive, and after a while it felt it was more of a hassle than the amount of extra cooling warranted.

Which one you decide to print is up to you, of course.

I've also provided versions with and without the BYD logo on it, because I know peoples' opinions about logos on things can be… a bit polarised.

Printing:

I'd recommend using ABS or some similar plastic that is OK at tolerating the kind of heat that you might expect in the inside of a car on a hot day. My first prototype was done in PLA, and (as expected) it didn't last a day in the Australian summer. In contrast, over a year later the ABS version looks like the day it came out of the printer.

My experience with printing in ABS means that I trust my slicer (Orca Slicer) when it recommends using a brim on my Bambu Lab X1 Carbon. I've found often enough that ABS will peel up at the edges that these days I just don't take the chance. You don't need to use a brim if you are confident in your bed adhesion.

For layer thickness, 0.2mm is probably fine, but I used the adaptive layer thickness to get the top curve to look smooth without blowing out my print time. 

Apart from the above notes, there's nothing particularly tricky about printing this.

Installation:

There are two "prongs" that stick out of the back, and clip onto the divider between the left and right vents (see photos). It's a friction fit that's firm but by no means permanent - you can remove it again easily if you decide don't like it. I've found that after a year the grip has loosened a little bit, but it still works just fine.

Vent Adjustment:

For best effect, I recommend pushing the vent adjuster dials up to the maximum/top position, and then dialing it back down by one notch (see attached photos). You shouldn't feel any difference from where you are sitting, but if you put your hand in the charging tray you should feel the breeze (especially with the lid version - you should feel air coming out from the gap at the front near the shift lever).

Other Notes:

Remember that this doesn't just redirect cold air - if you have the heater on it will redirect that hot air as well. If you like to keep your car particularly toasty in winter, you might want to consider chucking it in the glove compartment until it's aircon weather again.