Automatic Wipers

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mbunting
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Joined: 21 Dec 2001, 15:19
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Automatic Wipers

Post by mbunting »

I thing the automatic wipers you can get on the Peugeot's and C5's are a good idea.
The local Pug dealer has quoted
£6.25 for the window brackets.
£130.40 for the sensor unit itself.
£43.55 for a new wiper column stalk.
Bearing in mind I have a Xantia ( not a 406 ), I won't be doing the stalk.
Presumably, such a system merely raises a voltage into the wiper relay which tells the wipers which speed to work at. I think there may be some element of a variable resitance in here to control the speed of the wipers...
I've noticed on the UK electronics supplier Maplin's website ( www.maplins.co.uk ) that they sell a sensor UK81C at £3.49 which looks like it may be the main component of the sensor - it picks up reflections ( the rain drops would be reflective ) from an infra-red beam.
Obviously you'd need some other electronics involved.
This could be an interesting winter electronics project, what do you think ?
( and don't say I'm sad, because I know I am <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> )
Mat.
vanny
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Post by vanny »

Winter electronics project, in the cold and wet, with all those fidlly wires and numb fingers, might be one to wait till the summer.
Suppose it wouldnt be too impossible to have it tied into the speedo, hence the faster your driving, the faster the wipers go?
Any more interesting projects? My last achievement was rear electric windows, but thats not that much of an achievement. Next is to make the car beep when the doors open and the lights are on!
Vanny
Merseyside, UK
Citroenbx19rd@bxproject.co.uk
http://www.bxproject.co.uk
mbunting
Posts: 712
Joined: 21 Dec 2001, 15:19
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by mbunting »

I'd do most of the development and testing inside !
I have thought about the automatic headlights, that's fairly simple. To stop oscillation, you'd need timeouts before switching off.
Eg. Dark for more than x seconds - turn on.
Light without interruption for more than x MINUTES - turn off.
Got to think about the other car headlights triggering it !
Mat.
vanny
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Post by vanny »

Schmit trigger will do that for you easily enough (741 Op Amp), same sort of thing that is found in a temperature thermostat. Thing about the headlights, with the right logic, you make them dip rather than switch off, means your not blinding people either. You also have the benefit that it doesnt go from dark to light in three seconds, the sun has to rise etc so the logic for being blasted by car headlights is nothing similar to gradual sun rising. Other important thing to rememebr is the rules and regs on car headlights. Not sure how they get away with these revolutionary head lights which turn as the steering turns, there is limited scope for the angle (left and right) from which car headlights are allowed to shine!!
If you want to email me then we can throw some ideas around and see what we come up with!!
Vanny
Merseyside, UK
Citroenbx19rd@bxproject.co.uk
http://www.bxproject.co.uk
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