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The rain, the snowstorm, the fog, and, as a consequence, lack of visibility in motion-all this is well known to motorists. A lot of people are familiar with the situation when the side mirror is caught in the snow or in the mud, and you have to clean it up on the move. The heating of the car mirror is necessary in order to avoid the need to wipe the mirrors on its own. It greatly improves road safety by providing good visibility and an opportunity to accurately assess the road situation behind the vehicle in difficult weather conditions.
Device and operating principles
Water and snow are removed from the mirror at the difference of the temperature of the mirror itself and the temperature on the street. The surface of the mirror is heated by an electric current from the onboard network, which passes through a special rubber element in the mirror design. On average, the mirror is able to heat up to a temperature that exceeds the air temperature by 50 to 70 degrees.
There are three types of mirror overheating. The first is a wire heater. It is also called the simplest heater. The design consists of a bent wire of a resistance-resistant alloy situated between the layers of the thermproof material. This material, in turn, provides electrical isolation and protects the wire from the environment. This type has its own disadvantages. For example, it has an unevenness in the progression of the mirror surface. The zones that are located between the wires of the wire are warmed more slowly than others. This, therefore, affects the time of the warm-up period. But there are advantages: thanks to their simple, such a system can be assembled and repaired, what is called, in "handicrafts".
The second type is similar to the first, and is called a "hardwired heater". Its resistor is a template drawn by conductive pastes on the finest plastic membranes-this is called "print conductors". Here the conductors are fitted tightly enough to warm the surface of the mirror evenly. However, the heaters of this type contain silver, which significantly increases their value. In addition, the heating element is so close to the mirror surface that when the last damage is damaged, the heater will receive the heater.
In the case of the "film" type heater, the resistor is affixed directly to the back of the reflector glass and is a continuous film. It is applied by vacuum spraying, so it can also perform the function of a mirror as well as to combat the dazzle of the driver.
These heaters are reliable and the cost is relatively low by automating the manufacturing process. It also provides a uniform progression, which takes a minimum amount of time. But, like a heater on the basis of printed conductors, it is closely related to the surface of the mirror and can be easily damaged. In such a case, a complete replacement would be required.
Methods of connection and installation of heated mirrors
The connection of the heated mirror is determined by the value of the current of the heating system. If this current is less than 1.5 (for each mirror), the mirror can be mounted through an ordinary standard switch or by parallel to the rear glass heater. Large current heating values may require additional relays and safety.
