Automobile mirrors with heating by their own hands

In winter, when the air temperature is below zero, the side mirrors start to become covered with condensate or ice. This impairs visibility. As a result, the driver has to regularly distract and wipe the glass. Today, some vehicle manufacturers are installing heated mirrors on their models that trigger a heating element with a defrost function. Of course, such systems are expensive, and not everyone can afford this. But if you want, you can install standard components. This will not only save money, but also equip the mirrors with a heating system. You can do it at home.

Advantages of heating mirrors

Heated rear view mirrors have many advantages. The main reflectors contain only one element, placed in a protective case. It can be easily adjusted to the driver. Some automakers add additional features to these products. This makes the mirrors easier to use. Among such additions it is necessary to allocate an additional heat source, intended for heating the side reflectors. This option is suitable for those who live in a cold region or do not have a garage, where you could leave your vehicle in snowy weather.

Mirrors with heating are cleaned very quickly and easily. The heating element raises the temperature of the product, which leads to melting of snow and removal of moisture from the surface of the reflectors. It is worth noting that cars that are originally equipped with similar products, have a separate button on the dashboard, designed to heat the driver's side.

Types of heating

At the moment there are several basic types of heating for rear-view mirrors:

1. System with a wire-based heater.
2. Heater, made on the basis of printed conductors.
3. System with a film heater.

Each variety has its own peculiarities, advantages and disadvantages.

Heater, wire-based

In this case, heated mirrors are equipped with a simple heater, which is made of wire. It is wound on the base or pressed between several strips of insulating material. This heater is fixed with adhesive tape, mechanical clamps or glue from the back of the reflector.

It should be noted that such a heating system has a sufficiently low efficiency, since after its attachment there are gaps between the reflector and the element itself, as well as air gaps.

Heater, made on the basis of printed conductors

Such a heating system is a thin layer made by conducting pastes by screen printing. In the manufacture of such a heater, a printed conductor is laid between several layers of the heat-resistant polymer. The heating system itself is installed to the rear wall of the reflector by means of adhesive tape or glue.

There is another type of similar heater. In this case, the heating system consists of an insulating tape, on top of which printed conductors are formed. However, such a system also has a low efficiency due to the intermediate layers.

Film heating system

Mirrors with heating can be equipped with a film heater. It is considered the most reliable. Such a system is made on the basis of a resistive film element. This is a kind of layer that conducts current. This heater is mounted on the reflectors using a double-sided adhesive tape. The material makes it possible to distribute the heat flow more evenly over the whole area of the reflector. To start such a heating system, use a separate button or a button for heating the reflectors.

How to determine the presence of a heater

Many drivers, buying a new car, do not know how to turn on heated mirrors. First of all, you need to make sure there is a similar system. This can be determined by:

1. By the presence on the instrument panel of the heating button.
2. Start the car engine, touch after a few minutes the mirror. If the reflectors are warm, the system is installed.
3. By the presence of heating elements and wires in the housing.

If desired, the heating of the side reflectors can be combined with the heating of the rear window.

If there is no heater

If heated side mirrors in the vehicle is not provided, then you can install such a system by purchasing ready-made components. The process takes a little time. Any car enthusiast can cope with the installation. The main thing is to follow the instruction:

1. First you need to find the relay block. It is enough to open the hood and find a box of black color. In this box there will be several relays. On the cover of the box must necessarily be a circuit. Thanks to it, you can determine what is intended for each relay. In this there is nothing complicated. After finding and removing the desired relay, it must be replaced with what was included with the mirror element. In the end, it is necessary to connect all the wires and close the hood.
2. Acting reflectors should be removed by unscrewing all the screws that hold them. Old components must be removed and the wires disconnected.
3. After this, install new accessories, connect heated side mirror wires, and then replace the inner cover, tightening all the screws.

Now you know how to connect heated mirrors. The process is simple, and there is no need to contact specialized services.

Heating yourself

If you want, you can make heated mirrors yourself. This will require:

1. Connectors of wires.
2. Wiring.
3. Heat-shrinkable or insulating tape.
4. Cable ties of different sizes.
5. The conventional relay is 30A 4-pin.
6. The plugs or terminals are electrical.
7. Crosshead screwdriver.
8. Sockets 12 and 10 mm.
9. The wire is stiff.
10. Tool for stripping wires.
11. A dryer for drying plastic and a mirror element and a soldering iron.

Build process

Some drivers install heated electric mirrors. This scheme is more complicated. Therefore, consider the simplest version. To begin with it is necessary to remove cards of a door, having unscrewed in their butts and in a handle all screws, and also having removed fastenings of loudspeakers. On this analysis does not end. It is necessary to remove the handle and unscrew all the screws that are hidden behind it. After that, you can remove the card from the side of the mirror.

Now in the folded position it is necessary to remove the mirrors. First you need to unscrew all the screws that fix the reflectors to the door. The wires should be disconnected. Finally, detach the mirror element by pulling the lower part. Using a hairdryer, the reflector can be separated from the plastic housing. Now it is necessary to apply the heating element to the plastic, and then cut out the holes intended for the contacts.

After this, it is necessary to remove the protective layer and attach first to the mirror, and then to the plastic heater. Through the body of the side reflector, it is necessary to stretch the wires, compressing and connecting all the contacts. In the end, it remains to install a mirror element, and then the whole structure on the swivel platform.

If the system is broken

What if the heated mirrors do not work? To eliminate breakages, you have to disassemble the reflectors. In this case, there is no need to remove them. It is necessary to lower the mirror adjustment to the very bottom, and then remove the mirror itself, carefully inserting a metal object into the gap that appears, preferably a ruler. Reflector should be carefully pushed. As a result, the mirror will easily yield, and it can be extracted.

Now from the contacts it is necessary to detach the contacts on the reflector, and then ring all the tester. If everything is normal, then the problem is not in the wiring, but in the threads of the heater itself. To fix the problem, you have to disassemble the reflector.

Separating the old heater

To replace the heating element in the rear view mirror, you must remove it. This is a delicate process that requires patience. To remove the plastic protection from the mirror, it is necessary to lower it into hot water. As the heating element can be carefully separated.

Under the plastic is usually a soft material, which reliably fixes the threads of the heating element. It also needs to be removed. For this, the part is again placed in hot water. The material must separate. Residues of glue are recommended to be removed. To do this, you can use white spirit. The substance will prepare the surface for the gluing of the new heater. Many are afraid that white spirit can damage mirror coating. But this is not so. After all, the spraying is on the reverse side of the part.

Replacing the old heating element is no different from installing a new one. The main thing is to get the heating system the same as it was before. After installation, all parts must be returned to the place, being careful. If the work is not careful, you can damage the mirror itself. At the end of the installation, you should check the system to avoid connection errors.

In conclusion

A rear-view heated mirror is necessary for drivers who live in a cold climate. When the temperature is lowered, ice and condensation can form on the reflectors. It is not always possible to remove moisture from the glass at a time. As a result, the driver does not always see clearly what is happening behind him. Heating allows you to easily clean the surface of the reflectors. The cost of ready-made components is quite high. To save money, you can install a heated mirror system yourself.