Heated mirrors

Heating mirrors is a system of heating exterior mirrors, allowing you to get rid of fogging, excessive concentration of moisture on the surface, the formation of ice. Thanks to heating, visibility can be improved, which makes it possible to exert a positive influence on car safety.

Heating of mirrors: application and operating principle

The installation of such a function is justified, mainly in countries with severe winters and prolonged off-season periods. Mirrors from outside fog up with significant changes in humidity, snowstorm, frost and rainy weather. If the country has a tropical climate, then thanks to heating it is possible to get rid of the need for manual rubbing during the rain. It turns out that the use of a heating system is justified under any operating conditions and in any climate. Heated mirrors are usually referred to as car comfort improvement systems.

The action is based on evaporation by means of a heating element of excess moisture. Formed ice and stuck snow are melted with the help of a heating element. And under the influence of high temperature, the moisture formed as a result of heating evaporates. The operating temperature of the heater is approximately 50 degrees Celsius. This temperature is sufficient to prevent freezing of mirrors at an outside temperature of -50 degrees Celsius, keeping the mirror surface clean. The heating elements are supplied from the vehicle's on-board network by means of a switch, which is normally interlocked with the rear window heating switch. Heating can be switched on automatically by commands from the on-board computer if the outside temperature has dropped below zero or if the rain sensor that includes the windshield wipers has tripped.

By type of device, the heating of mirrors is generally divided into three types. The first type includes mirrors having a wire heating element. It is installed behind a reflective layer, it is isolated from it by a layer of glue or by means of a sticky polymer tape. The spiral turns are usually also insulated by the lining and have a small air gap that does not allow the heated metal to expand, while the mirror design is not subject to destruction. This type has the simplest design. The second type includes mirrors with heating on the basis of printed conductors. They are arranged in the same way as heaters of the first type, however, the wire made of resistive metal here replaces the etched metal film based on the polymer. The method of printing or etching on the metallized film creates a ribbon-like conductor, which has the form of an open labyrinth. When it is connected to a power source, it heats up, after which it heats the mirror through the reflective layer. The third type is represented by mirrors with a combined reflective layer, which acts as a heating element. In such mirrors, a thin layer of metal is deposited on the back side of the reflecting layer through the insulating layer of varnish in the form of an aluminum amalgam, from which a labyrinth conductor is formed. In some cases, the heating element is glued to the reflective layer, and the adhesive layer serves as an insulator. You can install the heating mirrors yourself.

The main characteristics of heating mirrors

The first characteristic is the warm-up time to the operating temperature - this is the time that is necessary for complete thermal cleaning from frost or moisture during the initial switch-on. Positive difference in the temperature of the heater and outdoor temperature. Duration of cleaning from ice - this parameter is determined only experimentally in the laboratory. Thermal power, specific power and efficiency.

As you can see, in many cases, the installation of heated mirrors is very relevant.