What are Heated Windshield Wipers?
Heated windshield wipers are specially designed for cold weather conditions to improve visibility and safety. These wipers are equipped with heating elements that actively melt snow and ice deposits on and around the wiper surfaces, allowing for effective removal of water, snow, frost, and other obstructions.
Benefits of heated windshield wiper
Enhanced safety: With these wiper blades, water, snow, sleet, or whatever will not stick to a windshield due to ice or snow, hence, Wipers will remove water more effectively, thus enhancing a contact-free windshield and lessening impact on the driver’s visibility, which in turn helps reduce incidents.
Convenience: These wipers eliminate the need for manually scraping ice off the windshield, Save time and effort, especially when the weather is cold.
Efficient Performance: The heating element keeps the blades warm enough to prevent snow and ice from adhering, ensuring they work efficiently even in severe cold.
Improved Durability: Unlike standard wipers that can become stiff and brittle in low temperatures, heated wiper blades remain flexible, reducing wear and extending their lifespan.
Applications of heated wiper blades
Winter driving: Ideal for areas with heavy snowfall, freezing rain, or extremely low temperatures, where they help maintain clear vision and optimal wiper performance.
Commercial vehicles: Beneficial for vehicles like snowplows and delivery trucks operating in extreme weather, ensuring consistent wiper performance.
Luxury and high-end vehicles: Many luxury automakers include heated wipers as part of their advanced driver assistance systems and comfort features.
Quality heated wipers heat up quickly and begin clearing ice and snow as soon as the vehicle is started. Some models include sensors that automatically activate the heating element when the temperature falls below a certain threshold. Many aftermarket heated wipers are designed to fit a variety of vehicles. It is important to make sure they are compatible with your specific make and model.
How heated wiper blades work？
Heated wiper blades use embedded electric heating elements to produce heat. These elements can be resistance wires or flexible PCBs, They both heat the wiper blade surface evenly.
Heating principle of resistance wire
The heating principle of resistance wire is based on the Joule effect. Thin and flexible resistance wires are integrated into the wiper blade. When current passes through the resistance wire, the current interacts with the resistance wire to generate heat. This heat is due to the collision of electrons in the current with atoms in the resistance wire, resulting in energy conversion into heat energy, thereby heating the resistance wire and the objects around it. Resistance wires are usually made of high resistivity materials (such as nickel-chromium alloys, iron-chromium-aluminum alloys), which can generate significant heat when current passes through them.
Heating principle of flexible PCB
The heating principle of flex PCB heater is similar to that of resistance wires. The difference is that flexible circuit use metal films or conductive copper foils as heating elements, and these conductive materials are made into heating circuits through printing or etching technology, which are tightly integrated on flexible substrates. After power is turned on, the conductive materials in the circuit generate heat due to resistance, thereby achieving heating. The heating part on the flexible circuit board is usually made of high resistivity metals (such as copper, nickel, silver, etc.). The difference between the two types of heating for wipers
The traditional way of heating wipers uses resistance wire, while in recent years, flexible PCB heater technology has gradually been applied to such functions.
The difference between the two types of heating for wipers
Resistance wire heating:
Structure and material: Use metal resistance wire (such as nickel-chromium alloy) to embed in the wiper, and heat it by heating it through electricity.
Flexibility and design: The resistance wire is relatively rigid, requires a fixed space when installed, has poor flexibility, is difficult to adapt to complex designs, and has a limited heating area.
Heating efficiency and uniformity: The heating area is localized, and the heat distribution is uneven, especially on long wipers, the heating effect may not be consistent.
Space and weight: The wiring of the resistance wire requires a large space, is heavier, and the insulation and protection devices increase the complexity.
Durability and reliability: It is easy to break or have poor contact under frequent vibration or severe cold conditions, and requires additional protection.
Cost and manufacturing: The technology is mature and the cost is low, but the installation is complicated and the design is limited.
Flexible PCB heating:
Structure and materials: Through etching or printing technology, a heating circuit is formed on a flexible circuit board, and conductive materials such as copper foil are integrated on a thin and flexible substrate.
Flexibility and design: Highly flexible and can cover complex geometric shapes for uniform heating.
Heating efficiency and uniformity: Offers even heat distribution and faster heat transfer.
Lightweight and space-saving：with built-in insulation and waterproofing.
Durability and reliability: withstanding mechanical vibrations and bending, suitable for long-term use.
Cost and manufacturing: Higher initial design and manufacturing costs but reduced over time, with easier assembly and lower maintenance costs.
Key components and functions of heated wipers
Heating elements
The wipers have built-in heating elements, such as resistance wire (traditional method) or flexible PCB heaters (modern method). These elements heat up when powered on to prevent the wipers from icing.
Power Source
Connected to the car's electrical system, typically operating when the defrost function or windshield heating system is activated. Some models have a manual switch or an automatic sensor that detects freezing temperatures.
Temperature Regulation
Advanced heated wiper systems have temperature sensors that activate the heating elements only when the ambient temperature drops below freezing (usually around 0°C or 32°F). ensuring efficient energy use.
Materials
The wipers with flex PCB heater are usually made of durable materials that resist wear and tear in cold conditions. The blades are usually made of rubber with reinforcement elements to maintain flexibility in extreme weather conditions.
Installation
Some heated wiper blades are part of an integrated system installed during vehicle manufacture, while others are available as aftermarket accessories that can be retrofitted to existing wiper arms.
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