Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:02 -0700
Reply-To: Marc Sayer <marcsayer@HUGHES.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Marc Sayer <marcsayer@HUGHES.NET>
Subject: Re: Rear Window Defroster Strips Pretty Much Fugeddaboutit?
In-Reply-To: <20091023200211.CHGG1647.mx-01mtaout02.mts.net@wnpgmb013qw-sp03.mts.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
This is almost always a sign of poor power to the grid. A grid generally
fails completely (as in a break or scratch), as does the power supply if
any of the components in the power supply side go bad. If it just isn't
heating up as well, it is most often a case of it not getting an
adequate supply of electricity. Resistance at a number of spots can sap
energy so that what actually get to the grid is much less than intended.
Often just cleaning and securing all the various connectors in the
system can make a BIG difference with a weak grid. I've also seen
systems where upgrading the wire to a larger diameter can make a huge
difference. Defroster grids draw high amps, so any resistance at the
connectors or in the wire itself, can really draw down the power
delivery to the grid and therefore degrade the defroster's performance.
Granted rewiring is a pain, but sometimes it makes all the difference.
You can always test this by running temporary external wiring to see if
using new, larger wire helps or not.
Here's a good site on testing and repairing defroster grids.
http://www.frostfighter.com/fixit.htm
Jeff Palmer wrote:
> Had some frost on my windows this morning (just below freezing). My strips still work, but slower than
> they used to.
>
> Jeff
>
>
>> From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
>> Date: 2009/10/23 Fri PM 02:04:56 CDT
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Rear Window Defroster Strips Pretty Much Fugeddaboutit?
>>
>> Subject line, I believe, says it all.
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
>> Bend, OR
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>
>
--
Marc Sayer
Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer (APDT member #062956)
Board member - Western States Great Dane Rescue Association
Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane Rescue Inc.
Oakridge, OR USA
My Homepage - http://gracieland.org
Deaf Dane Rescue - http://deafdane.org
Western States Great Dane Rescue Association - http://wsgdra.org
RescueWatchdogs - http://rescuewatchdogs.org
Association of Pet Dog Trainers - http://APDT.com
| 
