It is necessary to ensure that the vehicle ignition is started or the key is turned to the ON position, and the battery voltage is stable (functions may fail when the car is cold or the battery is depleted).
1. Heating element activation steps
Start the vehicle power supply
It is necessary to ensure that the vehicle ignition is started or the key is turned to the ON position, and the battery voltage is stable (functions may fail when the car is cold or the battery is depleted).
Positioning heating switch
Knob type (common in German): The rearview mirror adjustment knob on the driver's seat door panel is rotated to the lowest heating indicator position (usually the "◇" or wavy line icon).
Button type (common in Japanese/American): a separate button on the center console or air conditioning panel (with a rectangular mirror and curve icon) or combined with the rear window defogging button (with a fan-shaped icon).
Confirm activation status
The button/knob indicator light is on to indicate successful startup, and the heating element usually heats up to 35-60 ℃ within 3-5 minutes.
2. Job characteristics and effects
Project Technical Description
The core principle is that the nickel chromium alloy heating film is electrified to generate heat, which is evenly transmitted to the mirror surface for evaporation of water mist/frost
Best Applicable Scenarios: Light Rain, Mist, Condensation, or Mild Frosting Environment (Limited Effect for Heavy Rain)
Most car models are equipped with an automatic shutdown mechanism for temperature control (about 15 minutes) to prevent overheating or battery loss
The energy consumption data shows that the single-sided power is about 15-25W, and heating the entire vehicle for 30 minutes may reduce the battery voltage by 0.2~0.3V
3. Key precautions
Environmental temperature limit
Some car models require an ambient temperature of ≤ 15 ° C or ≤ 20 ° C to start heating (the system automatically shields at high temperatures).
Usage duration control
Do not heat continuously for more than 30 minutes at a time to avoid aging of the heating wire or damage to the lens coating.
Special case handling
When the rearview mirror is covered with snow, it should be manually cleared before turning on the heating, otherwise the melting speed will be slow and the power consumption will increase.
Fault self check
If the heating is ineffective, priority should be given to checking the fuse (which accounts for 40% of the failure rate), oxidized wiring terminals of the electric heating element, or damaged back plate of the lens.
4. Key points for installing heating elements in the later stage
Compatibility confirmation: When making a purchase, it is necessary to match the curvature of the original car lens (with L/R to distinguish left and right)
Installation specifications
The heating film should be tightly attached to the back of the lens, and the terminals should be sealed with insulating tape for waterproofing
It is recommended to connect the rear window defogging circuit or ACC power supply for power supply to avoid direct grounding and causing leakage
Tip: It is better to turn on the heating 5 minutes before departure in rainy and foggy weather; If the original car does not have a heating function, priority should be given to the assembly replacement plan (lens+heating film integrated module), which is safer than sticking heating plates by oneself.
