Hey guys/girls,

Just thinking about trying to rewire the windscreen wipers on my bug to be intermittent and variable speed.

Currently the wiper has a variable resistor inline so i can adjust speed. However its a bit annoying when there is only light rain. Any ideas how I could hook up some kind of system that would allow me to have some kind of intermittance between wipes? Possibly one that is variable?

I was thinking i could hook up some kind of timer device in the circuit?

Anyone tried this before?

thanks
Jon

cant you buy a windscreen wiper dwell conversion kit

I'm not sure, but these things used to be available through places like Jaycar...

How electronically mined are you?

I have an intermittant wiper controller from an N10 Pulsar (81ish) that allows me to adjust the pause between wipes. It also triggers the wipers when you push the washer button too - the longer you push the wash button, the longer the wipers stay on (to a point).

I plan on installing this in my Baja as soon as the paint is done (yeah, yeah, one day!), but I have had it operating on the workbench with a beetle wiper motor so I know that it works.

I have seen these adjustable intermittant wipers in other production cars too, so have a look around - some may be easier to wire than others.

R

I can put together really basic circuits, and i have a basic knowledge of electronics.

Is all the wiper controller from the pulsar a complete single module that only requires power and an output to a wiper motor? This is going on an early 60's bug, so i'd like to try to get it with the stock knobs in the stock positions.

I had a look on the jaycar website and there is nothing for wipers. same with dick smith.

tried silicon chip publications?

Dick smith & Jaycar used to have kits as I have fitted them to other vehicles... but there is no demand for intermittant widscreen wipers these days as cars have had them for many years... I know.. NOT 25 years
I bought one at a swap meet - brand new - one wire had fallen off- and its a genuine VW accessory with a genuine VW 60s knob... I have another one with No instructions , that I'm going to try to fit... also My Son has a wrecked Laser in My Yard, maybe I can use that one...
Decisions... decisions..
Jaycar do have timer kits that could be used.. I remember looking at two different ones a year or so ago... one was 1 sec to 10 secs approx.. the other was 1 sec to 30 minutes approx... they were just listed as timers ...

regards
Lee

....digging....digging, ah there is is.....*click*...OK, I'll post that pic....

Not quite a two connection installation process - 7 wires in total (remember that it also controls the wash/wipe process too). I could have told you which wire goes where...but when my wife sold the car (her N10 Pulsar) she threw in the Gregorys manual (with the wiring diagram) as part of the sale so I will have to go to the local library and do some photocopying....bugger!

I am planning on using the original knob too - I have picked up a type III knob (with the push button in the centre that would normally operate the washers) and have fitted that to a late beetle two speed wiper switch (with the washer part removed from the back of the switch). The washer operating post now sticks out the back of the switch and I will be using this to control a 10K pot (from memory...) with off switch. The pot controls the delay between wipes when it is connected to the Pulsar control box. When the pot is in the off position, the wipers operate on the normal slow speed.

You could also use the standard two speed switch (unmodified) and fit the pot under the dash (hidden).

It will take a little bit of thinking and fabrication, but the result will be worth it!

[Edited on 22-6-2004 by ratty 63]

another pic....

...hmmm...just read my last post - not very clear on how it will work is it? I'll try to clarify:

The wiper switch (standard two speed VW switch) has three positions:

Off: I don't need to explain this one do I?
Low: Low speed wiper operation OR intermittant (see below)
High: High speed wiper operation.

The Pot has a switch included with it so when the wiper switch is in the low speed position:

Pot off: wipers operate on low speed continuous.
Pot on: wipers operate intermittantly - turning the pot will change the delay between wipes.

Does this make more sense? It does to me, but I designed it so it should!:thumb

R

might have to take a looksy at the wreckers. what sort of year is this pulsar? whereabouts in the car is the little black box that you are showing?
cheers
Ryan

Ryan,

The wiper control box is from an '81 Pulsar (N10 model). It is located behind the drivers side headlight (of all the strange places to put a wiper control!). It is under a metal bracket/cover that also holds the washer bottle and a couple of other relays (depending on the accessories fitted to the car will depend on what else is under there). Before you have a look under the bonnet, check the wiper stalk on the steering column - some of the N10's didn't have the adjustable intermittant function - the ones with the correct control box will have a knob built into the end of the wiper stalk. Make sure that you get a chunk of the wiring loom too - makes it much easier to connect.

From memory, you will need a 10Kohm Pot (available from almost any electronics supply places) to create the adjustable function - just check that value with a wiring diagram in a Gregorys manual, as I am not 100% sure of the value and I can't seem to find the Pot that I am going to use.

Let me know how you go...

R

MMm thanks for the replies, that mostly makes sense ratty 63.

Sounds good. ALthough i might try to see if i can get an old jaycar or DSE kit. seems less fussy.