Wiper motor functionalities
Posted: Thu May 30, 2024 7:47 pm
Alright, on the 28 I hated that the wipers were either on or off. It felt like it was too dry for them most of the time and I always wanted the ability to do a courtesy wipe. Now on the 31, it’s the same deal but the wiper switches are in a more inconvenient location than the 28 (down next to my left knee). I am going to be replacing all three wiper motors this summer along with the pantograpic arms as they are all showing their age. I was doing some research and made a post on thehulltruth and here is the answer I got. This looks like a pretty straight forward way to add the courtesy wipe function by putting a switch right next to the throttle wheee it’s convenient. When hitting the switch, it will give all three wipers one sweep at the same time and then they will return to park. Here is the info for anyone interested:
I’m assuming the 3 wipers are self-parking. If they do not self-park, I would advise against this
they can be multi speed motors but I will describe it as if they are 1 speed. If they’re multi speed, just use the high speed wire running to the motor
materials:
1x new momentary switch. Note that I already had a momentary ‘wash’ switch that activated the freshwater windshield wash/spray system. I replaced this switch with a 3 position momentary (ON)-OFF-(ON) switch so that when pressing the top, the wash comes on with the mist wipe action (sort of like your car), when pressing the bottom, only the mist wipe activates…but I will describe w/out the wash function
3x 12Vdc SPST (NO) relays rated for wiper motor current (of course they could be SPDT, DPDT, etc, you might also find a single 3 pole relay that will work).
Wiring:
Each existing wiper switch has a fused +12v going ‘in’ and a switched power wire going ‘out’ to the motor. We’ll call them i1, o1, i2, o2, i3, o3.
Run a wire from i1 to the input terminal of the new switch. Run another wire from i1 to the input switched terminal of relay1, a wire from i2 to the input switched terminal of relay2, another wire from i3 to the input switched terminal of relay3. Run wires from o1 to switched output of relay1, o2 to output of relay2, o3 to output of relay3. Run a wire from the output of the new switch to the inputs of all 3 relay coils, and of course ground wires for all 3 relay coils.
Not as complicated as all the words make it sound and it’s easy to wire it so that the wipers come on when hitting the wash too. Each relay is essentially short circuiting a switch when the new switch is pressed. Have lived w/this setup for well over 10 years and don’t understand why every boat doesn’t come w/this
I’m assuming the 3 wipers are self-parking. If they do not self-park, I would advise against this
they can be multi speed motors but I will describe it as if they are 1 speed. If they’re multi speed, just use the high speed wire running to the motor
materials:
1x new momentary switch. Note that I already had a momentary ‘wash’ switch that activated the freshwater windshield wash/spray system. I replaced this switch with a 3 position momentary (ON)-OFF-(ON) switch so that when pressing the top, the wash comes on with the mist wipe action (sort of like your car), when pressing the bottom, only the mist wipe activates…but I will describe w/out the wash function
3x 12Vdc SPST (NO) relays rated for wiper motor current (of course they could be SPDT, DPDT, etc, you might also find a single 3 pole relay that will work).
Wiring:
Each existing wiper switch has a fused +12v going ‘in’ and a switched power wire going ‘out’ to the motor. We’ll call them i1, o1, i2, o2, i3, o3.
Run a wire from i1 to the input terminal of the new switch. Run another wire from i1 to the input switched terminal of relay1, a wire from i2 to the input switched terminal of relay2, another wire from i3 to the input switched terminal of relay3. Run wires from o1 to switched output of relay1, o2 to output of relay2, o3 to output of relay3. Run a wire from the output of the new switch to the inputs of all 3 relay coils, and of course ground wires for all 3 relay coils.
Not as complicated as all the words make it sound and it’s easy to wire it so that the wipers come on when hitting the wash too. Each relay is essentially short circuiting a switch when the new switch is pressed. Have lived w/this setup for well over 10 years and don’t understand why every boat doesn’t come w/this