Electromechanical grill block gizmo - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

nemesis · 07-19-2009, 09:24 AM

I've had a different idea, it'll be mechanical operated, it'll stay open at 45mph or below and will shut on it's own anything above that.

Piwoslaw · 09-10-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtec-e

Someone here mentioned using a central locking motor. It would only be fully open or fully closed so you wouldn't have the level of control to maintain a certain temp. But if you are just using it to improve warm up times then it should work very well. Plus, it's made for use in a car with its mounting points and also designed to work with a cars voltage.

Any idea as to the current that a central lock motor uses? Can I run it through a 20A switch, or should I use a relay?

Daox · 09-10-2009, 09:43 AM

I am using a 5A h-bridge and it is holding up great.

Sparkchaser · 09-22-2009, 11:50 PM

Hello,
How about those electric or vacuum motors that open/close retractable headlights on sports cars? Or, windshield wiper motor? I was thinking of the same sort of adjustable shutters for my diesel pickup, to help it warm up quicker in the winter, and hopefully help improve fuel economy too.
Mark

aerohead · 09-23-2009, 07:15 PM

If you reverse your logic,set it up for normally open,and with some positive return mechanism,should the electrical bits fail,the damper would at least "fail" in a position that would not put the engine at risk.Also,would a simple 12-VDC solenoid do as well as a motor?

DonR · 09-24-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparkchaser

Hello,
How about those electric or vacuum motors that open/close retractable headlights on sports cars? Or, windshield wiper motor? I was thinking of the same sort of adjustable shutters for my diesel pickup, to help it warm up quicker in the winter, and hopefully help improve fuel economy too.
Mark

I love forgotten technology.

A thermostatically controlled vaccum actuated heat riser valve from a carburator does just this. Finding a thermostatically controlled vaccum switch is the problem.

McMaster-Carr

Search for "Sealed Linear Solenoids" I would recommend the continuous duty cycle.

Adjustable cooling fan control. 160°F to 240°F.
JEGS 52125 JEGS Adjustable Temperature Control Switch

drbobwoolery · 10-18-2009, 06:20 PM

Heater flap actuators are often vacuum actuated, and may include suitable pivots and at least part of the flap, if you look among the heaters in the junkyard big cars.

dwtaylorpdx · 10-18-2009, 10:08 PM

Freight trucks had them don't know if they still do, called it a shutterstat.
It blocked flow through the radiator to control temps.
Activated by a solenoid and a vacuum servo thing.

Worked like a set of vertical window blinds.

Dave

Piwoslaw · 11-02-2009, 11:08 AM

I used the central lock motors and made the grille block. Description and pictures are here. I'll just add that I had a short moment to use an electrician's hi-tech multimeter tool (when he wasn't looking

) and it looks like the motors have a current of around 0.5A. I hope that's true, since the control wires I have going from the cabin are really thin. So far it works.