Active grill shutters at the dollar store! - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Gasoline Fumes · 09-12-2014, 02:42 PM

These vents have a pair of plastic shutters that are actuated by a small DC motor. Perfect for an automated grill block! But being a motor, they need only a short electrical pulse to move. You can't feed them continuous power. The timer takes 2 AAA batteries, so I assume the motor gets about 3 volts. It works fine on 1.2v. I wouldn't try 12v! Some weatherproofing for the motor will be necessary. The shutter area is about 4" x 9". I'll try one first, maybe that'll be enough airflow. I usually have a smaller grill opening than that.

I bought a bunch. I'll make a post in the classifieds if anybody else wants to play with one. Or if you're in Upstate NY, look for Real Deals Dollar Stores!

Daox · 09-12-2014, 02:44 PM

Nice find! I wanna see them on your car now.

Xist · 09-12-2014, 03:08 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Vent-Miser-91663-BR-Programmable-Energy-2-Inches/dp/B000WAGVRY

$7.89 for 2" x 12", $5.99 + $2.99 shipping for 4" x 10"

Gasoline Fumes · 09-12-2014, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

Nice find! I wanna see them on your car now.

It would look something like this. That's just a normal vent that I never figured out how to reliably actuate. Luckily the new vent is the same size as the first one I bought! It's a 4" x 12" vent.

Xist · 09-12-2014, 05:20 PM

If I buy you black paint, will you use it?

Occasionally6 · 09-12-2014, 07:42 PM

That's f#$%ing perfect! It's pretty much as I had envisaged fabricating. Sooo much easier to use off the shelf parts.

I think it will be better without the white vent cover and with a fabricated duct.

A regulated 3V (from "12V") is almost trivial to achieve.

I'm also thinking an aero profile on the blocking slats for when they are open

.

And, can something useful be done with the timer/clock?

Gasoline Fumes · 09-12-2014, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xist

If I buy you black paint, will you use it?

I did paint it black. It's not actually even on the car, I currently have the license plate over the hole. And I have to constantly adjust the location of the plate to keep the radiator fan off. I can't wait to get this new vent working.

Cobb · 09-12-2014, 08:53 PM

Interesting..... And someone on kick starter had one that you operate by bluetooth. Sounds like too much work, Ill stick to my little 4x4 inch opening.

Baltothewolf · 09-13-2014, 01:55 AM

I wonder if one of those would provide enough airflow for a 2000 insight in 104F Weather fully opened? This definitely is worth looking into if I can get my overheating problem fixed.

Gasoline Fumes · 09-13-2014, 02:18 AM

For hotter climates, I'd probably use two of them.