Electromechanical grill block gizmo

[nemesis]

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]

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]

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

[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

[aerohead]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[augustinionut]

This is mine, last winter: