folding mirror controller for honda

Folks, I need some help please. I am attempting to install folding mirrors on a Honda that does not come equipped with folding mirrors in the US as standard or an option. I sourced the Honda mirrors from another country where they are standard equipment, and also got the factory mirror switch with a folding button also. I have the wiring schematics but I realize I need some kind of controller for the folding motors. The factory switch is a SPDT (three leads of course) with one position being extended, the other being folded. The motors in the mirror are two wires, with reversed polarity triggering the folding verses extension motions. There are warnings in the manuals about not applying current when the motors reach their end of travel, so I assume one cannot apply constant voltage to the motors else they will burn out. I am not 100% positive if that is the case or just a CYA note in the manual. I assume I need a circuit or controller that can be triggered by the factory SPDT switch to trigger the motors to extend/retract by reversing polarity. I assume I also need some kind of 12VDC power off delay to feed the motors a few seconds of power during the extend/retraction operation and then shut off the power until the switch is toggled. I would think this would be a common requirement and hopefully there is some kind of readily available controller for this application. If not, does anyone have a circuit design that could control the mirrors? I have searched but I am probably not using the correct keywords. Any assistance would be most gratefully appreciated

I wonder about a power window controller. Look up the DEI 530T or 529T and see if you can find either of their installation manuals online.

Chris Luongo wrote: I wonder about a power window controller. Look up the DEI 530T or 529T and see if you can find either of their installation manuals online.

That is an interesting idea! The mirrors act very much like a window and the DEI uses the resistance of the motor so that might prove more effective than a delay off timer. But there is one issue. The "control" switch for the mirror is not like a window switch. The window switch has three states: Up, Down and Neutral. But the mirror switch has only two states Extended and Retracted (the equivalent of up down) but has not neutral. I am not sure how the DEI will react if it sees a constant signal to roll up the window (extend the mirror) constantly.

You need to find out if the mirrors have limit switches in them. I would guess that they do, but that is only a guess. The warning in the manual may be there just in case a limit switch fails. In that case you could add a thermal circuit breaker or fuse to detect a stalled motor. It would be interesting to see if a window module would work on a mirror fold motor as the operating current would be much lower. I am not sure how sensitive those modules are to current.Kevin Pierson

KPierson wrote: You need to find out if the mirrors have limit switches in them. I would guess that they do, but that is only a guess. The warning in the manual may be there just in case a limit switch fails. In that case you could add a thermal circuit breaker or fuse to detect a stalled motor. It would be interesting to see if a window module would work on a mirror fold motor as the operating current would be much lower. I am not sure how sensitive those modules are to current.

Thank you for the reply. The mirrors do NOT have a limit switch, and continue to draw current when they reach the stop. The 530 has dip switches and you can change the "resistance value" to determine when the window is fully open/closed. I ordered a 530. I have installed 529 on several cars and they worked great for the windows. Worth a try. I will report back.

The seller shipped me a 535T and not the 530T. The 535T has more functions and it does not seem to work. The problem is that unlike some of the prior DEI window modules that had dip switches to program the resistance of the motors, this 535T "learns". I cannot seem to get past the learn sequence. I have both mirrors hooked up to simulate two windows. When you put it in learn mode by shorting a particular lead, I then apply +12V to the window up lead and the mirror moves a bit, then stops then moves a bit more then it gives up learn mode. Without completing the learn cycle, it won't move the motors at all.

Probably not enough current. Typically, to measure current you use a shunt resistor to create a very small voltage drop. The amount the voltage drops depends on current pulled across the circuit. If you don't have enough current the voltage never drops enough and the module "thinks" the circuit is open. The issue here is that your motors probably draw next to no current (1/2A max I would guess). A power window motor draws I would guess 8A minimum and it goes up from there.Kevin Pierson

Google "folding mirror controller " and there is an actual controller on ebay for abt $35 dollars and it seems very impressive .triniforever

That's a strict 5 second time based system. It would be nice if they made the timer adjustable to reduce wear on the motors.Kevin Pierson

What about using a power window or lock switch since it is momentary