Powerfold Mirrors

Hi This is my first post and somewhat new to all this. I have some aftermarket powerfold mirrors i would like to put on my car. I did some research and got myself a double coil latching relay. I will be using the lock pulse to latch the relay and lift the mirrors up. With the unlock pulse the mirrors will come back to normal position. I have been brainstorming the entire afternoon with a wiring diagram but i just cannot seem to get it right. I also want to add a LED so that it lights up when the car is locked.I have attached a so so diagram of what the plan is. Am i anywhere close to that?TIA BMW Engineering

Unless your motor has an internal shutdown at end of each way travel the above will drain your battery and burn out the motors, you need to time your pulses to a conventional relay (X 2). Here's a fault proof system I designed some years ago using a pair of DEI 528t timer relays c. US$ 10 each.:- ignition_controlled_mirror_fold.png I've used an ignition wire, colour nominal, all other colours follow 528t wiring. This will give you open on ignition, unfold on turning off the ignition. To stay with lock/unlock, connect one BLACK/ white to each, if NEG trigger leave blue loop uncut, if POS trigger cut the blue loops. Here's another variation, this time going into existing wiring, the diodes (1N4004) are optional (but safer) on each of the two diagrams:- FFZ_ign_mirror_fold.bmp Both diagrams fused at 10 amps.

howie ll wrote: Unless your motor has an internal shutdown at end of each way travel the above will drain your battery and burn out the motors, you need to time your pulses to a conventional relay (X 2). Here's a fault proof system I designed some years ago using a pair of DEI 528t timer relays c. US$ 10 each.:- ignition_controlled_mirror_fold.png I've used an ignition wire, colour nominal, all other colours follow 528t wiring. This will give you open on ignition, unfold on turning off the ignition. To stay with lock/unlock, connect one BLACK/ white to each, if NEG trigger leave blue loop uncut, if POS trigger cut the blue loops. Here's another variation, this time going into existing wiring, the diodes (1N4004) are optional (but safer) on each of the two diagrams:- FFZ_ign_mirror_fold.bmp Both diagrams fused at 10 amps.

Thanx Howie I tested the mirrors and they stop when they reach their limit. I have also heard of using the ignition system before. How will i know if i have a POS or NEG trigger?BMW Engineering

When ignition is on it's POS or 12V+ when off it sits at NEG or 0V.

Thanx Howie, will have a go at it on the weekendBMW Engineering

So that idea of mine was a mega fail. I actually ended up damaging my latching relay. The + and - didn't switch around like i thought it would in the diagram. Not sure if my voltage sources i was using was incorrect!!BMW Engineering

rodsfromday wrote: So that idea of mine was a mega fail. I actually ended up damaging my latching relay. The + and - didn't switch around like i thought it would in the diagram. Not sure if my voltage sources i was using was correct!!

*correctBMW Engineering

An example of the correct type, 12 amps power handling. http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/latching-relays/8148355/ Or Omron G6AK-234P 12DC 2 amp. If your mirrors draw less than 2 amps, the second is much better and 1/3 the cost both have twin coils, DPCO

Here's the link to the second:- http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/latching-relays/0369602/ If RS don't do Oz, try Farnell or Mouser, identical product ranges.

Howie, thats about the same latching relay that i used. I am going instead now with a one touch switch to operate the windows. I will see later on if i can get my head around this lock/unlock operationBMW Engineering