Smartscreen Intermittent Wipers Review
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:06 pm
After suffering through the wettest June known to man in our area, I decided to try to get intermittent wiper functionality on the Plus 2. After some searching on-line, I found the Smartscreen system, which is specifically made for British classics. This is a great little product!
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... dexID=4396
http://www.smart-screen.co.uk/
I ordered mine directly from Smartscreen and recommend this route to make sure you get the correct unit. Jonathan answered all questions promptly by email, accurately confirming the unit I needed for my Plus 2 Federal (1969 build, original negative ground, c/w two-speed self-parking wipers and electric washer system switched on the hot side of the washer pump) . All these details are important for correct unit selection. Units are available for different wiper and wiring configurations. I would recommend using the well laid out flow chart on the web site to ensure you get the correct unit for your application rather than the "Select by Marque" feature; e.g. I installed the SS05/P in my car, but the marque call-up seemed to indicate SS05/N was the appropriate model. Jonathan caught my ordering error with an order confirmation email and supplied the correct unit, so no issues and much appreciated. Shipping to Canada was easy and inexpensive by regular mail. Payment by credit card sealed the deal.
The installed size of the unit is only approximately 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" with allowance for the spade connectors. The plastic encased unit is very light; I have used double sided tape to mount it and it seems OK. The unit is weather sealed, and Jonathan confirmed it is OK to mount under the bonnet. The kit even came with a selection of female spade connectors with plastic boots and a couple of tapping connectors. Instruction sheet was very complete as well, although I modified the recommended physical location of the wiring a bit to suit the tight fit in the Lotus; the instructions assume locating the unit near the wiper switch behind the dash. Bottom line: as my wiper loom was long enough I was able to install the unit easily under the bonnet in an hour or two without removing the dash.
The operation of the unit is straight forward.
To assess your installation difficulty, I found I needed about 3" to 4" of slack in the wiper loom under the bonnet to easily make the connections to the unit. With this much slack in the loom the female spade connectors can be added to the Green power supply, Black ground, and Wiper Park wires by cutting the wire and crimping them back together with the supplied female spades. The install requires cutting the Normal Speed wire and attaching each end to separate terminals on the unit. The High Speed wire remains continuous and unaltered, and does not attach to the unit. As my wiper motor is on the opposite side of the car, I had to route a tap from the window squirter power wire across the fire wall; this was actually the most time consuming portion of the job.
A note on Lotus wire colours. Many models use 'non-standard' (or earlier standard?) wire colours for the wiper loom. From my notes for my Federal car the stock colours were as follows. This may assist with checking out your loom and following the Smartscreen instructions, which reference the standard colours. As with all Lotus wiring, YMMV.
I searched the archives and didn't see this product mentioned here before. There are a fair number of posts on other British car forums recommending the product, but not a lot of detailed how-to information out there, hence the long post. Overall it looks like a great little mod that is pretty simple to install. Adds a nice modern feature to the car without a lot of alteration or hassle. Installation should be easily reversible if desired or if the unit fails; I could easily replace the cut wires in the wiper loom with a block connector and remove the washer tap wire to return to stock.
Cheers! Got to go update my wiring diagram.
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... dexID=4396
http://www.smart-screen.co.uk/
I ordered mine directly from Smartscreen and recommend this route to make sure you get the correct unit. Jonathan answered all questions promptly by email, accurately confirming the unit I needed for my Plus 2 Federal (1969 build, original negative ground, c/w two-speed self-parking wipers and electric washer system switched on the hot side of the washer pump) . All these details are important for correct unit selection. Units are available for different wiper and wiring configurations. I would recommend using the well laid out flow chart on the web site to ensure you get the correct unit for your application rather than the "Select by Marque" feature; e.g. I installed the SS05/P in my car, but the marque call-up seemed to indicate SS05/N was the appropriate model. Jonathan caught my ordering error with an order confirmation email and supplied the correct unit, so no issues and much appreciated. Shipping to Canada was easy and inexpensive by regular mail. Payment by credit card sealed the deal.
The installed size of the unit is only approximately 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" with allowance for the spade connectors. The plastic encased unit is very light; I have used double sided tape to mount it and it seems OK. The unit is weather sealed, and Jonathan confirmed it is OK to mount under the bonnet. The kit even came with a selection of female spade connectors with plastic boots and a couple of tapping connectors. Instruction sheet was very complete as well, although I modified the recommended physical location of the wiring a bit to suit the tight fit in the Lotus; the instructions assume locating the unit near the wiper switch behind the dash. Bottom line: as my wiper loom was long enough I was able to install the unit easily under the bonnet in an hour or two without removing the dash.
The operation of the unit is straight forward.
- Pressing the intermittent window wash switch activates the wipers on normal speed for three cycles and park correctly.
- The existing two-speed wiper switch works completely as normal.
- The stock switch and wiper motor do not have to be changed.
- No additional wire is required in the wiper loom if there is sufficient slack. A short portion of wire may be required from the wash motor power wire to the unit.
- No additional fuses are required. All wires (except the wash power wire) are located in the wiper loom.
- The intermittent feature has an adjustable delay range of 3 to 30 seconds.
- The intermittent delay is easily set. Turn the wipers on to low speed for one cycle by flicking the wiper switch on & off rapidly. Wait the delay period you want, and flick the switch again. The delay is now set, and the wipers work intermittently with the wiper switch left in the off position. The delay is canceled with either one more flick of the switch, turning the car off, or turning the wipers on continuously.
To assess your installation difficulty, I found I needed about 3" to 4" of slack in the wiper loom under the bonnet to easily make the connections to the unit. With this much slack in the loom the female spade connectors can be added to the Green power supply, Black ground, and Wiper Park wires by cutting the wire and crimping them back together with the supplied female spades. The install requires cutting the Normal Speed wire and attaching each end to separate terminals on the unit. The High Speed wire remains continuous and unaltered, and does not attach to the unit. As my wiper motor is on the opposite side of the car, I had to route a tap from the window squirter power wire across the fire wall; this was actually the most time consuming portion of the job.
A note on Lotus wire colours. Many models use 'non-standard' (or earlier standard?) wire colours for the wiper loom. From my notes for my Federal car the stock colours were as follows. This may assist with checking out your loom and following the Smartscreen instructions, which reference the standard colours. As with all Lotus wiring, YMMV.
- Blue/Yellow at the motor plug and Black/Yellow at the wiper switch = "PARK"; Standard Colour is Brown/Light Green. In the Federal Plus 2 Lotus actually changes wire colour at the main connectors between the dash loom and the front loom.
- Light Green = "FAST SPEED"; Standard colour is Blue/Light Green.
- Yellow = "REGULAR SPEED"; Standard colour is Red/Light Green.
- Green = "Hot in Run and Start, fused"; Standard colour is the same
- Black = "Ground"; Standard colour is the same
- Black/Blue = "WASHER"; Standard colour is Light Green/Black
I searched the archives and didn't see this product mentioned here before. There are a fair number of posts on other British car forums recommending the product, but not a lot of detailed how-to information out there, hence the long post. Overall it looks like a great little mod that is pretty simple to install. Adds a nice modern feature to the car without a lot of alteration or hassle. Installation should be easily reversible if desired or if the unit fails; I could easily replace the cut wires in the wiper loom with a block connector and remove the washer tap wire to return to stock.
Cheers! Got to go update my wiring diagram.