smessaert Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 We are looking for an effective windshield defroster that we can install in place of the original box. Anyone have any experience with a specific kit or recommendation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatwhite Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 We use something similar to this, with no ducting. Add a fresh coat of rain-x anti-fog on the inside and its never been an issuehttps://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all13009?seid=srese1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8Jf-BRB-EiwAWDtEGiDmgBv9r4_HS25JMoo1mEXkiTepla2QRnYoW0cnaucI-qzw1w0OqRoCBA8QAvD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 (edited) These work great on front windshields too. Edited December 1, 2020 by erich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chip Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 1 hour ago, erich said: These work great on front windshields too. best option out there- been using these for at least 6 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smessaert Posted December 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 Thanks guys, dumb question but at the strips clear or is the copper wire visible to the driver? Is installation fairly straight forward and assume you plug it into a cigarette lighter or wire directly to the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bremsen Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, smessaert said: Thanks guys, dumb question but at the strips clear or is the copper wire visible to the driver? Is installation fairly straight forward and assume you plug it into a cigarette lighter or wire directly to the car? They're "visible", but don't notice it on track since focus is way out in front of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvumtnbkr Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 (edited) They are distracting at slow speeds, but once on track, they disappear. They are NOT easy to put on a w indsheild that is installed. Careful layout with painters tape on the inside of the w indsheild helps. The tape will show you where you can actually get your hands and a Razor blade near the sides and top and bottom of the w indsheild. It is important that the strips are even, not broken, not twisted, etc. The install is definitely something you want to think through and mock up before you start peeling 5 inch wide by 30 inch long adhesive panels.... it can turn into a big mess quickly.... All of that being said, it is doable. Just make sure you think it through before sticking it on the w indsheild. I use a large breaker, switch, and relay to be able to run mine continuously. The wiring kit that you can buy with the unit turns off after so long. @Huggy recommended the wiring parts... Edited December 1, 2020 by wvumtnbkr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chip Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 38 minutes ago, smessaert said: Thanks guys, dumb question but at the strips clear or is the copper wire visible to the driver? Is installation fairly straight forward and assume you plug it into a cigarette lighter or wire directly to the car? Like @Bremsen stated- you don't notice these while racing. I think @Huggy did a nice write up on our last installation of these- kind of a lessons learned from previous installations- try a search. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petawawarace Posted December 1, 2020 Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 So those work well with Lexan too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technical Advisory Committee Chris Huggins Posted December 2, 2020 Technical Advisory Committee Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bremsen Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 14 hours ago, petawawarace said: So those work well with Lexan too? Ours is on Lexan, but we've not tested it yet. Its my understanding that fogging is far less of an issue on polycarbonate, but again, we haven't had any fogging yet to determine either way. The main issue I had was applying it to the lexan and then installing the windshield afterward. I applied the grid with the window flat, but once installed/curved the grid wanted to lift off the window (and still does to some extent). I don't think it will dramatically effect the performance with some small sections not sticking down, but something to be mindful of when applying prior to installing. ymmv. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Coan-Burningham Posted December 3, 2020 Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 (edited) I am the odd ball that sees the lines all the time and they bother me. It’s just me, but I went the route of the E30 cab defrosters and they suck so I ended up putting the stock box back in before Sebring. Then sent Huggy out in the rain at Sebring without turning the heat on and he had to suffer poor visibility. Or maybe it was John, but whatever. It works great if you turn the heat on. I mean, if you drive a 3000# race car what’s another 7 or 8 pounds. Here are the awesome E30 cab defrosters in action last year at Barber. It's a good thing I have driven that place so much so I could do it from memory instead of actually seeing the track. Edited December 3, 2020 by Burningham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhr650 Posted December 3, 2020 Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 I had the same results with the BMW electric defrost units, you can see the tiny hole of clear screen just above the unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Coan-Burningham Posted December 3, 2020 Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 1 hour ago, mhr650 said: I had the same results with the BMW electric defrost units, you can see the tiny hole of clear screen just above the unit. Wow, mine were working great compared to that. I had 2. I think I would have had to have at least 4 to have a somewhat field of vision. That would be something like 80 amps if all 4 were on, maybe they could have been multiplexed. Or I could have added a second alternator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technical Advisory Committee Chris Huggins Posted December 3, 2020 Technical Advisory Committee Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 50 minutes ago, Burningham said: Wow, mine were working great compared to that. I had 2. I think I would have had to have at least 4 to have a somewhat field of vision. That would be something like 80 amps if all 4 were on, maybe they could have been multiplexed. Or I could have added a second alternator. Nope, looked about like that at Sebring... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Coan-Burningham Posted December 3, 2020 Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 8 minutes ago, Huggy said: Nope, looked about like that at Sebring... That’s because I didn’t turn the heat on for you, you only had cold air. Worked fine after you came in. But you are young we knew you could deal with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazmarc Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 No motors. No wires. No switches. No plugs. I'm lookin at you Rodger 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Coan-Burningham Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 12 minutes ago, Mazmarc said: No motors. No wires. No switches. No plugs. I'm lookin at you Rodger My cousin that has run an E36 out west did this 4 or 5 years ago. I like it, but couldn’t figure how to get the coverage I needed in my car or maybe I gave up too easily. Good idea though, should work for most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indysupra Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 On 12/2/2020 at 9:53 PM, Burningham said: I am the odd ball that sees the lines all the time and they bother me. It’s just me, but I went the route of the E30 cab defrosters and they suck so I ended up putting the stock box back in before Sebring. Then sent Huggy out in the rain at Sebring without turning the heat on and he had to suffer poor visibility. Or maybe it was John, but whatever. It works great if you turn the heat on. I mean, if you drive a 3000# race car what’s another 7 or 8 pounds. Here are the awesome E30 cab defrosters in action last year at Barber. It's a good thing I have driven that place so much so I could do it from memory instead of actually seeing the track. I see the lines on the vette as well. Bothers me. The vette is a super hot car already so not sure I want to do the heater thing yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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