Vehicle electrical equipment
LED headlights - legal issues and useful tips for retrofitting
LED headlights are now standard on many vehicles. They can be more flexible and have many other benefits. But this does not apply to older cars. But still, even if the manufacturer doesn't offer LED headlights, conversion kits are often available; and they can be installed even without much experience. Here we will tell you what to look for when installing LED headlights and what benefits new lighting provides, as well as what to look for when buying. Why change lighting? The LED (light emitting diode) has many advantages over its predecessor, the incandescent bulb, as well as its direct competitor, the xenon headlight. Benefits for both you and other road users. They have a lifespan of…
Car radio replacement: how it works with installation and removal
Nowadays, a car radio is much more than an old two-handle receiver. A modern car radio should have a lot of extra features and comfort features. The original radios only partly live up to these expectations. Therefore, many customers change the originally installed radio to a new one. Mistakes are often made. Read in this guide what to look for when replacing your car radio. What to Expect from a Modern Car Radio The radio function itself is only part of the capabilities of this traditional equipment. Especially important in our time is its connection with a smartphone. Synchronization turns your car stereo into a speakerphone or a handy navigational assistant. Thanks to Bluetooth technology, this connection no longer requires wiring. Modern standard radio equipment includes a remote control built into the steering wheel. Steering wheel radio control is a practical…
New car radio not working - now what?
It all sounds so simple: car radios are equipped with standard connectors that allow you to connect them to the car's speakers and power supply. In case of incompatibility, a suitable adapter allows you to connect, at least in theory, as practice sometimes shows otherwise. Simple Basic Principle A car radio is an electronic component that obeys all the laws of physics, just like all other electrical parts. Electronic components are also referred to as "consumers". These could be lamps, heated seats, auxiliary motors (power windows), or an audio system in a car. The basic principle of electronics is that current always flows through circuits. Each consumer of electricity must be installed in a closed circuit. It consists of a positive and negative power supply and auxiliary cables. Simply put, all cables leading to the consumer are outgoing cables, and all wires ...
Installing a car alarm - How to prevent the theft of a car and parts!
In the 80s and especially in the 90s, car thefts were very common. There weren't as many cars as there are now. Switching the VIN of the cars was relatively easy. Expensive radios and other parts were interesting items to take apart. Many of these reasons are no longer relevant, new reasons are emerging. Car as a scrap metal object The main reason for the theft of a car or its parts is the repair of emergency vehicles. They are bought by professional gangs and subsequently prepared for sale using stolen parts. Of particular interest are the elements of the front of the car, the windshield and airbags. If the latter have been activated, the crash machine will be especially cheap. Making a practically free car usable is mostly a matter of time and experience. Even though audio systems are now so cheap that stealing them no longer brings…
Installing an audio system in a car - a concert hall or a temple of techno? How to turn your car into a musical paradise!
A good car needs an adequate audio system. For most drivers, listening to music while driving is a staple. What started out as a simple radio with a single roaring speaker has long since become high-tech. Several well-placed speakers, high quality playback equipment and highly functional components are an integral part of a complete entertainment package. Requirements for a modern audio system The radio as the defining audio component in a car is a thing of the past. Nowadays, the complete entertainment package is about more than radio reception and playback of interchangeable audio media. Nowadays, it is especially important to connect smartphones, tablets, navigation equipment, etc. e. The two-button radio has evolved into a multimedia box with many options. Standard or revision? The versatility of a modern powerful multimedia system in a car greatly complicates its expansion and adaptation. Modern manufacturers offer extensive equipment as standard. However…
LED fog lights - how to convert and comply with legal requirements?
LEDs, "light emitting diodes", have a number of advantages over traditional light bulbs or xenon lamps. They consume less energy for the same light output; they are more efficient and durable. In addition, they are perceived as less dazzling. Thus, substitution can be useful, although it is not difficult. In addition to the conversion, a few things must be observed. What is a fog lamp? We have all seen fog lights on rally cars, where they are prominently mounted on the roof and used when the driver is in adverse visibility conditions. Most conventional vehicles also have fog lamps, usually located at the bottom of the front skirt on either side of the grille or in dedicated recesses. They are designed to be used when normal dipped headlights are insufficient, i.e. in heavy rain,…
The eyes and ears of a car are all about the sensors!
Over the past twenty years, sensors in the car have become increasingly important. As a result, cars have become much safer, more comfortable and cleaner. Read this overview of the most important sensors in a car. The function of the sensors The sensors continuously measure a specific actual value. They transmit the recorded value to the electrical or radio signal control unit. Here the obtained actual value is compared with the programmed nominal value. Depending on the nature of the deviation, this causes different reactions, ranging from a simple signal to indicate an error code and ending with the activation of the car's emergency drive. Types of sensors Sensors can be roughly divided into the following categories: 1. Position sensors2. RPM sensors3. Acceleration sensors4. Pressure sensors5. Temperature sensors6. Force sensors7. Flow Sensors 1. Position Sensors Position sensors measure the position of a component within a given path, which can be…
How to choose a battery for a car?
Regardless of whether a diesel engine is in the car or a gasoline equivalent, the unit requires enough energy to start it. A modern car uses electricity for more than just turning the flywheel. The on-board system activates many devices and sensors that ensure the adequate operation of the fuel system, ignition and other components in the vehicle. When the car is already running, this current comes from the generator, which uses the engine to generate power (its drive is connected to the belt or timing chain of the power unit). However, in order to start an internal combustion engine, a separate power source is required, in which there is a sufficient supply of energy to start all systems. For this, a battery is used. Consider what are the requirements for akb, as well as what follows ...
The 4 Most Common Wrong Rules to Protect Cars from Theft
Car theft is on the agenda every day – we all know it. Therefore, the question is rather how to effectively protect your car. Are you lost in the offer of security systems and are no longer sure what to believe and what not? We approve of your use of critical thinking. However, we have selected 4 of the most common misconceptions about VAM vehicle protection and explain why they are not true. Protecting your vehicle with the VAM system may not work. Security quality is the alpha and omega of the VAM system. The results are clear: of the more than 6000 vehicles that have had VAM installed, none have been stolen. However, the kidnappers were tried in more than 500 cases.…
Causes and methods of fogging car headlights
Fogging headlights from the inside is a common occurrence faced by motorists. Often, condensation appears inside the optics after washing the vehicle or as a result of sudden changes in day and night temperatures. Many owners do not pay attention to this phenomenon. However, the presence of water in lighting equipment is highly undesirable and even dangerous. Therefore, it is important to determine in a timely manner why the headlights are sweating and fix the problem. How condensation is formed Fogging of automotive optics is associated with the appearance of condensate inside the headlight. Water that has got inside for various reasons, under the influence of heated lamps, begins to evaporate and settle in the form of drops on the inner surface of the headlight. The glass becomes more cloudy, and the light passing through it becomes dim and scattered. Water droplets act like a lens, changing direction...
What is a GPS navigator and how to choose?
No driver, being in an unfamiliar area, would like to get lost. In addition to additional stress, trying to get on the right route often leads to excessive fuel consumption. Regardless of whether it is a holiday trip or a business trip, such waste is undesirable for any motorist's wallet. The road, especially unfamiliar, can prepare unpleasant surprises for drivers in the form of large pits, sharp turns, difficult interchanges and traffic jams. To feel confident on any track, motorists are encouraged to purchase a GPS navigator. Consider what kind of device it is, how to choose and configure it correctly. We will also discuss whether its operation depends on the country in which the car is located. What is a GPS navigator? Many motorists do not see the need for a navigator, since any modern ...
The device and principle of operation of the HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
The problem of maintaining a comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment arose at the dawn of the automotive industry. In order to maintain heat, motorists used compact wood and coal stoves, gas lamps. Even exhaust gases were used for heating. But as technology has advanced, more convenient and safer systems have begun to appear that can provide a comfortable climate during the trip. Today, this function is performed by the ventilation, heating and air conditioning system of the car - HVAC. Temperature distribution in the passenger compartment On hot days, the car body becomes very hot in the sun. Because of this, the air temperature in the cabin rises significantly. If the temperature outside reaches 30 degrees, then inside the car, the indicators can rise to 50 degrees. At the same time, the most heated layers of air masses are in ...
Contact ignition systems, device, principle of operation
Any car equipped with an internal combustion engine will definitely have an ignition system in electronics. In order for the mixture of atomized fuel and air in the cylinders to be able to ignite, a decent discharge is needed. Depending on the modification of the on-board network of the car, this figure reaches 30 thousand volts. Where does such energy come from if the battery in the car only produces 12 volts? The main element that generates this voltage is the ignition coil. Details on how it works and what modifications there are are described in a separate review. Now let's focus on the principle of operation of one of the varieties of ignition systems - contact (different types of SZ are described here). What is a contact ignition system of a car Modern cars have received a battery-type electrical system. Her scheme is as follows...
What does the marking of car headlights mean?
The code of the block headlight according to the international standard displays all the characteristics of the optics. Marking allows the driver to correctly and quickly select a spare part, find out the type of lamps used without a sample, and also compare the year of manufacture of the part with the year of manufacture of the car for an indirect check on an accident. What is the marking for and what does it mean? First of all, the marking on the headlight helps the driver decide what type of bulbs can be installed to replace the burnt ones. In addition, the label contains a large amount of additional information: from the year of manufacture to the country of certification, as well as information on compliance with standards. According to the international standard (UNECE Regulations N99 / GOST R41.99-99), optical equipment installed on wheeled vehicles (cars) must be marked according to an approved pattern. Code that contains...
Types, structure and principle of operation of the head-up display HUD
The number of systems to increase driving safety and comfort is constantly increasing. One of the new solutions is the head-up display, designed to conveniently display information about the car and details of the trip in front of the driver's eyes on the windshield. Such devices can be installed both standard and as additional equipment in any car, even domestic production. What is a head-up display Like many other technologies, the head-up display originated in cars from the aviation industry. The system was used to conveniently display flight information in front of the pilot's eyes. After that, car manufacturers began to master the development, as a result of which the first version of a black-and-white display appeared in 1988 at General Motors. And 10 years later, devices appeared with ...
How to decipher the symbols on the instrument panel
In total, there are more than a hundred different indicators for the instrument panel. Each icon provides specific information about the state of the main components of the car, warns and informs the driver. How not to get confused in such a variety of data, what indicators you need to monitor constantly - then everything in order. Meanings of the Icons and How to React to Them The symbols on the instrument panel may differ for different types of vehicles. But there are dozens of standard signs that warn of critical malfunctions, low oil pressure, lack of fuel, brake fluid, and a lack of battery charge. Manufacturers have tried to display the maximum amount of information on the instrument panel, the lamps inform the driver in real time about the state of the car. In addition to information about the status of systems and components of the car, the lit icons on ...
