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Power Windows - Decade Old Convenient Car Feature

Power windows are electric windows that can be raised and lowered using a switch rather than a hand-turned crank handle in the traditional windows. For the first time power windows were fitted in 1941 on the car models Lincoln Custom and Packard Custom Super 180. The Lincoln Custom was produced by Ford ’s Lincoln Luxury Division as a custom limousine and long-wheelbase touring sedan and was manufactured only in 1941 and 1942 and the Packard Custom Super 180 is believed to be the largest vehicle from Packard Motor Company.

Principle of Working

Power windows mainly work on the principle of electricity and battery that is controlled by switches on the centre console and a network of wires. Power windows are functional only if the car is in run position.

The basic power window system comprises control of all four power windows by the driver. On this system the door of the driver receives power through an optimized circuit breaker. This power is then transferred into the window switch control panel and further distributed to a contact at the centre point where the wirings of the four windows meet. The power contact is then connected to the vehicle ground at one end and to the electric motor or battery at the other end.

When the driver presses one of the switches mounted near his seat one of the two side contacts gets disconnected from the ground and connects to the centre power contact whereas the other side contact remains grounded. This provides the actual power to control the movement of power windows.

On the other hand, advanced power window system founded in many of the new luxury cars has a completely different working mechanism. This is the case when a car is fitted with many powered components like power windows, power door, and power mirrors. In such a case it becomes difficult for the car manufacturer to connect so many wires together in the car’s door and so what they do is merge the wires into one single module to monitor all the controls.

When the driver presses the switch of the power window, the power is directly transferred to the window motor without affecting the movement of other powered systems. This mainly works in a way such that when one system is to be powered, the module automatically closes the connection that provides power to other systems of the car.

Exciting Add-On Features

In the modern era of technologies and innovation the power windows are associated with a host of features that make them more efficient and friendly. Some of the most exciting add-on features of power windows are as follows:

Automatic Up/Down: The automatic-up feature is rare but the automatic-down feature is very common these days. The system uses a circuit that monitors the amount of time driver holds the window switch. If the driver taps it and release it immediately the windows goes all the way down, if the switch is pressed for less than half a second the window will go down to a certain limit, and if the switch is pressed for more than half a second, the window will stop when the switch is released.

Window Control From Outside: This is an interesting feature on the Volkswagen cars where the windows can be lowered from outside by just inserting the key in the driver’s door, turning and holding it. There is a module fitted on the driver’s door that monitors the switch in the door lock and when a key in inserted turned and held for a certain amount of the time the window automatically gets lowered.
Courtesy Power-On: This is the most exciting feature as it helps to raise the power windows even after the ignition key is removed. The circuit powering the windows will retain the connection for some time and provide power that is enough to roll up the windows.

Hidden Dangers

Power windows are decade old car feature that have provided comfort and convenience to car drivers. They are among the most significant introduction in the car industry but yet they have certain hidden dangers.

It is believed that since this car electrical system was introduced, children have been injured and even killed when they have become trapped in power windows. This mainly happens when a child puts his or her head out of the window while the window is being raised by the driver or when the child leans on the window switch.

There are different kinds of window switches, rocker switch, toggle switch, and lever switch. Rocker switches close the window when pressed from one end and toggle switches close the window when pressed forward. Both these switches cab be easily used by a child and may cause an injury if the child ’s head or hand gets trapped between the window sill and the window frame.

There is a third kind of switch that is harder for kids to operate and it can be used for improved safety of the child. In some of the new cars, power windows automatically takes a reverse path and lowers down if there is anything that blocks the way while raising the window.

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