Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

Due to not having had any kind of electrics education I find myself floundering in terminology.

My 12 volt wiper motor should be fed by a twin core flex cable that needs to be small enough to go through the holes in the windscreen frame. My choice of wire is rather limited but I do have a reel of grey flex which is similar to speaker wire. I know the small type of speaker wire (16 gauge) can carry at least 13 amps (similar to lamp wire) so as the normal current consumption of the motor is only 2.5 amps I thought it might be suitable.

If not please say now before I trap it behind the glass in the frame.

What I don't understand is why there is no wattage value for the wiper motor in the Lucas workshop instructions...but there is an amperage value given.?

12v x 2.5a = 30w

Why one and not the other?

[ukdave2002]

I think the vehicle industry always struggled with presenting electrics to mechanics who predominantly dealt with oily stuff, as such electrical items tend to be described on a “ need to know “ basis. Wiring requirements for a device that consumes say 30W as a resistive load such as a light bulb will be different for a inductive (motor) load that in the case of a wiper motor is intermittent, starting and stopping.

Dave

[Ray White]

My CWX wiper motor works O.K... but after a 20 minute test run on the bench it had become uncomfortably warm; not too hot to touch but you wouldn't want to hold onto it for too long. Lucas expected the motor to run warm but it was beginning to smell.

The wires remained cool to the touch.

Is there anything that I could do to improve this please?

...(yes, I know ...don't run it for as long )

[MVPeters]

They are pretty simple motors, so I would pop the cover off & replace all the hardened, dried-up grease, clean the commutator, put one drop of oil on the bearings, etc.
In normal use on the windscreen, the airflow will probably keep it cooler.
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[ukdave2002]

Also check the field and armature coils are in tact, look for physical damage and check the resistance, specifically ensure that all 3 armature coils have the same resistance, and both field coils have the same resistance, I'm not sure what the actual field and armature resistances should be, it will be on the internet somewhere!

If any of the coils are damaged its a simple enough job to rewind them.

Dave

[petelang]

Mine runs hot too but it's seldom on for long as I polish the glass with Rainex so mostly the rain just runs off. Occasionally I have to put it on for a few sweeps when you get fine drizzle or sleet.
As long as its not so hot that you can't keep your hand warming on it, I think it will be OK.
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Daimler Fifteen 1934
Armstrong Siddeley 15 Long 1933
Daimler V8 250 1969

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

[CWhaley1]

I can vouch for Rainox. I actually used it on my 'new' car (Peugeot 406) as no matter how many adjustments I made, the wipers always missed a small section of the screen. The Rainox meant water didn't sit there any more.

I use it on the Singer as the one speed wiper can be less-than-ideal in the wet and windy Erewash valley!

[Ray White]

[CWhaley1]