Attention Electrical Gurus, Need help with windshield washer wiring Options

[bbrock]

Right after ordering a complete Car Magic kit to convert my windshield washer to electric, I read Sir Andy's excellent tech article on the conversion. The idea of pulling power for the washer pump off the intermittent wiper feed so the washer is activated by pulling back on the wiper lever was too elegant not to try.

I happened to have this nifty vintage VW style splitter I bought some time ago for not other reason than I thought it might come in handy for some future custom wiring project. It was just the ticket for splitting off of my intermittent washer relay to power the washer pump.



After hooking everything up, I pulled back on the wiper lever and HUZZAH! The washers squirted and the wipers ran for two sweeps and parked. Pretty slick! I couldn't understand how the intermittent wipers would work when the lever was pulled down to turn the intermittent wipers on. I pull down on the lever to test them and nothing. As soon as I unplug the washer pump, the intermittent wipers start running. I'm not sure how the intermittent relay works, but thinking the timer is from charging a capacitor which then "bump starts" the wipers to run a single cycle.

Is there is a reasonably simple way to isolate the pump so it allows the intermittent mechanism to run without activating the washer pump? Could be a fun project. Or should I just go back to the original plan of installing the Car Magic switch? I just like the idea of minimizing the wiring.

[Spoke]

@bbrock

Either BY880 diodes will work. According to their datasheets, both drop between 0.8 to 1.0V with 4A current.

I didn't see a price for the -100 part. The -50 part has 15 piece minimum which is no big deal. Both are 'marketplace products' which means Digikey lists them but they come from another supplier/distributor. They usually require minimum quantities.

[bbrock]

@bbrock

Either BY880 diodes will work. According to their datasheets, both drop between 0.8 to 1.0V with 4A current.

I didn't see a price for the -100 part. The -50 part has 15 piece minimum which is no big deal. Both are 'marketplace products' which means Digikey lists them but they come from another supplier/distributor. They usually require minimum quantities.

Thanks. Yeah, I noticed the marketplace and minimum qty too. The only digikey diode I could find that is in their stock and matched my specs is 1 kV and over $6 each. Mouser has the BY diodes in stock with no min but doesn't off USPS first class postage like Digikey. Not sure if I'll be able to get that through the market place anyway so might must order some additional supplies to so I don't pay $12 to ship a $3 order.

Thanks for your help! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

@Superhawk996 I just picked up replacement tags for the car so you can stop looking for junk by the roadside next time you pass through. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) The new tags even end in '73' like the old ones. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)