pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Right, was driving my mums Merc (was dan her "poor mans merc") yesterday, and noticed when I put it in reverse, the mirrors drop so I can see the kerb. I'd like this to happen on my car, and my GF would also like this on her 106.
There must be some way with electronics that you can provide 12v's for x seconds to the line that makes the mirrors move down when the reverse lights come on and 12v's to the line that makes the mirrors move up for x seconds when they go back off again. Im quite handy with a soldering iron so very willing to give this a stab.
Im guessing u'll have to use a capacitor with a transistor - capacitor to give x seconds of movement and a transistor to allow current through from the capacitor when current is sent through the reverse lights 
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Anyone?
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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build a simple 555 timer circuit (kit sold at maplins) for the timing aspect, as for how far to move the mirror down its a completely differnt thing, will need to build another timer circuit so that it only powers it enough to move down so far and then return to its original position.
or buy a merc, or learn to park properly 
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Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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The problem isn't making them go down, it's making them return to their original position.
If you've got a timer which allows 1 second of movement downwards when it's in reverse (for example) that might be 5 degrees of movement.
If the mirror is only set 4 degrees above it's lowest possible point when you put it in reverse, it'll try to go down by 5 degrees, but only manage 4 before stopping.
Then, when you take the car out of reverse, the mirror will go back up for a second (which will be 5 degrees) and will end up 1 degree higher than you originally started with.
The only way you can do it is if the mirror can 'remember' where it originally was and return to that point, which you can't acheive with a simple on/off circuit IMO.
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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I can park thank you very much, but I still drop my mirrors just for a it of reasurance. Im quite short and the Ibiza is quite "tall" so its nice to be able to see the kerb.
GF on the other hand, she needs this to park full stop
But Robin I see what you mean, but i'd make sure that the time allowed didnt make the mirrors adjust too far down.
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Richie
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Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
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Mate it may seem a simple task but I can assure you..... its not
Merc mirrors have IC's that remember their motor positions to avoid the problem as Robin said.
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Richie I was about to bump this  
Still thinking I might have a quick stab - no harm in trying is there. Gunna pop to mapins to have a look at what tall dave said.
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Fro
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Registered: 20th Jun 06
Location: Rainham, Essex Drives: A3 2.0TDi Sport
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Do it on her car first in case you fry anything
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Top idea Gervais
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andyc1234
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Registered: 7th Nov 06
Location: Lancashire
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need to learn to park really. get practising full speed reversing
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andyc1234
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Registered: 7th Nov 06
Location: Lancashire
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in all seriousness a way of doing it would be with a servo of some kind so it has a regulated return position
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Id just have the time adjustable so that my mirrors didnt hit the "end" position.
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andyc1234
Member
Registered: 7th Nov 06
Location: Lancashire
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at lot of effort for a tiny thing really. you need to make 2 timer circuits, bridge the switch connections and mount switches to sense if its in reverse or not.
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