Installed Rain Sensing Wipers Sensor

[toy_toronto]

Since I couldn't find a cheap Prius stalk to replace the stock wiper arm for front intermittent delay, I ended up installing a 'Rain Tracker' rain sensing wipers control system (model RT-50A from http://www.raintracker.com)

The package arrived on Friday and I spent about 1 hr installing it today. I have to say I'm quite happy with the result -- check it out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woW1Z38GDok



-toy

[ciscobear]

Very neat, thanks for posting.......Any gotchas we should look for?

[Lil Abner]

That's pretty slick!

[toy_toronto]

thanks

After the install we had a good thunderstorm / showers right after so I went for a drive. The sensor worked really well however I found the sensitivity a little less than I would've liked so I adjusted the sensitivity just a little (turned the pot 1/4 turn). Everything is all good now.

I'll upload another video later when I went for my drive so you can see how the wipers adjust themselves at the right speed.


-toy

[Altitude]

Nice. Does it have a defeat switch so you can disable it or does it only work when you turn your wipers on at least one click?

[toy_toronto]

Yes the module does have an ON/OFF switch so that you can bypass the system if you don't want it to be automatic (example: car wash).

The yaris wiper stalk remains in the OFF position as normal and can be used in parallel with the system if you like, so if you want extra wipes you can trigger the wipers manually.

Here's a good overview of the system for those thinking of getting one (installed ona tractor but the same idea):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c58Hu7XRf0


-toy

[mazilla]

I wonder how long the unit will last without issue...my only concern being the sensor.

[eTiMaGo]

love the video, the car's like "hey quit it!" each time you spray it :D

[toy_toronto]

^ that's exactly what I thought, lol!

Originally Posted by mazilla

I wonder how long the unit will last without issue...my only concern being the sensor.

I wonder myself. I think it's not too bad as they'll refund you within 30 days if you aren't satisfied plus the unit comes with a standard 3yrs warranty.


I'm holding on to my receipt! http://www.hydreon.com/warranty.php




-toy

[mazilla]

Originally Posted by toy_toronto

^ that's exactly what I thought, lol!



I wonder myself. I think it's not too bad as they'll refund you within 30 days if you aren't satisfied plus the unit comes with a standard 3yrs warranty.


I'm holding on to my receipt! http://www.hydreon.com/warranty.php




-toy

A 3 year warranty is pretty good! You guys should in the harsher weather areas should be able to give it a run for it's money over three years...

[Altitude]

Where did you mount the sensor? Up near the rear view mirror like it shows on the site or somewhere else on the windshield?

The sensor looks kind of thick. What's your impression of it? Is it an eyesore?

[toy_toronto]

I mounted it just a bit to the left of the rear view mount because of the cable which I managed to tuck away underneath the headliner.

The sensor is about 1.75" x 1.75" and a little over half-inch thick. It might actually be slightly smaller than some of the OEM ones.

You don't actualy see it because it's behind the rear view mirror. From the outside, it looks like a rear-view mirror mount and not noticeable at all.



-toy

[toy_toronto]

I forgot to mention that the unit also comes with auto headlamp control built-in. Besides rain it can also sense light and will turn your headlights on automatically at night.

I'm going to have to get CTscott to help me figure out how to wire that part up. The manual specifically say the auto headlamp install should be attempted by the PROS only, that I am not .


Here's the basic wiring hookup for the built-in head lamp control. I'm not sure how it ties in with the Yaris existing headlight relay system:

http://www.raintracker.com/docs/head...rol_rt-50a.pdf



-toy

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by toy_toronto

I forgot to mention that the unit also comes with auto headlamp control built-in. Besides rain it can also sense light and will turn your headlights on automatically at night.

I'm going to have to get CTscott to help me figure out how to wire that part up. The manual specifically say the auto headlamp install should be attempted by the PROS only, that I am not .


Here's the basic wiring hookup for the built-in head lamp control. I'm not sure how it ties in with the Yaris existing headlight relay system:

http://www.raintracker.com/docs/head...rol_rt-50a.pdf

-toy

You will follow the instructions for: -VEHICLE RELAY, GROUND SIDE CONTROL


The Yaris doesn't have a headlight on and then separate beam control switch, so you will use one relay to switch the light blue wire in pin 8 of the headlight stalk connector (low beams) to ground and the other relay to switch the white wire in pin 13 (tail lights) to ground.

[landrym28]

That's pretty cool!

[toy_toronto]

Originally Posted by CTScott

You will follow the instructions for: -VEHICLE RELAY, GROUND SIDE CONTROL


The Yaris doesn't have a headlight on and then separate beam control switch, so you will use one relay to switch the light blue wire in pin 8 of the headlight stalk connector (low beams) to ground and the other relay to switch the white wire in pin 13 (tail lights) to ground.

Thanks CTScott, so basically I'll need to get 2 relays:

- Use 1st relay to switch the Pin 8 (HL) to ground.
- Use 2nd relay to switch Pin 13 (B1) to ground.


Pins to GND:



-toy

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by toy_toronto

Thanks CTScott, so basically I'll need to get 2 relays:

- Use 1st relay to switch the Pin 8 (HL) to ground.
- Use 2nd relay to switch Pin 13 (B1) to ground.


Pins to GND:



-toy

Correct if you have factory DRLs. If you don't then the tails are the opposite polarity and you have to provide +12V to pin 10 (T1) instead of a ground to 13 (B1).

[toy_toronto]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Correct if you have factory DRLs. If you don't then the tails are the opposite polarity and you have to provide +12V to pin 10 (T1) instead of a ground to 13 (B1).

I do have factory DRLs however I disabled it, does this change anything? At any rate, I'll gather the relays/diodes I need and work on this sometime this week or next.

Can you kindly do one final review of what I'm about to do based on this diagram I created?

Many thanks again Scott


* Headlamp control status after low-light is detected by sensor -> Relays switch pin 13 (tail) and 8 (Low) to GND:




-toy