automatic electric grill blocking

Flying White Dutchman · 02-03-2008, 07:17 AM

I want to make a electric gril block
a small plate of plastic behind the gril opening with a actuator ( see link )
to push it open or close it
Kliktronic - THE ELECTRONIC PUSH BUTTON GEARCHANGE SYSTEM FOR MOTORCYCLES

so you dont need to get the foam out of the grill and can to it onthefly

Doc Willie · 02-03-2008, 07:21 AM

Big rig truckers already have such a device. They lool like a venetian blind in fron of the grill. You might check into these for some ideas about implementation.

qbee42 · 02-05-2008, 09:03 AM

It would be a fairly simple task to tie it into the CAN bus, and have it open and close automatically as needed.

Tom

icarus · 02-05-2008, 02:21 PM

I've suggested that some mechanical guru make one of these before.
Transport trucks (and busses) have therostaticlly controlled shutters that open and close as needed. It would be a rather simple mod to make. It would be really cool if Toyota or some aftermarket maker would produce one that was plug and play. Many of us could cob one together, but in my case my wife wouldn't let me mess with her car with cobbed together pieces. If you get one made, post it here and perhaps someone can start producing them. I'll buy one right away. It would be simpler to make a flat panel that sits in front of the radiator, but would be more efficient to block the grill to keep the (cold) air out of the entire engine compartment.

Icarus

Flying White Dutchman · 02-05-2008, 02:24 PM

and you can keep driving with the grill block installed because when the outside temp rises it automaticly go's open or by the push of a button

birdsquared · 02-05-2008, 06:41 PM

Has anyone heard any rumours of such a device being contemplated by Toyota - or one of the mod companies like BT Tech?

KAR IDEA · 02-06-2008, 09:33 PM

This is a great idea, and I bet it wouldn't be hard to make...I think I've found a new project!

SureValla · 02-06-2008, 09:37 PM

i think its the saturn vue (correct if im wrong) concept that blocks its grill automatically at highway speeds.

this of course is to improve aerodynamics not thermodynamics

Oddest_raindrop · 02-19-2008, 07:26 PM

My idea for automation would be simple tie it into the fan for the radiator when it starts open the louvers. Shuts off Close them. No matter what temp or speed. The car is already telling you when to dump off heat.

icarus · 02-19-2008, 07:39 PM

It ought to trigger before the fans. If you wait until the fans trigger, you get a double whammy of cooling, making the shutters to close and the fans to shut off again, then cycle over again. If the shutters open ~10f before the fan trigger, then the fan wouldn't need to turn on at all,,,making a more even temp.

Icarus

02-03-2008, 07:17 AM	#1
Flying White Dutchman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,546 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 3 Thanked 183 Times in 150 Posts Friends: 9	automatic electric grill blocking I want to make a electric gril block a small plate of plastic behind the gril opening with a actuator ( see link ) to push it open or close it Kliktronic - THE ELECTRONIC PUSH BUTTON GEARCHANGE SYSTEM FOR MOTORCYCLES so you dont need to get the foam out of the grill and can to it onthefly

02-03-2008, 07:21 AM	#2
Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out there, somewhere Posts: 1,473 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts Friends: 11	Re: automatic electric grill blocking Big rig truckers already have such a device. They lool like a venetian blind in fron of the grill. You might check into these for some ideas about implementation. Last edited by Doc Willie; 02-03-2008 at 07:21 AM. Reason: Typos

02-05-2008, 09:03 AM	#3
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,477 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 95 Thanked 390 Times in 290 Posts Friends: 10	Re: automatic electric grill blocking It would be a fairly simple task to tie it into the CAN bus, and have it open and close automatically as needed. Tom

02-05-2008, 02:21 PM	#4
icarus Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: quetico, on/bellingham, wa Posts: 1,217 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 9 Thanked 50 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 0	Re: automatic electric grill blocking I've suggested that some mechanical guru make one of these before. Transport trucks (and busses) have therostaticlly controlled shutters that open and close as needed. It would be a rather simple mod to make. It would be really cool if Toyota or some aftermarket maker would produce one that was plug and play. Many of us could cob one together, but in my case my wife wouldn't let me mess with her car with cobbed together pieces. If you get one made, post it here and perhaps someone can start producing them. I'll buy one right away. It would be simpler to make a flat panel that sits in front of the radiator, but would be more efficient to block the grill to keep the (cold) air out of the entire engine compartment. Icarus

02-05-2008, 02:24 PM	#5
Flying White Dutchman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,546 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 3 Thanked 183 Times in 150 Posts Friends: 9	Re: automatic electric grill blocking and you can keep driving with the grill block installed because when the outside temp rises it automaticly go's open or by the push of a button

02-05-2008, 06:41 PM	#6
birdsquared Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Burnaby, B.C., Canada Posts: 46 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: automatic electric grill blocking Has anyone heard any rumours of such a device being contemplated by Toyota - or one of the mod companies like BT Tech?

02-06-2008, 09:33 PM	#7
KAR IDEA Fuzzy Westchester NY Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yonkers, NY USA Posts: 430 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #3 Touring Thanks: 6 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 13	Re: automatic electric grill blocking This is a great idea, and I bet it wouldn't be hard to make...I think I've found a new project!

02-06-2008, 09:37 PM	#8
SureValla Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: White Plains, NY Posts: 505 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 17 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts Friends: 0	Re: automatic electric grill blocking i think its the saturn vue (correct if im wrong) concept that blocks its grill automatically at highway speeds. this of course is to improve aerodynamics not thermodynamics

02-19-2008, 07:26 PM	#9
Oddest_raindrop Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 53 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: automatic electric grill blocking My idea for automation would be simple tie it into the fan for the radiator when it starts open the louvers. Shuts off Close them. No matter what temp or speed. The car is already telling you when to dump off heat.

02-19-2008, 07:39 PM	#10
icarus Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: quetico, on/bellingham, wa Posts: 1,217 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 9 Thanked 50 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 0	Re: automatic electric grill blocking It ought to trigger before the fans. If you wait until the fans trigger, you get a double whammy of cooling, making the shutters to close and the fans to shut off again, then cycle over again. If the shutters open ~10f before the fan trigger, then the fan wouldn't need to turn on at all,,,making a more even temp. Icarus