Why do we have the power window relay?

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blab
Posts: 158
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:40 pm
Location: Hamburg, Germany

Why do we have the power window relay?

Post by blab »

Hi,

My power window relay seems to be broken. When the ignition is switched on (or in acc) all 3 wires are supposed to be 12V? So would it be possible to connect black and red-blue to have the windows permanently available?

Just looking for a temporary fix, I always disconnect the battery anyway.

Thanks.

Edit: spelling
Last edited by blab on Sun May 24, 2020 6:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Since 1993.
blab
Posts: 158
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:40 pm
Location: Hamburg, Germany

Re: Why do we have the power window relais?

Post by blab »

Probably a safety thing... No windows if the ignition is off.

I modified the relay a little so it is permanently engaged. Works for now.
Last edited by blab on Sun May 24, 2020 6:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Since 1993.
jtschug
Posts: 1472
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:33 pm

Re: Why do we have the power window relais?

Post by jtschug »

Definitely a safety thing.
1966 Thunderbird Convertible (Emberglo / White-Emberglo)
Modified 428 - stroked, rollercam, aluminum top end, headers
Livermore, CA
Terry64HT
Posts: 687
Joined: Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:02 pm

Re: Why do we have the power window relay?

Post by Terry64HT »

It is a safety thing, but the relays serve another purpose as well. The window motors draw a ton of power, especially when someone runs two or more at the same time. That's way too much load on the ignition switch, so the power for the windows is controlled by the relay. That way, all the ignition switch has to handle is a few milliamps to fire the coil in the relay and the real power goes through the relay contacts.
I've put relays in several places to feed fresh 12v power to headlights, window and seat motors and dash lights when the rheostat in the headlight switch gave up. the old connectors and contacts in switches are no longer able to feed much more than 9 volts in many cases which isn't enough to make things run as well as they should.
Terry
64HT
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