Heated Screen

[KP 115]

does anybody else notice a distortion of text ie number plates / sign written vans etc ?

when the heated front screen is turned on .

Edited October 13, 2007 by KP 115

[big_kev]

does anybody else notice a distortion of text ie number plates / sign written vans etc ?

when the heated front screen is turned on .

 

Nope, have never noticed this on any vehicle with a heated windscreen.

[KP 115]

thanks for the reply , the wife thinks i've gone mad, looks like a trip to the opticians!

[big_kev]

thanks for the reply , the wife thinks i've gone mad

 

You own a Galaxy and a Wife......that's 2 points on the madness counter.. :P

[gregers]

and ill bet he owns kids aswell?thats the counter gone for a Burton then ;)

[KP 115]

Does anybody else notice a distortion in text ie number plates or sign written vans etc when the heated front screen is switched on ?

 

this dissapears as soon as the screen is switched off !

[mumof4]

i think you have a memory problem aswell :unsure:

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...ed+front+screen

[KP 115]

not really I thought I would ask the question to a wider audience & see if the the response was greater!

[mumof4]

most of the members view all new posts so no need to post duplicates.

 

i have merged both topics.

 

never saw a distortion when my heated screen was on.If you think that you have a problem, see if anyone else sat in the car with it on sees it.

[Alanuk]

Yep, I don't think you are going blind, I have noticed some distortion when it warms up too.

[mumof4]

Could it be like a heat haze??..i mean like when its a hot day, the heat rising makes things look distorted, could it be that causing it?

[MrT]

I have thought at night that when dazzled by other cars headlights that there is a slight difference with almost like a starburst lens effect but it could be down to only having it on in poor weather/visbility conditions.

[raymac]

I find when driving mine at night time that the oncoming headlights seem distorted in some way and tend to make me focus harder,nothing wrong with me mincers as i have just had an eye test, could it be the heating elements breaking up the beams perhaps B)

[insider]

It's more likely to be the optical effect of the thin wires in the glass rather than from the heat generated. Usually, your eyes are focused in the distance so you don't see the wires but some people can notice optical effects. It would be more pronounced at night because, although the wires are coated to be as anti-reflective as possible, some light is inevitably reflected from them.

[mumof4]

You are right insider from the searching i have done on the net, distortion is common place with heated screens, if anyone is interested i came upon this article, it is long but i never knew there was such a science in glass in cars and all the different componants theyare made of and the technology that goes into the glass itself.I found it interesting.

LeMassonHatchuelWeil2000Co_developmenttothetestofinnovativeinnovation.pdf

[fastphil]

yes I do

glad it happens to somebody else too

thought i was going mad

oh look another pink elephant flying past me at 70mph on the hard shoulder, bloody maniac B)

[28i]

I've had loads of cars with heated screens, and some seem worse than others ,but I've never had any issues with them.

[Rusty Nail]

You are right insider from the searching i have done on the net, distortion is common place with heated screens, if anyone is interested i came upon this article, it is long but i never knew there was such a science in glass in cars and all the different componants theyare made of and the technology that goes into the glass itself.I found it interesting.

 

The article is long - your not wrong there, but yes there are some points of interest.

 

With regard to the distortion, yet again you're right. Any medium within glass, be it a wire, a coating, a laminate etc can cause a slight distortion and the different light frequencies will be affected in different ways by these components. The drivers own sensitivity to different kinds of light will have an effect also.

 

I personally do not like the view especially at night through my heated screen - but I do love the way it clears so quickly on a frosty morning. I managed for many years without this feature, is it a gadget that is compromising safety???

 

Just my thoughts

[KP 115]

Thanks for the replies to a serious subject, which I'm not alone in having noticed it seems!

 

ps. I did try to see if Icould move the original post as I posted it in an area I hadn't visited before but couldn't .

[big_kev]

Do any of you blokes with this heated windscreen problem wear glasses ?.............be honest !

[seatkid]

When I wear my polarised sunglasses :o , there is a visible coloured interference pattern :) through parts of the windscreen, more so than conventional windscreens. I put this down to the thicker lamination layers ;) . At night there is a slight tendency for the wires occasionally to "glint" ^_^ and "halo" ^_^ oncoming headlights. Don't use the heated windscreen much as I have a garage ;)

 

Yes...I am blind as well as deaf.......should I apply for a reduction in my TV licence?

[Saif Rehman]

Do any of you blokes with this heated windscreen problem wear glasses ?.............be honest !

 

Hi Kev, yeah, i were glasses.........................and?????

 

I, too have noticed a slight distortion but it is most visible at night driving - imho, it has to be the heating elements deflecting the light in some ways.

[Alanuk]

Nope, dont wear glasses, my vision is excellent especially at distances. This shimmering on the screen only really seems to appear when I have forgot to turn it off and it has been on a while, it almost seems like the tiny wires in the screen are moving (which I know is impossible) and this is noticeable in any conditions day or night.

I presume it is on a timer like the rear screen defogger, but this shimmering effect is a good thing reminding you it is still on and canning your battery, In my opinion these screens are an excellent idea and are a better addition than aircon in this country!!

[big_kev]

I think this could be true after speaking to one of the Grandaughters.

 

She can tell whether my heated windscreen is on or not from looking at the glass and seeing the "wavy effect" as she puts it.

 

I now believe it is down to the individuals eyesight....mine is crap...always worn glasses for distance and am now at the age where I need them for close-up as well.

 

Probably if you have good vision you can see this effect, if your vision is crap like mine, then you most likely do not notice any effect.

[KP 115]

just had my eyes tested, long range ok but do require reading glasses now!