Cars are becoming more and more advanced every day in terms of technology. Manufacturers add new features with the aim of improving the driving experience, making it as comfortable as possible. This is the case of the rain sensor in cars, a mechanism that activates the windscreen wipers at the moment that raindrops or any other liquid fall on it.
Improving the driver’s experience is the main objective of car manufacturers. In this way, in recent years systems such as automatic cars, driverless driving control, parking assistance through sound, or apparently simpler systems but which improve the driving experience such as the rain-repellent treatment for cars have been implemented. If you want to know more about the rain sensor, as a specialist in the automotive sector, we explain it in this article.
What is the rain sensor?
It is a system that has been incorporated into vehicles that have come onto the market in recent years, capable of detecting rain and immediately activating the windscreen wipers. In addition, it not only detects rain but is also capable of identifying its intensity and adjusting the speed accordingly. You should know that in case of breakdown, at Ralarsa we take care of windscreen repair.
This sensor can detect when rain or any other liquid falls on the car windscreen and activate the windscreen wipers within seconds to facilitate vision and thus increase driving safety. In this way, the driver does not have to worry about switching them on.
The system is installed on the inside of the car glass, next to the car’s central rear-view mirror. The operation is based on measuring light through diodes. One of them produces a beam of light and the second measures the amount of light that has reached it. If the amount is less, it detects that this is due to some element blocking it, which would be rain.
Regarding the functioning to change the intensity according to the amount of rain, it will depend on the amount of light received by the second diode. The less light it receives, the greater the amount of water, and consequently, the higher the speed with which the windscreen wipers must work. It is important to guarantee correct operation, so in case of breakage, at Ralarsa we take care of windscreen repair and maintenance.
Is rain-repellent treatment the same as the rain sensor?
The rain-repellent treatment for cars, also known as hydrophobic treatment, consists of applying a film to the desired area, generally on the car’s front glass, which repels rainwater. Despite being its most well-known function, it also has other benefits such as making freezing more difficult at low temperatures or preventing the adhesion of insects and dust, giving you the feeling of always having a windscreen with a clear view.
The film applied to the surface — in this case, front windows — is a mixture of liquids made of acrylic resins and transparent polymers, among others. Finally, this liquid adheres to the glass, creating a sliding layer that allows both rain and other elements to slide off at the moment they fall onto the windscreen.
After analysing both elements and discovering the difference between the two systems, it is worth noting that if you want to obtain excellent visibility while driving and improve visibility as much as possible, if your car has a rain sensor, it is possible to apply the rain-repellent treatment in a windscreen workshop such as Ralarsa.
Ralarsa, windscreen workshop
At Ralarsa we care about our customers’ safety on the road, which is why we offer you numerous services aimed at providing you with a better driving experience. If you need more information about any of them, you can contact us through the website or by calling the free contact number 900 333 733.
We have more than 40 years of experience as leaders in the automotive sector and as a windscreen workshop. In addition, we have more than 250 Ralarsa workshops distributed throughout the peninsula — wherever you are, find your nearest Ralarsa workshop now and we will be delighted to assist you!
In the case of a broken window and being unable to drive to the nearest workshop, do not worry! You can contact our customer service centre, available 24 hours a day, any day of the year, and we will travel to wherever you are thanks to our home service. If you need a windscreen repair, count on Ralarsa!