Tinting that the traffic police will not notice

Any fan of tinting will tell you about a bunch of advantages that appear if car windows are darkened “in a circle”. But there is a well-known "hook": such "intervention in the design" of the machine is considered illegal. You can get around the ban with the help of ubiquitous electronics. This way of tinting can be turned off at the touch of a button: the inspector stopped you when he saw the darkened glass, you move your finger and automatically go into the category of law-abiding citizens. And tell the traffic police officer what he thought.


Today, there are several ways to tint that bypass traffic rules. Between themselves, they differ in technology of use and cost.

Double glazing

The simplest method, the essence of which is clear from the name. To achieve the desired effect, a pair of glasses is immediately inserted into the door. One of them has a normal light transmission capacity, determined by the traffic rules, the other is tinted.



Under the door card will have to be finalized:

✅ install “own” guides for the second glass
✅ connect a separate electric motor
✅ put "your" button-key

The outer glass must be transparent, the inner glass must be tinted (it is possible and vice versa, but it is undesirable - the traffic police inspector sees the window from the outside). Its light transmission capacity depends on the type of the pasted film. The cost of such a service for two front windows is within 30 thousand rubles.

SPD technology

Its homeland is the USA and it implies the application of the thinnest film on glass, which includes rod-shaped microparticles. Each of them is a clot of special water that does not conduct electricity. When the latter does not affect the microparticles, they are arranged in a chaotic manner, forming a dense opaque layer. When a voltage is applied to the film, they level out and "scatter" away from each other. The greater the distance between the particles (current strength), the lighter the film becomes.



In this case, the level of darkness can vary in the range from 10 to 90 percent. The technology implies the possibility of using specially prepared glass instead of a film: for example, Vario Plus.



In Russia, this is not produced. If you decide to order such tinting, you must tell the seller the VIN code of the factory glass installed on your car. This is necessary to determine the dimensions of the product. The delivery set should include a controller with which the light transmission of the glass is adjusted. It connects to the car's on-board computer. The entire system will cost at least 395 thousand rubles. for a set of a pair of side windows.

How to care for SPD glass

For washing, use only a soft sponge, which is not based on microfiber. Detergents, as well as water temperature, can be any. It is undesirable to keep the glasses wet for a long time. After washing, wipe them with a clean, dry cloth or tissue (you can use toilet paper). Also pay attention to the insulation of the contacts (junctions) connected to the glass and connecting it to the controller. Wires should lie on a flat surface, with a minimum of bends.



Glass made using SPD technology has a service life of 10 years. The film will last less than twice.

PDLC technology

This is a monochrome tinting, performed using a pair of special films, between which there is a layer of liquid crystals. In the absence of voltage, they move randomly and do not react with polymers, due to which the window surface reflects the sun's rays well. When electricity is applied to the glass, a force field is formed between the films, forcing the crystals to move in the "needed" direction, connecting with each other. As a result, the window "brightens".



The author of this technology is the South Korean company DM DISPLAY. Its engineers in the manufacture of films that change light transmission, managed to use relatively inexpensive components. Therefore, the cost of such tinting is 7-8 times lower than the American one, which contributes to the popularization of services using PDLC technology.



Despite its uniqueness, this technology has not found wide application in the automotive industry. This is due to its main drawback: in the absence of voltage on the contacts, the film becomes opaque on both sides, that is, it turns into a kind of "curtain". As a result, those sitting inside the car do not know what is happening outside, and those “overboard” will not see what is happening in the cabin. But what is not very suitable for a car is in demand in other areas. For example, the film is useful for arranging office partitions, cottages, cottages, and shops. In the latter case, a unique quality of the material is used - the rear projection.



If such a film is placed in a shop window, then through a film projector it is possible to broadcast an image that passers-by will see outside the outlet. That is, this is an excellent advertising option.

How to make electric tinting cheaper

It would be strange if the Chinese passed by such an invention and did not try to make it as cheap as possible. Today, on Ali Express, you can find "smart film" under various names (for example, Filmbase Store). The specifications indicate that this is a self-adhesive material made using PDLC technology (in the absence of tension, the surface will be opaque on both sides). Scope of use (according to instructions):

✅ office buildings
✅ residential buildings
✅ banks (for some reason)
✅ cars

A piece of canvas measuring one meter per meter costs 8860 rubles. (you can order according to your dimensions). But there is a “nuisance”: the film operates from an alternating voltage source with a frequency of 50 Hz at 60 volts. However, this is unlikely to be an obstacle for Russian masters. In addition, in most cases, an adapter is included in the kit sold (alas, most often under 220 V).

How to apply electronic tint film

Car glass, which will be Smart Film, must be thoroughly washed and dried. To do this, use special tools, napkins. You will also need a ruler, spatula. Course of action:

✅ measure the glass and make a pattern out of hard paper
✅ cut a film of the desired size on it with a margin of 1 cm
✅ remove the protective layer from the purchased material
✅ apply PDLC to the inner surface of the window, spread it with a spatula (napkin), slowly moving from the middle to the edges
✅ cut off excess

Insulate the contacts and place them under the door or passenger compartment trim (if the glass is rear). At the last step, connect the wires to the converter or the finished controller, depending on what you bought.

Features

A film or glass made using PDLC or American SPD technologies in a transparent state consumes energy of 6-7 W per 1 sq. m of toned surface. Not much, but you need to remember this when leaving the car for a long time without use.