I've got an 83 Cougar that has a custom dash and no center console . I am thinking about where to put the power window switchs (probabaly under the dash) but I started to wonder if the power lock switches in the door are strong enough to run the window motors (I doubt it) . I am just looking for advice before I have to dig out my doors and look at the switches , if I remeber right they are wimpy .
I can't speak to an 83, but my 88 lock switches are not the right type for power windows. They're a simple 3-wire switch with ground and then and out to the lock relays. The switch is a simple double ground switch. If you're not afraid of plastic shavings and epoxy, you could fit some switches to the switch plate on the door. You could mount in the knee bolster to the right of the column, or make a panel to sit between the sill plate and the side of the seat. Either way, you can get a 04-08 f-150 standard cab switch and the connector pigtail that way you've got a nice modern switch that integrates one-touch down like I did.
There is also possibility to use the swithes for triggering the rellays, if you don't want to swap the switches. Only problem is, that you cannot controll passenger side window from driver's seat.
like said, you could use the lock switches to trigger relays, and also add an RC time constant to keep the relays on for approx 5 sec to make them sort of like "auto" up / down so you dont have to hold the button.
If you're going to build a device to auto the windows, it needs to sense current as a means of determining the stop points.
I disagree, our current designs dont factor in shunt current limiting.
adding such a circuit over complicates simple stuff.
there are no stop points engineered now.
hold your window down button on a stock set up for about 15 seconds after the window is already down and tell us what happens.
It was pretty easy to add it to mine. The circuit was already built, I just had to integrate it.
Thanks for the input , I checked my schematic and you are right , I would need to build a relay set up to do it . I am trying to keep the car light and simple wiring so I guess I'll just hide the factory buttons under the dash .