ARE topper rear defroster?

I just got a factory seconds topperthe other day,, and I am trying to get some stuff together to wire it up.

While crawling around in it when I got home I noticed two tabs on on back glass. Can anyone confirm my suspicions if these two prongs on my 2nd hand topper is a defroster?

If it is, how would I connect it to the mirror defroster button?

 

The pictures of the tabs aren't showing up

 

Yeah sorry, I forgot to add the pictures. Working g on it now.

 

I have a leer topper and have thought about getting an add-on kit a for it. Sometimes the back gets foggy or frosty and would like to have some rear-ward view. I'd be jealous if ARE came with them.

Something like: https://frostfighter.com/clear-view-defrosters-about.htm

 

Yeah I've seen that, don't care too much to get it if I don't have it. But figured if it does... I'll hook it up.

Can't find anything on ARE website though.

 

Do not wire it through a relay and just use the mirror switch as a trigger for the relay. Wire the load through the switch and you'll pop fuses (if you're lucky)

 

That's interesting and looks factory. I can see the shadow of what looks like conductive traces going to the side under the black area. Where do they go to? If you have a multi-meter, is there continuity between the two tabs?

 

The area just goes around the whole window. Looks like a big circle that goes around the edge of the window.

When I get home tomorrow I will check with a multi meter.

Do you think I could find the relay that is stock on the truck and tap into that? That way the switch could still be used?

 

Maybe you could pick up the phone and ask ARE?

 

A valid option normally but not so much with ARE- they really don’t have any contact info available to the customer/end user and they seem to only deal directly with dealers. At least this was the case when I was trying to source their gas prop switch awhile back (ended up having a local dealer special order with their markup).

 

I'm of the persistent (PITA) sort - I would start rattling cages at or near the top until someone would acquiesce and get me to someone who could answer my questions, if only to get rid of me.

 

Well it's not the end of the world situation, I was just looking to see if anyone knew. I suppose I could ride up to a truck accessory shop and see if they know.

Thanks for the help

 

Yeah, I have no idea why there would be potentially conductive ring that goes around the window. If it is a defroster grid from ARE it should be easy to wire up. They're not going to want their dealers to need to do anything complicated.

Would love to know what it's for if you figure it out.

 

My ARE has those as well, figured it was for a defroster. Throw some power to it and see what happens!

 

Did some poking around on ARE's website. Found this:


Might be what those 2 prongs are for.

 

Well there isn't continuity in the two tabs. I'm wondering if they are using each tab for a positive and a negative. This model is possible to come with a power lock and unlock. They may use that instead of wires being ran across the window?

The activetilt is the little magnet on the wi dow and the white sensor. From what I understand.

 

Well dug around some more today and there is two identical tabs behind the locking mechanism. So I went to an ARE dealer and figured out it was for the remote lock. I'm guessing so there isn't wires running along the window. The dealer wants 500 for the locking mechanism.... I think I will either live without it or find an aftermarket lock.

Thanks for the help and brainstorms!