Aftermarket LED Running Lights w/ Indicator

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Aftermarket LED Running Lights w/ Indicator

1 | 2

richms

28173 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1434059 24-Nov-2015 19:13

jarledb: Problem with using fog lights as daylight running lights (well, lets face it - those that use them have them on all the time) is that they will blind you as well as other drivers in regular dark conditions. They blind you from the light that is spilling out on the sides, and the other drivers from the light that is not focused the same way as regular running lights.

Doesn't stop drivers of crap 3 series BMWs driving with them on. Particularly the rear one is annoying. And when you high beam them they think you just want to pass

Richard rich.ms

MikeAqua

7779 posts

Uber Geek

#1434544 25-Nov-2015 13:05

I fitted DRL to my Primera (since sold).

My understanding is ... Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) are supposed to be wired so they switch off when the headlights are on.

I powered the DRL from a normally closed relay in the engine relay box. If I switched the engine on the DRL came on.

The control signal for the DRL relay was connected to the headlight control signal at headlights relay.

Whenever the headlights were switched on, the DRL relay would open switching off the DRL

To avoid having DRL and head lamps on at the same time, any DRL indicator function should logically be orange-off-orange-off. Not sure how you achieve that though.

Beware of cheap LED lights - they deteriorate fast in our UV conditions.

Mike

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#1434548 25-Nov-2015 13:17

MikeAqua: I fitted DRL to my Primera (since sold).

My understanding is ... Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) are supposed to be wired so they switch off when the headlights are on.

I powered the DRL from a normally closed relay in the engine relay box. If I switched the engine on the DRL came on.

The control signal for the DRL relay was connected to the headlight control signal at headlights relay.

Whenever the headlights were switched on, the DRL relay would open switching off the DRL

To avoid having DRL and head lamps on at the same time, any DRL indicator function should logically be orange-off-orange-off. Not sure how you achieve that though.

Beware of cheap LED lights - they deteriorate fast in our UV conditions.

I may have found some that will do the trick.

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Ultra-Slim-36-SMD-Switchback-LED-DRL-p/60-007.htm

Description says the switchback mode is amber-off-amber-off, but FAQ for the product says it is amber-white-amber-white so have emailed for clarification on this. Also asked whether they by default turn off when the head lights come on.

MikeAqua

7779 posts

Uber Geek

#1434552 25-Nov-2015 13:24

There should be 4 leads per unit if they can indicate and can switch off with headlights.

I don't think you would ever be ticketed for orange-white-orange, but it might confuse some motorists.

Paul1977:
I may have found some that will do the trick.

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Ultra-Slim-36-SMD-Switchback-LED-DRL-p/60-007.htm

Description says the switchback mode is amber-off-amber-off, but FAQ for the product says it is amber-white-amber-white so have emailed for clarification on this. Also asked whether they by default turn off when the head lights come on.

Mike

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#1434556 25-Nov-2015 13:27

MikeAqua: There should be 4 leads per unit if they can indicate and can switch off with headlights.

I don't think you would ever be ticketed for orange-white-orange, but it might confuse some motorists.

Paul1977:
I may have found some that will do the trick.

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Ultra-Slim-36-SMD-Switchback-LED-DRL-p/60-007.htm

Description says the switchback mode is amber-off-amber-off, but FAQ for the product says it is amber-white-amber-white so have emailed for clarification on this. Also asked whether they by default turn off when the head lights come on.

Hmmm.... 3 wires by the sounds of it :(

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#1434991 26-Nov-2015 09:58

So the switchback mode of the ones I'm looking at is confirmed as amber-off-amber-off. But it is a 3 wire design, so I think by default doesn't turn off when the headlights come on.

My goal is to have DRLs turn off when headlights are on, but still have the indicator function of them work when headlights are on.

Can anyone with knowledge about this sort of thing tell me if the following wiring setup would work? I modified this from the wiring diagram for a Hella Smart Controller with standard 2 wire LEDs (added the orange indicator stuff myself, based on my very limited understanding).

Note: I will get an auto electrician to do the installation, just want to be fairly confident what I want can be achieved with these lights before ordering them.

richms

28173 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1435000 26-Nov-2015 10:03

Without knowing what the lights do when they have indicator power but no light power that is anyones guess what happens. If the orange LEDs are straight on the indicator input then it will work, if they are powered from the light and the indicator wire is just used to switch it over and start a timer to turn off the white LEDs, then it will not.

Richard rich.ms

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#1435008 26-Nov-2015 10:24

richms: Without knowing what the lights do when they have indicator power but no light power that is anyones guess what happens. If the orange LEDs are straight on the indicator input then it will work, if they are powered from the light and the indicator wire is just used to switch it over and start a timer to turn off the white LEDs, then it will not.

Right, that makes sense thanks. Hopefully the suppliers can answer that one for me.

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#1435267 26-Nov-2015 15:02

Paul1977:
richms: Without knowing what the lights do when they have indicator power but no light power that is anyones guess what happens. If the orange LEDs are straight on the indicator input then it will work, if they are powered from the light and the indicator wire is just used to switch it over and start a timer to turn off the white LEDs, then it will not.

Right, that makes sense thanks. Hopefully the suppliers can answer that one for me.

So I asked:

"Does the red wire need to be connected for the switchback mode (amber-off-amber-off) to function?

I.e. If the red wire were disconnected, but the white wire (turn signal)and black wire (ground) were still connected as per the instructions; would this result in the primary DRL mode not lighting up, but the turn signal switchback mode still functioning?"

And the answer I got was "The red wire is for the white portion of the LED light to turn on. The white wire is what operate the turn signal to amber on, amber off, amber on."

Doesn't really answer the question, but I think I'll order them and keep my fingers crossed.

MikeAqua

7779 posts

Uber Geek

#1435350 26-Nov-2015 16:29

The only way I could see that a 3 wire unit will indicate orange-off is if it has an internal control system that turns the white off for x seconds when an indicator signal is received.

That controller should work just fine as you have drawn it.

Mike

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#1435384 26-Nov-2015 16:52

MikeAqua: The only way I could see that a 3 wire unit will indicate orange-off is if it has an internal control system that turns the white off for x seconds when an indicator signal is received.

That controller should work just fine as you have drawn it.

Well, it's all ordered so I hope so. If it doesn't work it's not a ridiculous amount of money.

1 | 2