DRL's on AU's

[Polyal]

OK if you think this is a strange idea, or dont like people retrofitting DRL's then thats ok, but please dont post.

I wont lie I want to look into this, and admittedly its a bit of **** factor, but in all honesty I do atleast 600-800k's a week on long country roads so they will be "used" as such.

Ive seen some examples of FG having them running along the bumper and it looks ok, but I was thinking of opening the headlight and having it run along the bottom edge.

Any else done this?

What parts should I be looking for, ill probably just get an auto-elec to do the work but wanted to go in knowing a bit before I did it. Just wiring it into the parker lights would do fine I think, so when I switch to the normal driving lights they turn off.

Im happy to spend a but extra on quality "strips" of LED's, looking for an ultra white colour.

Any tips and suggestions would be great.

Ill post up a really dodgy looking pic of the position in a sec.

[Eleanor]

I don't think the daytime running lamps will give the necessary throw of light you need for safe country-night-driving.

For best results you really need to be looking at the offroad type LED light bars (Rigid Industries or similar from the USA) that places here like Snake Racing sell.

http://www.snakeracing.com.au/rigid-...FQLzbwodVGEHVw

Although you can import the same thing yourself from the US and save several hundred dollars. May be a bit awkward to fit on the front of an AU without at least a nudge bar or number plate light bar though.

[Polyal]

I understand you can buy that kind of stuff, but I dont want any external mounting.

I was looking at putting them into the headlight, in either of the below places (white or black positions).



Pretty much like this guy as done here.



I was not looking at generating more light, I driving from 6AM to 6PM to its only really during winter where I could use more light. I basically drive with the parkers on while on long drives.

PS - my ride height will be sorted within a months time

[benny_mac]

I believe to legally have daytime running lamps of that style they need to turn off when the headlights turn on. But i have seen and know of many that have them on all the time. Narva do a module which turns the headlights on at 70% during the day then 100% when you actually switch them on for night driving, same as what telstra use.

[AMB]

Ahhhh, DRL, daytime running lamps, got it.

[MAD]

Those strip LED's do not have enough output to be even considered as remotely useful as a DRL.
They may look cool as park lamps at night, but dont expect to be seen any easier during the day time.

Here's a link to Hella DRL module. Hella is possibly the only manufacturer to have LED DRL modules that actually conform to the requirements of a DRL... brightness/glare/etc.
http://cars.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-He...mZ180552443706

[brad`]

agrred from what i have seen close up there not very bright as all, pretty much the same amout of light as ur Parkers do, better of finding out who ford uses or any euro compay (BMW/Homda/Audi) and seeing if u can sorce one from those guys. Might be more expansive but alot more brighter

[robbyj]

You should be able to wire them to a switch/button switch, so u can flick them on and off whenever.

But id make sure you know what they consider legal wiring is for aftermarket DRL's

the Led strips will add to the light at night, but not during the day. as said above you will need some good quality lights.

[sneaky]

silly question, but why can't you just use the headlights in the day time?? i put the lights on anytime i have the kids in the car, just to help people see the car easier..

[T3man]

I have done exactly what you are thinking but am away at the moment so can't post a pic till later. I ran them the full length of the base of the headlight.

Like you I do a minimum of 750km a week just driving to and from work - then there's my weekend trips on top of that - usually clock up 900 to 1000km per week in the wagon.

They are highly visible in the daylight - easily seen from the same distance as low beam headlights. I have them wired through my ign circuit so they come on every time and all the time the ign is on; EXCEPT, as soon as my parkers are turned on they switch off. This ensures legal compliance.

Driving with parking lights on in the daytime is a total waste of effort - a car will be seen before the parkers.

Driving with headlights on is wasteful of energy and also when parkers come on many backlit items on the dash become harder to read in the daylight because they automatically dim. This is particularly bad with older cars moreso than later models but nontheless you don't need tail lights, dash lights, and parkers all on during the daytime to be seen. Dedicated DRLs are the simple efective answer.

LED strips add no useful light at night - anyhow they should be wired to go off when parkers come on.

And I don't care if people think it's a **** - it is safe and effective and that's what I want.

Anyhow ... ****ing feels good why not try it?

[JaguarDave]

Originally Posted by T3man

I have done exactly what you are thinking but am away at the moment so can't post a pic till later. I ran them the full length of the base of the headlight.

They are highly visible in the daylight - easily seen from the same distance as low beam headlights.

Driving with headlights on is wasteful of energy and also when parkers come on many backlit items on the dash become harder to read in the daylight because they automatically dim.

And I don't care if people think it's a **** - it is safe and effective and that's what I want.

Agreed.

I live in the country, hundred kmh roads all around me. There is some kind of audi four wheel drive that lives in the next town and travels through here each day that has multiple little led lights surrounding three sides of each headlight and I can say for sure that I can see and identify that car from a long way off in all daytime conditions despite the fact that it's a metallic grey colour that is ordinarily hard to see clearly at a distance on the road.

That particular car looked a bit ****y to me at first, mostly cos the shape the lights create looks a bit odd to me (like a squashed up join the dots letter C) but I am completely satisfied that they work extremely well for making that car noticeable at a distance. As an added benefit, they do not glare and make me momentarily avert my eyes when it's coming like so many of those wierd sparkly modern headlights do when they are on in the daylight and I think they make the occupants of that car quite a bit less likely to be hit by an inattentive driver coming the other way.

If there are aftermarket strips that give near to the same level of noticeability when adapted to an AU then I reckon go for it. You'll be safer on the country roads rain, hail or shine.

[Polyal]

T3man and JaguarDave thats exactly what I am getting at. I never thought they would produce any meaningful light, I dont think even the merc/Porsche/audi ones do either.

Id be interested to see what you have done T3man, did you use strips like these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DRL-W...Q5fAccessories

Are yours enclosed or on the outside?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-Audi-Style-...item2a0a050f9b

[robbyj]

With that second link mate. Do NOT pay $25 for 2.
They are exactly the same as $3-5 ones from hong kong with free postage =p. I know because i have bought nearly 20 of the things. In fact.. i have white one here. (72cm)

Here are some pics i just took for you.

Garage door with the light on



Garage door closed no lights on



I didnt take one in direct sunlight which would have been better i suppose.

Also note this is being powered by a 9 volt battery not 12V.
So they will be even brighter off the car batt.

I say for what your after these flexi strips will do just fine.
I had them under my car as neons. Also in my car in the footwells front and back.
And have put them in a mates car.

U just need to decide what size.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-24-...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2x-New-48-LED...item1c1709c67b

Hope this helped.

[MAD]

Originally Posted by bobuleh

With that second link mate. Do NOT pay $25 for 2.
They are exactly the same as $3-5 ones from hong kong with free postage =p.

This is good advice. I've even seen them for $50+


I'll also add that, if you decide to go down this route, there are also side emitting LED strips that are much thinner than those above and can be hidden in tiny gaps. (http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=233) There are cheaper on ebay but this place had photos that best demonstrate the side emitting LEDs.
They're still not bright enough for DRL duties, but if it's for looks only, then what the hell.

[Eleanor]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I was not looking at generating more light, I driving from 6AM to 6PM to its only really during winter where I could use more light. I basically drive with the parkers on while on long drives.

I thought that might have been what you were wanting moreso than extra night light. No dramas.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by T3man

Driving with parking lights on in the daytime is a total waste of effort - a car will be seen before the parkers.

+1 for that.

Parking lights are for just that..............Parking!

[Polyal]

That helps heaps guys thanks very informative, Im interstate until mid dec so when I get back ill measure up what size I want.

Does anyone know what kind of heat the LED's pump out? Any issues if its sitting against the inside of the head light cover? I know LED's are efficient, not sure of the output.

Is there a tut on opening the headlights?

I dont know why parkers got there name, I dont know anyone who turns them on to park..

[T3man]

I have used the el cheapo Hong Kong version - 2 x 72 LED strips. They are fitted inside the light so you have to separate the lens from the body. Time consuming job but not impossible. There is negligible heat from the LEDs. I'll get a pic for you tomorrow when I am home.

[robbyj]

Yea the LED's dont produce heat at all.

[POELWYK]

iv got a set running along the bottem of my head lights heres some pics



when on

[T3man]

Here ya go ...





Three LEDs have already died in the NS light but at the cost I am not going to whinge - just buy another few sets and when they're gone they're gone.

[MAD]

Originally Posted by T3man

Here ya go ...





Three LEDs have already died in the NS light but at the cost I am not going to whinge - just buy another few sets and when they're gone they're gone.

Are they on in those photos?

[T3man]

Yes LOL. I have noticed they have lost a lot of their original intensity (as well as 3 dying totally). Initially they were very bright - I mean VERY bright. But I guess you don't get much for $3.00. I will look into better quality ones now that I have the operating system in place and know they will do the job for me.

[HLC]

I have CFFL angel eyes in my custom projector headlights.

they are plenty bright. Not so much in direct sunlight, you wouldnt know they were on, but on overcast days they really do stand out.

unfortunately, they have dislodged slightly so i now need to pull apart my headlights to straighten them again :(


old pics for reference:








i actually think they dont look that good any more lol although they got heaps of compliments.

[robbyj]

Originally Posted by HLC

i actually think they dont look that good any more lol although they got heaps of compliments.

I like them =p

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I dont know why parkers got there name, I dont know anyone who turns them on to park..

Umm, I do. But I usually only use the right hand side parkers. (no, it's not a Ford )

[DJM83]

Not my cup of tea thats for sure.