22 replies to this topic

[TheSignMan]

All this talk of DRLs ...........but I just noticed on the Wiki Mondeo Mk2, Fuses and Relays page, it says Relay 1 is for DLRs on LHD models, Can't this be utilised? Electric experts please advise.

[4titx]

Wasnt this 'half lights', i.e. dip beam lamps running at half light?

[TheSignMan]

No idea, that's why I was asking............

[siruncle]

not 100% on this, but i think a relay or three are needed, r1 engine bay, green relay, r27 and 28 (instrument panel illumination cutoff) interior fusebox unknown colours. but you might be able to find out by asking our fellow scandinavian members...

edit, just try the one in the engine fusebox (green one)

[4titx]

TheSignMan, on 19 February 2012 - 10:30 PM, said:

No idea, that's why I was asking............

Yes teh relay put the dp beams on half lights or maybe in full light and probably isolated the lamp circuit from the rest of the lighting so you couldnt flick the main beam on except for flashing.

[merlin50]

I believe that the dip beam is run at half power and that there is a ballast resistor involved. I remember reading somewhere that the resistor gets extremely hot

[JaR]

When the ignition id on all the light on the car is on. But headlights are connected to a resistor that sits below the battery. So there are less power to the light. And when the light switch is turned to on the power go directley to the front lights so the light encrease.

[4titx]

Did they use a resistor, as I thought that the relay arrangement simple connected the dip beams in series so provided half lights.

This probably isn’t what TheSigman wants.

[siruncle]

well after reading "just bung a green relay in it" somewhere, i shoved this in it, and started the engine, and got diddly squat daytime running lights wise. bear in mind its been in the boot box for a few years...

there is mention of more relays in the interior fusebox, don't know what type or where they go... i have others in the box, brown and white ones, maybe some black too.

R27. Instrument panel illumination cut off. (Scandinavia) Fuse box bracket Below instrument panel right.
R30. Instrument panel illumination cut off. (Scandinavia) Fuse box bracket Below instrument panel right.

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[JaR]

I havent checked on my mk2 but my mk1 had a resistor below the battery. And if they just connect the two bulbs in serie there wont be much light and if one of the bulbs blows there wont be any light at all.

[Bin_Man]

there was always a "dim-dip" requirement for scandinavia - they aren't really DRL's as they are low power (somewhere between side lights and low beam) whereas DRL's are high power so that they are visible in daylight.  My understanding is that the scandinavian countries wanted low power lighting at all times as ambient light levels can be low there even during the day.

If you want to be more visible in the UK and dont have factory DRL's, the best option is turning on the dipped beam - no need for wiring, aftermarket kits and incurring the wrath of the MOT tester!

[spike1972]

You can buy a wiring harness on ebay that switches drl,s on with ignition and off when lights turned on only tenner

[Jimbo806]

Yep, just bought one. Made by Ring, 8 led's each side, switching module, 2 wires to the battery, one to the sidelights. Daytime, ignition on, the drl's light up, as soon as you switch your headlamps on they go out. £35 all in.

[spike1972]

was it easy to wire up were did you take the ignition wire  from as that was the only part that i could not work out

[Jimbo806]

I haven't fitted them yet, but step by step, find a suitable place to mount them, be careful on this, the law is fairly strict. When you've mounted the lights, find a suitable place for the switching module, anywhere under the bonnet away from direct heat. The switching module already has all the wires in place. Run two wires to each drl, then run one wire to the positive terminal, and one to the negative terminal of the battery, the final wire connects, via the connector supplied, direct to the live feed to the sidelights. That's it, dead easy.
How the switching module knows when the ignition is on, and when to kill the drl's when you turn the sidelights on, I haven't got a clue. Clever though.

[4titx]

The devices probably senses the charging voltage when engine is running to turn them on and the connection to the sidelights is to turn them off or dim when sidelight are switched on when engine is running.

Personally I’d rather see them dim when dip beam is switched on which allows you to run with sidelights on at dusk or dawn.

[Jimbo806]

I can't see the point in sidelights anyway. You either need your lights on, or you don't. If its a dim enough day that you need to be seen, play safe and have your dipped beam on. Sidelights are just not very visible.

[4titx]

Jimbo806, on 12 June 2012 - 09:01 AM, said:

I can't see the point in sidelights anyway. You either need your lights on, or you don't. If its a dim enough day that you need to be seen, play safe and have your dipped beam on. Sidelights are just not very visible.

My Sentiments entirely Jamie, never driven in just sidelights up front, but since fitting the sidelight/DRL mod in my car as the DRL modification is actually more obvious than the dip beams in daylight on the MK4 and look like small HID lamps. My avatar doesnt do justice to the effect by a long stretch, but thats the 2 levels. Dips are angled down of course.

When I think conditions suggest rear lights would be helpful but no need for headlights then I switch sidelights on, which still keeps the sidelight device in DRL mode, and if I consider it too dark for me to 'see' ahead, then on go the dips and the DRL goes in to sidelight mode, which is still pretty bright but wont annoy the road users in front of me. Very handy in light rain, dawn or dusk where they are actually more obvious that the Dip beams.

Seems to work for me anyway.

[Jimbo806]

Another pet hate is rear fogs, people put them on for the slightest reason, and all they do is detract from the visibility of the brake lights.

[Jimbo806]

And...and....and, while I'm having a rant, bloody Volkswagen! What a stupid place to put the rear indicators, right in the middle of the rear brake lights. Totally invisible. Who's stupid design idea was that? They need shooting!