↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > In Car Electronics > Drl question.
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 2 of 3 <123>
Print this entire topic · 
blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17725
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Why would you actually want DRLs on at the same time as either main or dip beam headlamps? It won't give you any useful illumination of the road (DRLs don't have any beam pattern per se, just a broad scatter of light), and may actually make night driving more difficult by putting a pool of light close to the front of the car thus making it harder to see at the distance you should be looking (just like the morons who drive with front fogs on all the time). It'll also p155 off drivers coming towards you if they're on with dip beam.

I really don't understand why you'd want to do it.
Post #578597 17th Nov 2016 11:57pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
I don't. If you read my first post I want the Drls on with sidelights which I have on every time I drive so the rear lights are on too. When the headlights go on I want the Drls to switch off for the reasons you put forward. Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578599 18th Nov 2016 12:10am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17725
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
^^ Sorry, I was getting a little sidetracked by some of the earlier replies which seemed to be suggesting that this mught be an approach, I realise that it actually isn't what you had specifically asked. My comment was not intended as a criticism! Thumbs Up
Post #578618 18th Nov 2016 9:19am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
seriesonenut



Member Since: 19 Nov 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 1242
United Kingdom 
mk1collector wrote:
I don't. If you read my first post I want the Drls on with sidelights which I have on every time I drive so the rear lights are on too. When the headlights go on I want the Drls to switch off for the reasons you put forward.


I have a set of drl on my 110. The are wired into the headlight dipped beam feed. I took the view they must go out on dipped beam only. A useful unintended benefit is they come back on when on main beam, it makes a real difference to the illumination. The 110 has been thorough at least 4 mot's with no comment. I did consider adding a relay to have the side lights & DRL come on with the engine running (like a volvo) but in the end did not bother.
Post #578620 18th Nov 2016 9:36am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
blackwolf wrote:
^^ Sorry, I was getting a little sidetracked by some of the earlier replies which seemed to be suggesting that this mught be an approach, I realise that it actually isn't what you had specifically asked. My comment was not intended as a criticism! Thumbs Up


No worries Thumbs Up Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578631 18th Nov 2016 10:37am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
seriesonenut wrote:
mk1collector wrote:
I don't. If you read my first post I want the Drls on with sidelights which I have on every time I drive so the rear lights are on too. When the headlights go on I want the Drls to switch off for the reasons you put forward.


I have a set of drl on my 110. The are wired into the headlight dipped beam feed. I took the view they must go out on dipped beam only. A useful unintended benefit is they come back on when on main beam, it makes a real difference to the illumination. The 110 has been thorough at least 4 mot's with no comment. I did consider adding a relay to have the side lights & DRL come on with the engine running (like a volvo) but in the end did not bother.


Excellent thanks Thumbs Up good to know it'll get through an mot Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578632 18th Nov 2016 10:39am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17725
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
It certainly shouldn't be a problem on main beam since you can have non-obligatory (and dazzley) lights on with main, although there may be certain restrictions on positioning and you may need a warning light under some circumstances.

You should fail an MOT if you have DRLs which either come on or stay on with dip beam, since these are obligatory lights and there are restrictions on their brightness and positioning. The same is true for sidelights although I don't know if the MOT test would actually pick it up. I suspect that the offence would be using this combination, rather than having it.

If you were driving during the period of twighlight (ie the period when sidelights are required but headlights are not) on sidelight and DRLs, you are breaking the law. Similarly if you are driving on a road with a 30mph limit and regular streetlights during the hours of darkness on sidelights and DRLs you are again breaking the law. In both these situations it is wholly legal to drive with sidelights only and without headlights.

It is not illegal however to drive with sidelights and DRLs in daylight hours, as far as I know, and there would be no logic for it to be so.
Post #578666 18th Nov 2016 12:19pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Thumbs Up thankyou, daylight hours are when I'd like drl and side lights on and dusk/night are when I'd have headlights on so that's perfect. Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578670 18th Nov 2016 12:31pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Thumbs Up thankyou, daylight hours are when I'd like drl and side lights on and dusk/night are when I'd have headlights on so that's perfect. Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578671 18th Nov 2016 12:34pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Thumbs Up thankyou, daylight hours are when I'd like drl and side lights on and dusk/night are when I'd have headlights on so that's perfect. Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578673 18th Nov 2016 12:43pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Sorry, Internet connection playing up Rolling Eyes Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578674 18th Nov 2016 12:44pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
X4SKP



Member Since: 29 Nov 2013
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2303
United Kingdom 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey
Hello mk1collector

You ask a good question, and I too have come at this from a 'habit' of driving always with my side lights on.

I have a set of Lyra DRL which I'm about to fit.

They are designed to work, as I understand it, in a way now required for UK DRLs
(dangerous comment I know, thinking you know something)

They are wired into a Permanent Live (Battery via a 2A fuse) + the Side Lights and Earth.

The Lamps automatically come on with the ignition (when Engine is Started)
and are in Daytime Running Lamp Mode (long reach beam)
when the side lights are switched on they reduce in brightness + create a Night Styling Function
(shorter reach beam)

My issue (not related to your question) is that I want to place them where technically they would be illegal
behind my KBX grill as shown...they would be too close together as the placement diagram shows.
May add in a switch to cut them out for MOT's or may just place them under the headlights in a way as yet to be determined


Click image to enlarge
What I want to do


What I should do


What I have

Good Luck with yours SKIP
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html
Post #578695 18th Nov 2016 2:25pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
flydive



Member Since: 27 Aug 2015
Location: Lugano
Posts: 290
Switzerland 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Heritage Edition SW Grasmere Green
Not sure about the wiring, how does this work?

"They are wired into a Permanent Live (Battery via a 2A fuse) + the Side Lights and Earth. "



As for the MOT, you could just pull the fuse
Post #578700 18th Nov 2016 2:47pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
X4SKP



Member Since: 29 Nov 2013
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2303
United Kingdom 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey
Hi flydive

Wiring Instructions read:

White Wire to battery + terminal with a 2A Fuse
(I would connect this via a blue sea terminal fuse box / already fitted on mine)
Yellow Wire to Vehicle Side Lights
Black Wire to Earth

'The built in automatic switching unit allows the lights to be illuminated as soon as the engine is switched on. Once the side lights are switched on the lamps will reduce in brightness to create a night styling function'

May turn out somewhat different when installed but appears simple from Instructions... Shocked SKIP
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html
Post #578712 18th Nov 2016 3:18pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6772
England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
Thanks for the info skip Thumbs Up I didn't realise about the regs for placement but I think I'll be ok as I'm going for a reasonably standard drl bumper. Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #578718 18th Nov 2016 3:27pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 2 of 3 <123>
All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Jump to  
<  Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2025 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums