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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7906

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
LED Headlight Installation
Hi, sorry going to ask silly/simple questions again....

I'm looking to install some Angel Eyes LED headlights with halo which I want to just link to side light rather than DRL. Just wondering for this connection in to the side light red and black, is a simple scotch lock splice connector Ok or would it be better to get a MUD Uk piggyback loom connector?

Also I'm sure I read somewhere that when you fit LED headlights you should remove a relay asap?? Now can't find the thread to confirm if this is right and if so which relay and why??

Thanks again, and apologies if this has been asked a million times.... Thumbs Up

I do wonder if there should be an idiots guide section with simple instruction for the idiots like me Whistle
Post #486881 30th Dec 2015 1:33pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

United Kingdom 
No such thing as a silly question, however there is something like a daft answer! Does this qualify as a daft answer? Razz



Scotch locks? Before the auto electrician purists come along I would suggest you forget the very name of scotch lock.

You are better off getting either econoseal or superseal connectors. Depending on the brand of headlights you are planning on getting there may well already have a connector fitted.




Some words of advice first.

Ensure that the headlights you are buying are E marked. No E mark and they are NOT legal in Europe/UK. Forget the eBay rubbish comments that these lights are NOT E marked but will pass a UK MOT. They are ILLEGAL for you to fit to your vehicle and illegal to sell to be fitted to a road going vehicle.

Best to go for a branded item rather then a non branded item.

Forget comments such as these lights are water proof. No IP rating (Ingress Protection) then I would suggest you avoid. IP 67 is the minimum rating you want to look at, IP68 is better and IP69K the best rating.



Brendan
Post #486904 30th Dec 2015 3:21pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
Agree with Brendan, avoid a Scotchlok. A piggyback would be much better and Mud do good stuff (and have great customer service). Order their mirrors whilst you're at it Very Happy

I cut, solder and heatshrink but that's not easily undoable or plug and play.

Relays... there are two things regarding relays.

1) the standard headlight circuitry is a bit pants. The switch by the steering wheel overheats and burns out, and combined with light wiring you don't get anything like the 14V of the alternator to the headlamp, more like 11V with normal headlamps. Upgrading the wiring with some relays fed by heavy wiring from the battery or alternator and controlled by the existing circuit massively upgrades headlight performance and removes a known weak spot.
If you're upgrading to LED headlights the current draw is a lot lower (like half) so the voltage drop is lower too and because the LED is regulated once the voltage is above a certain minimum (usually about 10V) they're constant brightness. Is it still worth upgrading the wiring? Maybe, but it does go a long way down the priority list.

2) Defender of certain ages used dim-dip. This can cause problem on some vehicles but isn't something you're going to have on a 2012 Defender.
Post #486943 30th Dec 2015 5:15pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7906

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Many thanks for your replies, much appreciated. I've got the Flatdog Angel eyes which have the main connector plug and play but the DRL's only have bare wires. I think I'll treat myself to the MUD piggyback leads.

Thank you. Thumbs Up
Post #487080 30th Dec 2015 10:04pm
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PRENT1



Member Since: 02 Sep 2015
Location: bromley
Posts: 42

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Anyone know or have used an auto electrician in the Bromley area they would recommend. I have a couple of bits i would like added with a little bit of TLC.
Post #492163 14th Jan 2016 11:47am
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