DRLs - anyone tried these? ** now with pics on pg10 **

[vRStu]

Ultimately you could use whatever you want for the trigger.  Check the pin (10) of the headlight connector that they tell you to use, if it's live then it's a +ve trigger or if it's got continuity to ground then it's a ground trigger.  Either way you could mount a single pole switch in the car to control them and use 12v or ground accordingly.

I'd guess they've gone for the sidelights option as it's handy and I think the sides + DRLs would be an ok combo.

[stealthwolf]

So these will come on only with sidelights rather than on their own?

Would love to see these in action.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

So these will come on only with sidelights rather than on their own?

Jury is still out at the mo . . .

Would love to see these in action.

^^^^ x2

[PND]

Yes, it looks like DKI are the manufacturer and JOM in Germany are probably the main distributor.

Just been translating some German eBay listings that are for this same item..

1st listing:

• 3 cable for installation per page clampingly, + / - line to the parking light + Ignition Plus line
• LEDs dim as soon as normal light is switched

2nd listing:

• fully automatic on and off the daytime running lights
• each 5 super bright and durable LED
• extremely low power consumption
• course registration free E-Approved
• approved as daytime running lights by RL-ID
• corresponds to ECE R87 standard
• quick and easy installation
• superlight>>> connection is made at battery terminal, bulk and parking light

It seems to be saying that the trigger is the 'parking light' connection.  Does this just mean sidelights?  If I'm understanding this correctly, they'll come on with the ignition, and then dim when any lights are turned on.  Does that sound right?  If anyone knows what 'pin10' actually is, please enlighten me!  Or if anyone has a wiring diagram for the headlight connectors..

In the installation guide, it says the red wire -> 'step3' (in the wiring diagram) and 'line No.2' (in the instructions).  Does this mean 'pin2' on the headlight connector?  Is this meant to be a 12v feed that comes on with the ignition?  If so, where's it telling me to connect to?

I've also emailed JOM in Germany asking for any clearer installation guides - see what they come back with..

Might just have to have a bit of a play and see what happens!    Worst case, I'll get some pics of them in situ.  Whether they'll be lit up or not, who knows!

If anyone has any ideas please feel free to contribute! 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

For the 'pin 10' - if you remove one of the main connector on one of the headlamps, look carefully at the mating face, and you should see some tiny numbers adjacent to each connector pin.  You may need a torch and a magnifying glass.

So it looks like it is taking a feed from the ignition circuit to illuminate them fully, and then when the side lights are turned on, will dim them.  Now bear in mind it is illegal to drive a car on sidelights in the EU (except in the UK, where you can only legally drive on sidelights in 'built-up areas, subject to a 30mph speed restriction, AND illuminated with street lights') - what this basically means is when you turn on your side lights, you should also be turning on your headlamps too.

I've no idea what red wire to line 2 means . . . . but I doubt it means pin 2 on your headlamps - you are already using pin 10.  Maybe when you unwind and unravel the wires which came with the kit, they will hopefully have some ID tape on each individual wire.

HTH

[Snoopy]

They do look good quality from the photos. 
Be interesting to see how they have done the wiring once you have them connected.
Worst case you have to design your own system with a couple of 5 pin relays so there on only when no other lights are on.

[PND]

Thanks T_T for that. 

Unfortunately, the wires have nothing written on them.  There are just the round terminal connectors on the black, but nothing on the red or white.

I've just checked on my car (as I couldn't remember otherwise) and the sidelights stay on when the headlights are on as well.  So, from that, it looks as if the DRLs will be on all the time - full brightness when all headlights/sidelights are off and then dimmed when either headlights or sidelights are on.  This is how I thought they would function.  I suppose the only way to turn them off totally would be to wire in a separate switch (as mentioned by Stu earlier in the thread).

[Snoopy]

A switch or relay.
The extra tiny current draw difference should also not upset the diagnostic system (depending on spec of LEDs and control unit design) as it should not be outside the range the system will be setup for, for standard bulbs whos current varie between brands.

[PND]

A switch or relay.
The extra tiny current draw difference should also not upset the diagnostic system (depending on spec of LEDs and control unit design) as it should not be outside the range the system will be setup for, for standard bulbs whos current varie between brands.

Cheers Snoopy.  If it comes to it, I'll be asking you what all that meant! 


What do we generally think about DRLs being on all the time, dimming when other lights are on?  Is this how they work on Audis for instance?  What happens on the mk6 Golf?  Do they go off altogether?

[RedRobin]

What do we generally think about DRLs being on all the time, dimming when other lights are on?  Is this how they work on Audis for instance?  What happens on the mk6 Golf?  Do they go off altogether?

....What I think is common knowledge here but I think there's a case for setting them up to automatically switch on with ignition and auto switch off whenever any of the other oem lights are actioned to be on. That's how mine are. They've passed MOT twice and more recently a Police stop and full inspection with an apology from them. The Police liked the fact that mine went off whenever other lights came on.

I don't see the point of them self-dimming unless they are amongst the indicator cluster as on some Audi's.

As your car will retain the fogs you perhaps need them to go off whenever your fogs are on.

Personally, I dislike the yellow appearance of the stock Mk6 Golf 'DRLs' and they're not very bright either.

[stealthwolf]

So it looks like it is taking a feed from the ignition circuit to illuminate them fully, and then when the side lights are turned on, will dim them.  Now bear in mind it is illegal to drive a car on sidelights in the EU (except in the UK, where you can only legally drive on sidelights in 'built-up areas, subject to a 30mph speed restriction, AND illuminated with street lights') - what this basically means is when you turn on your side lights, you should also be turning on your headlamps too.

TBH I've found sidelights to be so crap for either illumination or "warning" that I've never used them alone. They are too dim to be useful during rain/bleak weather/dawn/dusk that I just stick to dipped beams.

[TagnuT]

They look good and are of a "OEM" look too, which I like. Looking forward to see these fitted and working.

[Snoopy]

....What I think is common knowledge here but I think there's a case for setting them up to automatically switch on with ignition and auto switch off whenever any of the other oem lights are actioned to be on. That's how mine are. They've passed MOT twice and more recently a Police stop and full inspection with an apology from them. The Police liked the fact that mine went off whenever other lights came on.

I don't see the point of them self-dimming unless they are amongst the indicator cluster as on some Audi's.

As your car will retain the fogs you perhaps need them to go off whenever your fogs are on.

Personally, I dislike the yellow appearance of the stock Mk6 Golf 'DRLs' and they're not very bright either.

Robin,
Iirc you looked up the laws when you started to think about DRL for yours. Can you remember what the law states?

Simply fitting a relay into the power line to the LED or the LED control unit  that turns the power to them off when theres power to the sidelight is easy to do.

The other option is to open up the control unit of the LEDs and you will probably find its either done one of two ways. Either PIC controled using a PWM signal which is very unlikley due to cost or a relay that switches it to a track on the PCB with a resistor in when it sensors the side lights have been turned on, In witch case you simply remove the reistor and they will not be on when your lights are on.

[PND]

Simply fitting a relay into the power line to the LED or the LED control unit  that turns the power to them off when theres a signal to sidelight signal/12V is easy to do.

Is it if you know what you're doing!!

Just to give you something to look at till I decide how best to wire them in..  Does anyone know where I should connect the red wire to? 'Line2'?  I'm going to need some help with these I think! 

[PND]

The LED housing looks a bit yellow in the pic - it's only because it's in the shade.  They actually look more white/chrome in the flesh.