So I got me LED DRLs in and am trying to decide how best to wire them. I want a simple system where either they are on when the car is running or (more likely) on when parking lights are on. I think I will need to splice at least one wire, should I splice both? IE I could splice red into my parking lights and black to the battery. If I splice only one, which one should I use?
Now, how to wire lights?
- Thread starter joaks
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Why do I need a relay?
Originally Posted By: joaks
Why do I need a relay?
Because the parking light circuit does not supply enough current to run the parking lights and the new lights together. Parking lights are probably only about a 10 amp circuit. Use the relay to connect battery power to the new lamps. You could wire the relay this way:
terminal 85 to good clean chassis ground
terminal 86 to the parking light positive wire
terminal 87 to battery positive voltage, fused with the same size fuse as your new LED lights
terminal 30 to the positive wire on both new LED lights
Then ground your new lights to a good solid clean chassis ground. The new lights will turn on when the parking lights are on. Be sure your fuse is located no more than six inches from the battery positive connection.
Why do I need a relay?
Because the parking light circuit does not supply enough current to run the parking lights and the new lights together. Parking lights are probably only about a 10 amp circuit. Use the relay to connect battery power to the new lamps. You could wire the relay this way:
terminal 85 to good clean chassis ground
terminal 86 to the parking light positive wire
terminal 87 to battery positive voltage, fused with the same size fuse as your new LED lights
terminal 30 to the positive wire on both new LED lights
Then ground your new lights to a good solid clean chassis ground. The new lights will turn on when the parking lights are on. Be sure your fuse is located no more than six inches from the battery positive connection.
Is there a staightforward place for me to wire to have them on when the car is running and avoid the use of a relay? I read where someone suggested the cigarette lighter but I don't know how accessable those wires are.
How much do the led DRL's draw? Tapping into a wire isn't that difficult. You can buy tap devices at car parts stores which just clamp over the existing wire. A voltmeter will tell you which one has power when. The DRL's that I have seen are on when the low beams are off. A relay, though, is always a good thing.
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