To DRL or not to DRL...

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: hypervish
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
You make a valid point, but my experience is that the majority of drivers on the road are incompetent,distracted, or both.


+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000


You are one of them, what makes you think making videos driving down the interstate at 100+ mph, is safe?


LAWL!!!!

 

[GMBoy]

I hate DRL's. Now that most cars have them, nobody "stands out" anymore and worse yet motorcyclists are not as visible. Not to mention added waste of bulbs and the energy needed to run them.

(Just my opinion no flames needed lol!)

 

[Klutch9]

Well, I just installed some DRLs on the Focus today. The lights themselves are 8-LED across each, and are basically a knock-off of the Philips kit you can buy. I mounted them in one of the rectangular bumper openings on each side (they fit great). As for the wiring, I have them fed off a relay, using thick-gauge wiring. The relay's trigger is from the fuse delivering power to the circuit for all of the interior lighting. So when the key is in the on position, the DRLs come on. Power comes from the + battery terminal, and the ground is to the chassis for both the relay and the lights. All of the connections are sealed and water-tight, and the wiring looks clean and not too out of place. Surprisingly, the eBay relay and pigtail connection seemed well-made and had very thick wiring, which was nice to see. I'll post some pictures when I get some free time.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hate DRL's. Now that most cars have them, nobody "stands out" anymore and worse yet motorcyclists are not as visible. Not to mention added waste of bulbs and the energy needed to run them.

(Just my opinion no flames needed lol!)


On the many gray days we have here in upstate NY, DRL help pick out oncoming cars from much further away. Picking out a black car against a gray/black road on a gray day, the DRL are often the first thing I see. Tracking two moving light sources is much easier in dim lighting conditions than tracking a dark mass against a dark background.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hate DRL's. Now that most cars have them, nobody "stands out" anymore and worse yet motorcyclists are not as visible. Not to mention added waste of bulbs and the energy needed to run them.

(Just my opinion no flames needed lol!)


On the many gray days we have here in upstate NY, DRL help pick out oncoming cars from much further away. Picking out a black car against a gray/black road on a gray day, the DRL are often the first thing I see. Tracking two moving light sources is much easier in dim lighting conditions than tracking a dark mass against a dark background.



I can see your point there.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Steve56
Originally Posted By: Klutch9

I don't much care for #1, since having the low beams on all the times reduces bulb life, plus running them at reduced voltage doesn't allow the halogen cycle to work properly, which also negatively affects bulb life.


Speaking as a Canadian where DRLs are mandatory on all cars, there is no tangible lifespan impact on the bulbs. I've had ten year old vehicles with the original bulbs still functioning, including ones that run the low beam filament at 50% nonstop.
That runs counter to everything I have read about the halogen cycle.

 

[NateDN10]

I am pro-DRL only because people often forget to turn on their headlights in the rain. I had a near-accident once with a gray car on a rainy day because I didn't see him.

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: Steve56
Originally Posted By: Klutch9

I don't much care for #1, since having the low beams on all the times reduces bulb life, plus running them at reduced voltage doesn't allow the halogen cycle to work properly, which also negatively affects bulb life.


Speaking as a Canadian where DRLs are mandatory on all cars, there is no tangible lifespan impact on the bulbs. I've had ten year old vehicles with the original bulbs still functioning, including ones that run the low beam filament at 50% nonstop.
That runs counter to everything I have read about the halogen cycle.


I agree with you Stig. Although possibly he has been fortunate on bulb life. Still, it is highly likely that those 10 year-old bulbs were quite dim after all that use.

 

[grampi]

This may be a silly question, but it seems like common sense to me. Do any of you know why DRLs stay on even when the headlights are on? Doesn't the "D" in DRL stand for "daytime?" If so, then DRLs should turn off when the headlights come on. Not only do DRLs being on at the same time as the headlights put a lot more taxation on your electrical system, they're very annoying to oncoming drivers at night. This is basically the same as looking into someone's high beams...I never could figure out why DRLs remain on with the headlights....

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: grampi
This may be a silly question, but it seems like common sense to me. Do any of you know why DRLs stay on even when the headlights are on? Doesn't the "D" in DRL stand for "daytime?" If so, then DRLs should turn off when the headlights come on. Not only do DRLs being on at the same time as the headlights put a lot more taxation on your electrical system, they're very annoying to oncoming drivers at night. This is basically the same as looking into someone's high beams...I never could figure out why DRLs remain on with the headlights....


None of my vehicles do this.....

but my DRL's are my high beams.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: grampi
This may be a silly question, but it seems like common sense to me. Do any of you know why DRLs stay on even when the headlights are on? Doesn't the "D" in DRL stand for "daytime?" If so, then DRLs should turn off when the headlights come on. Not only do DRLs being on at the same time as the headlights put a lot more taxation on your electrical system, they're very annoying to oncoming drivers at night. This is basically the same as looking into someone's high beams...I never could figure out why DRLs remain on with the headlights....


None of my vehicles do this.....

but my DRL's are my high beams.


So are you saying that instead of just trying to deal with the extreme brightness of the DRLs from oncoming vehicles, I should be flashing these people my brights?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: grampi
This may be a silly question, but it seems like common sense to me. Do any of you know why DRLs stay on even when the headlights are on? Doesn't the "D" in DRL stand for "daytime?" If so, then DRLs should turn off when the headlights come on. Not only do DRLs being on at the same time as the headlights put a lot more taxation on your electrical system, they're very annoying to oncoming drivers at night. This is basically the same as looking into someone's high beams...I never could figure out why DRLs remain on with the headlights....


None of my vehicles do this.....

but my DRL's are my high beams.


So are you saying that instead of just trying to deal with the extreme brightness of the DRLs from oncoming vehicles, I should be flashing these people my brights?


No..... What I'm saying is that when I turn my headlights on, my DRL's (which are my high beams) turn OFF. Which is contrary to what you say you are seeing.

 

[sciphi]

Overkill probably isn't mentioning that the high beams are at half power via a resistor or PWM, so they're not as bright as regular headlights.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: grampi
This may be a silly question, but it seems like common sense to me. Do any of you know why DRLs stay on even when the headlights are on? Doesn't the "D" in DRL stand for "daytime?" If so, then DRLs should turn off when the headlights come on. Not only do DRLs being on at the same time as the headlights put a lot more taxation on your electrical system, they're very annoying to oncoming drivers at night. This is basically the same as looking into someone's high beams...I never could figure out why DRLs remain on with the headlights....


None of my vehicles do this.....

but my DRL's are my high beams.


So are you saying that instead of just trying to deal with the extreme brightness of the DRLs from oncoming vehicles, I should be flashing these people my brights?


No..... What I'm saying is that when I turn my headlights on, my DRL's (which are my high beams) turn OFF. Which is contrary to what you say you are seeing.


So when you turn on your brights, your DRLs come on?

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Overkill probably isn't mentioning that the high beams are at half power via a resistor or PWM, so they're not as bright as regular headlights.


That isn't what I see with oncoming vehicles. When these vehicles have the DRLs on (the ones that are located below the headlights and are the same color), many times the lower lights are brighter than the headlights. This is especially the case with these lights on pickups....

 

[sciphi]

Half power high beams that are pointed at your eyes are going to appear bright. Especially when on a jacked-up pickup. Those aren't full power, they're only brighter than the surrounding lights.

And no, when his high beams come on the high beams come on. There's this little device called a relay that flips closed to allow full power to the high beams when the high beam switch is pressed. When the low beams turn on, another relay is opened to cut out the DRL circuitry. Such amazing devices, relays...

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Overkill probably isn't mentioning that the high beams are at half power via a resistor or PWM, so they're not as bright as regular headlights.


Yes, this is the case as well. When they are on, they are much, MUCH dimmer than my actual high's, and this would be on the Expedition, due to a resister, and on the BMW, PWM.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: grampi


So when you turn on your brights, your DRLs come on?


No, my DRL's ARE my brights, that's what I'm saying. They are one and the same. Except that when in DRL function, they are significantly dimmer.

 

[TheBig2003]

As a Canadian, DRL's are mandatory from all manufacturers. I love them and will always love them.

My Grand Prix DRL's are my front turn signals, which are a 3757NA but my Magnum are my 9005 Highbeams.

 

[danthaman1980]

DRL, baby, DRL!!!