Daytime Running Lights, installation rules and connection diagrams
Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) in headlights, fog lights, turn signals, installed separately, but where else they are not installed. And whether there are any rules that regulate the installation of daytime running lights? Can I install them myself? And they also say that they consume many times less energy, and therefore you save on gasoline.
What are the sidelights and what are they for?
“Daytime Running Lights have nothing to do with parking lights. This new concept appeared in the rules in connection with the fact that they began to equip modern cars. This term refers to external lights designed to improve the visibility of a moving vehicle in the front during daylight hours. On new European cars you can often see lights in the headlights, which are structurally highlighted in it. In the majority of the DRLs are LED lights. When using daytime running lights, you do not need to turn on additional lights (fog lights or dipped beam).
Rules of installation of daytime running lights
Requirements for daytime running lamps APPROVED by the Government of the Russian Federation from September 10, 2009 № 720 Extract from Technical Regulations on the SAFETY OF WHEELED VEHICLES
State Standard R 41.48-2004
6.19 Daytime running lights
6.19.1 Installation is optional on vehicles. Prohibited on trailers. 6.19.2 Number Two. 6.19.3 Mounting scheme No special regulations. 6.19.4. Location rules for positioning of the light emitting diodes (GOST)6.19.4.1. In width – the point of a surface visible in the direction of the reference axis which is furthest from the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle shall not be more than 400 mm from the edge of the vehicle’s overall width. The distance between the inner edges of the two apparent surfaces shall not be less than 600 mm. This distance may be reduced to 400 mm where the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1300 mm. 6.19.4.2. in height, at a distance between 250 mm and 1500 mm above the ground. 6.19.4.3. in length – at the front of the vehicle. This requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied if the light emitted does not disturb the driver directly or indirectly by reflection from the rear-view mirror and/or other reflecting surfaces of the vehicle. State of placement of the headlamps 21106.19.5 Geometric visibility Horizontal angle beta = 20° outward and inward. Vertical angle alpha = 10° upwards and downwards from horizontal. 6.19.6 Direction Forward. If installed, the daytime running lamps shall switch ON automatically when the engine start/stop control is in the ON position. It shall be possible to switch the automatic activation and deactivation of the daytime running lamps without the need for tools. The daytime running lamps shall switch OFF automatically when the headlamps are switched ON, except when the headlamps are switched ON for short periods to signal to other road users. 6.19.8. The tell-tale is optional in the form of a closed-circuit. 6.19.9. Other requirements None.
The requirements of UNECE Regulations Nos. 48 and 87: the luminous area must lie between 250 and 2,000 mm², the luminous intensity between 400 and 1,200 cd (up to 800 cd for Russia).
As a result, taking all of this into account I got here so: – turned on automatically from the ignition – turn off when you turn on dipped beam.
Connection schemes:
1) Connection via a single relay.
(Connected according to this scheme, but instead of lighting the dipped beam, and + from the ignition)
Correct connection of daytime running lights of the car
Daytime Running Lights (hereinafter DRL) have gained popularity after the changes and the latest edition of the Russian traffic rules have been made special amendments. Thus, the new rules, any moving car or other vehicle (road user) in the daylight hours must have some light elements for their own designation. Earlier it was only in the form of recommendations, and now almost 10 years ago it was introduced on a mandatory basis. You can use for the designation of the light signal both regular headlights (using a special matte mode), and additionally installed fog lights (PTF) or daytime running lights (DRL).
When using headlights in dipped beam mode, there are many nuances that make them not very comfortable to use. Fog lights are also not sinless and often cause questions.
Therefore, for such situations, many drivers prefer to buy a special device – the parking lights. Modules running lights inexpensive to purchase and easy to install on the car. However, there are some nuances in their connection – if you do not take them into account, then the installed lights may be not only useless, but even dangerous and illegal. Diagram of connection of parking lights is a rather sensitive issue.
There are several schemes (at least seven) connection diagrams of daytime running lights for all standards. Each of these schemes can be implemented independently in the conditions of the garage – there is no point in overpaying and go to the service. Consider them.
Important nuances you need to know
As for any regulation, all the parameters that must be respected when connecting daytime running lights can be found in the GOST – in our particular case we need GOST R 41.48-2004, specifically paragraph 6, subparagraph 19. Of what you need to know and consider: electrical functional circuit, which is needed to control the voltage depending on the position of the terminals, must be assembled in a special way. In the case of daytime running lights, the criterion for proper installation is the fact that the lights must turn on automatically when the engine is started. But at the same time they must also automatically turn off if the driver has manually switched on the main headlights.
You can also highlight paragraph 5 subclause 12, which states that the main headlights (so-called headlamps) themselves must only be switched on after the parking lights have been switched on. The exception to this is when the parking lights are switched on briefly as signals (flashing).
Despite the fact that it seems not particularly important at first glance, when you connect the daytime running lights yourself, you will have to take into account all these nuances and get into them.
Although it may seem that the “science” of correctly connecting the daytime running lights is precisely this balance between the various signal lights of the car, this is actually not the case. The wiring diagram of the running lights should also take into account the fact that the LED module stabilization unit is very desirable in the operation of the running lights. Without this block, the voltage inside the running lights will be constantly jumping. Such voltage variation leads to a rapid failure of the device and the need for replacement.
However, there are many motorists who argue that stabilization is not necessary and their sidelights work perfectly well without it. They argue that installing a stabilizer will be a waste of time and there is no difference between the “empty” LEDs and LEDs with a stabilizer unit. And, like, connecting the daytime running lights – it’s just the extra expense.
In fact, it is absolutely not so. It is enough to have at least a little understanding of electronics to know that each voltage jump generates an additional direct current, which heats the crystals. In the case of LEDs, you can even operate with specific numbers: the value of the voltage spike can be up to 12V, so that the nominal value of the forward current rises and the emitter overheats heavily.
As a result, you will get reduced brightness of daytime running lights and their direct task (what you installed them for) – warning drivers from oncoming traffic – will not be performed effectively enough.
Using LED daytime running lights without an additional stabilization unit, you get the need to replace them almost annually, if not more often, while their direct function will be performed worse. Is it worth being lazy and saving a couple of hundred rubles because of this?
Connecting the DRLs from an alternator
Connecting the mega lights from the generator is the simplest of the available schemes. In its implementation, the lights turn on at the moment when the engine (generator) is turned on.
In order to connect the daytime running lights in this way, you need to take the plus wire and connect it to the plus terminal on the ignition switch. You can attach the minus wire to the body in any appropriate place.
Why is there anything else besides such a simple circuit that even a child can implement? The thing is that the scheme, having a huge advantage in the form of simplicity, has a significant disadvantage – the daytime running lights can not be turned off when the engine is on. And the requirements of GOST for the coordination of all lights and lights on the car too are not respected. Therefore, other, more complex schemes for the connection are used.
Using to connect the parking lights and dipped beam
The next version of the connection – the involvement in the scheme of the parking lights and dipped beam headlights, which are themselves tied into a circuit of power.
To implement this circuit of low-beam lights with your own hands need a wire with a “plus” sign, taking it from the running lights, connect it to the battery plus, and the minus connect (carefully!) to the plus (!) lights. Why so? The point is that when we connect the plus of the exhaust lights to the battery, we make the battery plus neutral of the positive. So we get a new circuit of battery-lights-lamps-lamps-bulb-housing. And the minus in this circuit will be the last link – the housing.
Current consumption in such a realization is very small (calculated in mA), so LEDs emit light when the car is turned on, but the coil from the running lights does not light up.
If the driver turns on the lights, then the voltage increases, the potential difference decreases on the contrary, the LEDs are turned off, but the LEDs are turned on.
The scheme of connecting the daytime running lights to the parking lights also has a number of disadvantages, and not always they can be ignored.
- Daytime running lights do not depend on the engine and with the engine off continue to work. This is contrary to GOST.
- This scheme does not work if your headlights have their own LEDs.
- The scheme will not work correctly when using very powerful LEDs.
- For the circuit to work correctly and not to have a short circuit, it is necessary to install an additional fuse on the circuit.
A number of disadvantages can be counterbalanced by using a few tricks. For example, if you take the plus wire, which refers to the LED module, not directly with the battery plus, but through the ignition plus, then the first point becomes invalid and the running gear will not work when the engine is off.
Another option, similar to the connection through the parking lights, is the connection to the scheme with the dipped beam lamp. It works like this: if the dipped beam comes on (the driver turns it on manually), the parking lights turn off at the same moment. The rest of the time they work.
This scheme is worse than the connection to the scheme with parking lights, because in addition to the fact that it preserves all the points of deficiency from the list above, in addition it is a direct violation of not only GOST, but also the traffic code.
According to traffic rules, it is forbidden to use the parking lights, only the parking lights are used for this function.
Four-pin relay in the daytime running lights wiring diagram
The next method we are considering is more advanced. If you use it, you will get the running lights turn off immediately after you turn off the engine, and they will turn on at the same time.
Despite the fact that such a scheme sounds complicated, everyone can figure it out if they want to. The circuit itself is based on switching a four-pin relay and a reed switch. So, to use the connection of the DRLs through a relay, you need:
- Plus LED DRL to the pluses of both LED modules.
- Output to the body to the pluses of the parking lights.
- Second output to any reed switch output.
- The second reed switch output to the plus of the ignition.
After all the wires have been connected, it is necessary to make a number of small adjustments. It is obligatory to do this with the car engine on. After the car will be started, you need to move the reed switch near the generator and determine its optimal position – such that it will be triggered in time, and the daytime running lights stably emit light. Once the desired position was found, you need to hang the reed in the thermo-tube, and the thermo-tube itself should be fixed in the position found before.
What should happen when the engine is started? First the alternator should turn on, and then the current will go to the connected terminals of the relay and reed switch to the LEDs. The parking lights are off at this point because the current supplied is very small.
If you don’t have a reed switch there is still an output. Use an oil sensor instead. Just use the pressure sensor and its terminals instead of the reed switch – nothing complicated.
So, where’s the catch and why isn’t this a universal circuit? It’s simple – it in any implementation (with a reed switch or oil pressure sensor) does not implement the possibility of connecting LEDs to the exhaust lights themselves.
Using a five-pin relay for connection
So, it may seem to you that there is no universal solution and any scheme has serious drawbacks. This is not the case. In fact, there are as many as two schemes that take into account all the requirements and can be used quite well without violations. The first of them – the connection of daytime running lights with a relay with five contacts. It takes into account all the disadvantages of previous methods and eliminates them. This scheme looks like this.
- The plus terminals of the LED DRLs (two output terminals of the LED modules) are connected through the first terminal to the plus of the ignition switch.
- The second terminal is connected to the positive terminal of the parking lights.
- The third terminal is connected to the body of your car.
- The fourth terminal is connected to the ignition switch plus again.
- The fifth terminal should be isolated and not connected to anything.
With this scheme you can properly install your daytime running lights in accordance with all requirements of GOST and traffic regulations. The voltage after you start the engine is applied directly to the daytime running lights at 12 volts. Thus you turn on your running lights when the ignition is turned on. If, however, any headlights – both the main lights and the parking lights – are switched on, there will be a break in the circuit and no voltage will be supplied to the LEDs. Without current, they turn off.
The presence or absence of diodes cannot prevent this circuit from working.
All you need in order to connect the daytime running lights according to all the rules with five terminals, all you will need are some connecting wires, the terminals where you will fasten them, the ties where you will connect the terminals and wires, and a thermal tube for the insulation. After you’re satisfied that everything works as it should, carefully secure everything under the hood so as not to disturb the circuit you’ve already assembled and according to your sense of beauty.
This circuit allows the current to pass into the daytime running lights absolutely independently of the other paths. Therefore, the work of the lights and daytime running lights are not directly interrelated and it is possible to use any internal devices without regard to their power and classification.
Using the control unit for daytime running lights in the wiring diagram
The last option of installing daytime running lights also complies with all the norms and requirements of the regulations.
This option is very simple and available to everyone. Moreover, it is very convenient to use. No relay is used here – it is replaced by a small device that is called a control unit for daytime running lights.
This small device turns on the daytime running lights itself after the driver starts the car, and the operation of the lights is also independent (as in the previous scheme). Such a device itself ensures the correct operation, so there is no need to puzzle over how to properly connect the running lights on your car.
The control unit can be used with any type of lamps, you can install it on the exhaust lights with their own LEDs. The block is implemented overload protection.
Good units necessarily attached detailed documentation, which indicates the connection diagram (it is as simple as possible, you just need to correctly identify the plus and minus, which is not difficult), and the documentation should be designated in accordance with GOST (most factory models comply, but still worth checking). This means that this controller does not affect the work of other nodes and is completely independent.
In order not to get into trouble, be sure to pay attention to compliance with GOST. Sometimes manufacturers add other functions in order to stand out in the same line, but they can violate the rules of operation. For example, they turn off the lights at moments not foreseen by the standards, for example, when using the handbrake.
At such moments, it is very important to stop in time and choose something that is simpler, but safer.
