How to connect the headlights in the turn signals of the car
In Russia, when driving on the highway is supposed to turn on the headlights – such a law was passed a few years ago for better visibility of the car. But it is much better and more economical to use daytime running lights – Daytime Running Lights. They can be integrated into the direction indicators, and they will perform a dual function – at turns to flash the desired color, and the rest of the time to shine white. Although there are simple variants that do not perform the function of turns.
Daylights in the turn signals can be installed independently, you only need to buy a ready-made unit and properly connect it. But there are many variants of such units, of different quality and with different functionality.
What are the advantages of installing parking lights in turn signals
Using a separate daytime running lights saves a lot of battery power, and this is the most important plus of such a solution. It consumes a maximum of 15 watts, compared to about 100 watts for headlights, and this is a very noticeable difference. The battery keeps its charge longer, the alternator charges it faster and its capacity drops longer overall, i.e. its service life is lengthened.
A side effect of less load on the generator is reduced fuel consumption. And this is a direct monetary savings. Considering that the installation of running lights is relatively inexpensive, it will quickly pay off due to the saved gasoline.
What are the lights
Typically, daytime running lights in the turn signals is a LED unit, which is installed instead of regular turn signal lamp. But unlike a regular lamp, such a unit can switch in two modes – flashing, as a regular turn signal, and just shine white light. To do this, it has orange and white LEDs, as well as a control unit that switches them according to the situation. So there is no problem with the lighting.
There are other designs that also consist of bright LEDs. For example, an LED running turn signal is a flexible strip with LED blocks, which can be mounted above or below the headlights. When you turn on the turn LEDs simulate running lights in the direction of the turn, and when you turn off, they shine all at once. Such flexible LEDs with a turn signal function is not suitable for all car models.
Some have a function of tracking, when the brightness is halved when the driver leaves the cabin, and highlight the path in front of the car, and after a few minutes goes out.
Where to install the sidelights
On some models of cars, there are holes for mounting the daytime lights, usually on the bumper. For others, you can purchase units to install in the turn signals. Finally, you can install them in the grille by removing it and making suitable holes. The main thing is to comply with all the distances and angles according to GOST.
We are interested in the installation exactly in the direction indicators, so we will consider it, although there is no fundamental difference in connection.
Diagrams for connecting the low-beam headlights with a turn signal function
There is no single scheme suitable for all car models, as their design is different. And the units themselves are also different. Therefore, it is best to look at forums where owners of a particular model communicate, there is likely to find a lot of options for connection, and tested in practice.
For example, you can use such schemes:
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If it is energized when the engine is running. This will ensure that the running lights are switched on at the same time. This is suitable, for example, for Dusters;
- connection to the speed sensor. It will turn on when you start driving and turn off when you stop;
- connection to the oil sensor. Switching on will happen when the engine is started;
- connection to the alternator.
All of these are common circuits that are assembled with your own hands. There are quite a few others of this kind. They are suitable for those who like to make and solder various devices themselves.
But how to connect the headlight flasher with the function of a turn signal from a ready-made kit? This is the easiest option, anyone who knows how to hold a screwdriver will cope with it, and it will take a master a few minutes. The control unit is connected simply:
- The black wire connects to the battery’s minus, and the red wire connects to the plus;
- orange wire is connected to the lights or dipped beam. It is needed to turn off the lights when the dipped beam or lights are on. This wire is not always available.
If the parking lights and the turn signal light are structurally located in the same bulb, they still have different contacts, which are connected according to the attached diagram.
Is it legal to install the parking lights in the turn signals?
In general, the inspector may have a complaint about the interference in the design of the car. If the headlights are provided by the manufacturer, as in many modern cars, there are no questions. But the independent installation is just such an intervention, and you can get a fine for nonobservance of rules.
There is a GOST, which regulates the location of daytime lights. For example, the distance between right and left should not be less than 60 cm, and their height from the ground should be at least 25 cm and not more than 150 cm. Also it is necessary to use only white light and observe the angles of inclination and rotation. The light must automatically turn on when you start the engine and turn off with it.
After installation, you need to get a permit to operate, even if everything was done strictly according to GOST. Otherwise you may have problems at the first tech inspection. It especially concerns the flexible running lights with running light function, because they are usually installed at their discretion, as tuning, not foreseen by the construction. They may not meet the requirements.
Therefore, it is always more reliable to contact professionals who will select and install the running lights suitable for the car, and then formalize them.
THREE OPTIONS LED DRLs / DXOs for cars of older models. INSTALLATION and CONNECTION according to GOST
Today, daytime running lights (DRLs) are an integral part of the automotive lighting. In our country, since 2010, came into force amendments to the traffic rules requiring (according to Section 19.5) that during daylight hours on all moving vehicles for the purpose of their identification lights were on or running lights or (according to paragraph 19.4) fog lights. The number of older vehicles that do not have conventional parking lights on our roads is still high.
Most of the drivers of such cars in the old way, as prescribed by the traffic rules, move in the daytime with dipped beam. This leads to increased fuel consumption, as well as frequent burnout of the headlight bulbs, dashboard and rear lights. But the most unpleasant consequence of such use of dipped beam many may not realize, and it is nothing but accelerated burning out or darkening of headlight reflectors with subsequent deterioration of the characteristics of the dipped and high beam. It means the headlight at night simply stops lighting the road and is subject to complete replacement.
Another part of drivers mistakenly thinks that parking lights can be used as LDLs, thereby risking to get fined for driving without a proper light.
The rest of the drivers, the most advanced and progressive, including myself, are those who install additional LED lights. But it is not without certain problems, errors and subtleties, which I will now try to tell by the example of three realized variants of LED DRL (DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS). Namely:
– separate DRLs – LEDs in the turn signals – LEDs in the parking lights
Despite the fact that all this for the most part was tested on a classic car, the principles and rules are universal and no problems will fit any other car that does not have the factory DRLs.
Separate running lights in a sealed metal housing.
My choice fell on the DRL lights, made in a metal housing made of aluminum alloy, which also serves as a radiator.
Included are strong, reliable brackets, but they are designed (judging by the presence of a central bolt) for mounting on metal surfaces such as: beams, rails, chandeliers.
In the case of fixing on plastic bumper will have to give additional stiffness with metal plates, or to adapt the second bolt.
This headlamp is built on six powerful LEDs of the Chinese brand Epistar. These LED chips are, of course, inferior in quality to other rave manufacturers such as OSRAM or LG. The choice of the Chinese in this case Epistar is understandable: due to its low affordable price. However, with the properly built LED driver circuit (there is nothing wrong with that in principle) and proper rejection of the LED chips themselves, these DRL lights should work for at least 5 years. The necessary heat dissipation is present.
In my case, however, after three years one of the LED chain LEDs failed. The only reason for this is that the LED chip was of poor quality. And the saddest thing is that these DRLs are essentially unrepaired due to the non-disassembled housing. Everything is riveted in such a way that it is almost impossible to get to the board and replace the faulty LED without breaking the plastic laminated glass.
These headlights can be equipped with different reflectors. In my case, the first option is a spot, directional light. In principle, any of these reflectors will do for the headlights. How it will work in the daytime on the road compared to dipped beam is well shown in the schematic picture.
At the same time, to use these DRLs in the dark on the highway as fog lights is impossible because they do not have the necessary light and shade boundary and will blind the oncoming traffic. That is, when you turn on the head light they should automatically turn off according to GOST P 41.48-2004. But the power supply circuit and the modes of lights we will touch on a little later.
Now let’s talk about the subtleties and rules for installing your headlights.
In the case of the classics, this process is a pleasure due to the simplicity of the design of the car: drill, fix, connect. Many people do so, completely forgetting to clarify, but are there any requirements and rules for the installation of the headlights? As one would expect, they are all in the same State Standard – GOST R 41.48-2004 (UNECE Regulation N 48).
According to point 6.19 – running lights must be mounted not lower than 250 mm and not higher than 1500 mm. The minimum distance between a pair of lights is 600 mm (this distance may be reduced to 400 mm if the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1300 mm), and from the edge no further than 400 mm.
Compliance with these rules is no small matter. However, if you fully comply with the letter of the law regarding the independent installation of parking lights (by the way, the law does not prohibit doing it), it is nothing more than a modification of the vehicle with all the ensuing consequences and the need for registration in the traffic police.
But as practice shows, if the lights are installed correctly, have a white clearly visible light and correct mode, do not strobe, turn off when you turn on the head light, the interest of the inspectors to your car will be reduced to a minimum.
2. Dual-color LED lamps instead of regular indicator lamps.
Dual color LEDs 2 in 1 instead of regular directional lights – goo.gl/AayAt2
This idea is not new, the same principle I used for finishing reverse lights of the Lada Granta.
In that video I used white LED lights, but over time I replaced them with the same, only with a warm white light to make it more like a normal light.
In the case of using them as LEDs on the classic, the main requirement is to have block lights with white glass on the sides instead of orange light filters. Unfortunately, such headlamps are rare, but if you really want them, you can easily get them in the store:
VAZ-2105 left headlight with white surround – bit.do/eNvE3 VAZ-2105 right headlight with white surround – bit.do/eNvEJ
My car has orange light filters, so I did not consider this option. If you are lucky enough to have white windows in your headlights, here’s a quick rundown on installing such a LED.
For this task, you will need such an LED kit. To take with warm white or neutral white is your choice, but in my opinion, if you have regular halogen bulbs on the low and high beam, the warm white version will look more harmonious.
There are universal rubber mounts on the bulbs, the pin base depending on the required 1156, this is analogous to the usual 21W bulbs, or 1056 to replace the orange PY21W bulb. Plus it comes with a load resistor required for the correct mode of the LED turn signal interruption rate, which negates the need to replace the OEM relay.
Also in the lamp is built into the controller, which is responsible for automatically turning off the white light when the turn signal.
Now about how to properly power this DRL – set.
With the connection in the turn signal socket everything, I think, and so it is clear. But to power the white light of the DRLs you can use the simplest connection diagram through a 5-pin relay. The same variant will be suitable for automatic switching on and off of individual LED DRLs, we discussed earlier.
As a result, with this power scheme white LED light will automatically turn on when you turn the ignition key. But as soon as the parking lights are on, the white LED light will turn off, as required by GOST.
3. High-brightness LED bulbs to replace the regular parking lights.
“What could be easier?” – you might say. But this option is not as simple as it seems at first glance…
The first task is to achieve the necessary brightness for the visibility of the work in the DRL mode. Regular 4W lamp with possible luminous flux of up to 40 lm, in this case is absolutely not suitable, as for the DRLs requires 10 times the superior lamp for luminous flux. For example, such as in the standard LDH Lada Granta with a luminous flux of 440LM.
The search in this situation led to the LED lamps BA9S, designed to replace the 16W filament lamps. On sale are variants with metal cap, as required in the case of the classic, and variants with plastic cap T15 designed for W16W bulbs and at the same time suitable for T10 – W5W. However, in the latter version, the diameter of the LED lamp will be many times larger than the hole in the reflector for the regular bulb.
In the case of the headlamp classic install LED lamp with a larger diameter instead of the regular clearance is still possible through tweezers and putting it through a hole in the H4 lamp dipped and driving light.
Used lamp is based on 39 SMD 3014 LEDs. There are two color options available on the product page: white and warm white. I chose warm white version, assuming that its color temperature is the same as the halogen one. Because of this, as well as due to the increased brightness of the luminous flux in the range of 300LM, we get such an imitation of the normal dipped beam. In this case the maximum power consumption of the LED lamp does not exceed 3W, which is even 1W economical than the regular 4W, which barely smokes in comparison with the LED.
In addition, the life of the LED is much higher, life of conventional lamps – just set them and forget!
