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PART: LXXXVI
MY ALBUS: DRL DREAM CAME TRUE!
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I am mesmerized whenever I cross a Mercedes with a pair of DRLs that look like diamond studs. They are very cute, clear, shine but never dazzle & glare.
I used to dream whether to have one such. Yes, I know that to have in India, there is always a debate.
The reason put forward for the introduction of DRLs is "to increase the visual contrast between vehicles and their background so that the presence of a vehicle is made more obvious to other road users".
Other way, for increased visibility without needing human interaction whether it's day, night, dusk, dawn, fog, or rain!
Whatever,
I love it and had it. May be useful when I settle down at my native place Coimbatore / Ooty on my superannuation.
My research took me to a world of DRLs, from the most expensive European makes to the cheapest Chinese makes.
My specification is clear-
Minimum 5 LEDs per side, definitely a White / Snow White reflection and no to a blue or any other tint like Cool White. Every one light should be clear, a crisp bullet and should never irritate the eyes both during day and night, and with auto dim feature. A totally water proof, shock & heat proof with clear glass lens and no plastic frame. The design should enhance the look of the car and with long life and low power consuming LEDs.
I have ruled out the very expensive Philips, Hella and Osram makes, though they are most reliable but risky in an unreliable Indian environment, as DRLs can be easily stolen. (People even steal the stick type OE car antennas.)
My budget is around Rs.2000/- to get the best, everything – DRLs, Automatic controller, dedicated switch and fitting charges of the local electrician.
Believe me, you will be really confused and easily get cheated by many copycat, counterfeits DRLs.
On careful analysis I have selected the reputed sellers.
1. DRLs (Pair) @ 18.01 dollars from:
12v 6w LED Daytime Running Light Waterproof Universal DRL Kit Day Light Auto Driving Light External Light Save on 9w 20w-in Daytime Running Lights from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
I selected the seller based on AE rating and consumer feedback. Excellent communication and even came forward to give a discount/ refund of 3 dollars, that is at 15 dollars cost a pair for my TAI Review here but I could not make it via my PayPal account due to reserve bank norms. (It seems that my name in bank, income tax, PayPal accounts should all be same). Fortunately the DRLs reached me safely without additional custom duty.
2. Automatic Control Unit @ 4.02 Dollars from:
Car LED DRL Relay Daytime Running Light Relay Harness Auto Car Controller On/Off Switch Parking Light Fog Light-in Brake Lights from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
I wanted a simple unit with dimming feature like original Philips battery voltage sensor type so that not to mess OE electrical lines. I had an offer price.
3. LED Switch @ 3.51 dollars from:
1PCS Car Boat Truck Light Toggle switch 5pin Waterproof 12V/20A,24V/10A Bar Carling Style Blue Toggle Rocker SPST ON OFF Switch-in Switches from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
I wanted a switch like OE fog lamp dash control with led light,and the name inscribed as LED DRL. Though this one looks little bigger as this is Toggle-Rocker type , it is of excellent quality, got it an offer price @3.51 dollars. (There were better looking switches from other sellers but little smaller in size as the ANHC requires 25x45 mm WxH).
Now, I could locate a HONDA specific custom made push button switch which looks neat. But my car electrician advised me to avoid that type switch for two reasons – it requires a relay connection extra and more over ‘on use’ LED light is not very clear in day time.
4. H4 Car connector plug @ 1.48 dollars from:
3Pin H4 Car connector plug H4 Auto holder plug 7.8mm lamp plug bulb socket for Male + female -in Connectors from Electrical Equipment & Supplies on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
I kept a spare to connect head light line for dimming functions by not cutting the OE line.
Steps Followed:
First of all before electrical connection, I had to select the place in the car for fixing the DRLs. If I would have not installed the fog lamp, I would have chosen the center of fog lamp grill cover.
Front grill, the grill plate are not straight horizontally and there is a vertical metal support line in the ANHC (3RD GEN) Face lift version. Therefore, I did not use the original clip-in bracket that came with DRLs and designed my own, fixed firmly with double side tape, to some extent foolproof.
Next connections:
A connection varies from
1. Simple direct connection from battery with on/off switch,
2. Direct connection with ACC Fuse Box
3. Independent connection with battery by Auto Unit without dimming.
4. Independent connection with battery and head/parking light by auto unit with dimming.
5. BUT, in my setup, there is an option to switch off the DRLs when the engine is running (and the converse is also true; in the sense that there is no option to switch on the DRLs when the engine is off as the DRLs are purely controlled by Voltage sensor with auto dimming when head light on.
I mean,
I have kept a dedicated switch to switch off / avoid offline current whenever the car is send to service or parked longer duration.
My car electrician charged Rs.350 for installation. He did a neat job. He took both the DRLs wires to the left side (opposite side to battery), used the (-) ground (body) there, tapped the parking line to the yellow wire of the control unit, took the positive wire from my MINDA Remote lock unit placed there which has already got battery direct (+) connection and delinked the positive wire to the dedicated switch. He removed the ‘three switches’ Dash panel side and connected the dedicated switch with the help of fog line switch. All over!
Note:
I have placed orders during February 2016. I could see now most of the items in AE , the prices have gone up.
Please also read my earlier posting here:
PART XVI : DO YOU NEED THOSE DRLs?
Hope, These information would be of use to you, if you ever think to have the DRLs.
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