Cheap LED DRL installation

[fotomoto]

I found a set of really cheap (china) LED style lamps on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GO7TESW/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I believe they are Mercedes-Benz knock off's which is probably why I like the styling.  LOL

 

 

I also needed an SPDT relay that would turn them on/off whenever the headlights are activated.  I got a couple (did both our CMaxes) with the wiring connector included:   http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-USA-In-line-Holder-Automotive/dp/B00C0SATHE/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1400601327&sr=1-5&keywords=spdt+relay

 

 

 

 

To further waterproof the housings, I removed the three screws and disassemble them.   I added clear, liquid silicone around the edges, and finally coated the screws after reassembly.

 

 

 

 

I mounted them on the lower grill by drilling one hole in the black plastic for the outer end and used a large washer to span the slots of the grill on the inner end.  You will need to remove the small front splash guard (and the front half of the main cover) to get to the back of the lights to apply the nut for the outer end to the bolt threads and run the wiring up.

 

 

 

 

[fotomoto]

I added some additional wiring to the tiny, tiny wire leads to cover the distance to the relay up top.   I placed the relay and associated wiring under the front plastic clip (the one with the Ford emblem)  to hide everything when snapped back into place.  There are approx. 6 plastic push/pull pins to remove but you don't have to completely remove the plastic Ford grill from the car.  Just pry it away to gain the necessary access.

 

 

 

All button up and things stashed away.

 

 

 

The relay needs two power sources for this setup.  One keyed (ignition on) that I found in the fuse box (red wire):

 

 

 

and one this is switched on by the headlights.  I tapped into the yellow with green strip wire (bottom right) on the left headlight wiring connector.  I removed the left headlight (two screws) to get to it.

 

 

 

I grounded the relay (and lights) to the chassis ground point nearly straight down below the fuse box.  It's fairly easy to get to (see arrow).

 

 

 

 

 

That's about it.  Now the DRL's come on anytime the car is on but the headlights are off.  They are very bright.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GS Dave]

Those look sharp, they fit the shape of the lower grill nicely.

[obob]

Are they really bright enough to use as fog lights ?

[fotomoto]

Are they really bright enough to use as fog lights ?

 

Sorry, no.  

[jdbob]

I just got those installed on my 2013 C-Max Energi. Same as fotomoto's except I sawed the back flush at the angled end, cut out part of the "ribbing" on grill, and ran the wires through some 1/4" I.D. wire loom.

 

 

Instead of hiding the relay behind the top grill I put it into an aluminum box and added a switch to disable them if I ever need to.

 

 

Using the same circuit that fotomoto used I notice that they are on while charging the Energi. Probably not worth trying to find another circuit since I only ever charge in my garage and they only draw about 3.5 watts.

[stevedebi]

I just got those installed on my 2013 C-Max Energi. Same as fotomoto's except I sawed the back flush at the angled end, cut out part of the "ribbing" on grill, and ran the wires through some 1/4" I.D. wire loom.

 

 

Instead of hiding the relay behind the top grill I put it into an aluminum box and added a switch to disable them if I ever need to.

 

 

Using the same circuit that fotomoto used I notice that they are on while charging the Energi. Probably not worth trying to find another circuit since I only ever charge in my garage and they only draw about 3.5 watts.

Why did  you do this? The 2013 can have the DRL enabled with a simple software switch by the dealer.

[jdbob]

Why did  you do this? The 2013 can have the DRL enabled with a simple software switch by the dealer.

 

Using dipped headlights is a poor substitute for dedicated LED DRL's. The LED's only use about 4% of the power required versus the dipped headlights like Ford uses. Using dipped headlights for DRL isn't even legal in many countries.

[Automate]

Using dipped headlights for DRL isn't even legal in many countries.

Anybody seen any studies comparing dedicated LED DRL versus main headlight DRL?  Most aftermarket LED DRL are not very bright.  Seems they are more for show rather than safety.

[jdbob]

The Wikipedia entry has a bunch of info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp

 

Whether they any good at all depends on the ambient lighting conditions. They are much more useful in high latitude countries than low latitude countries. I'm at 44.4 degrees, hard to say what the benefit would be here. Certainly not much at all in the summer, but it's often gloomy the 5 months of winter here :)

 

Here's a study from Australia but it includes information from around the globe: http://members.optusnet.com.au/carsafety/paine_drl_nrma_racv.pdf

 

Looks like rain this weekend, I plan on setting a video camera in the garage and see how visible they are (compared to the light blue car) as I come up my driveway, which is about 750 feet long.

[jdbob]

Unfortunately overcast started to reduce by the time I started the test so not as dark as I wanted. But just for fun here are the no-lights, headlights, and LED-DRL images.

 

[scottwood2]

They look good and very nice post.  Very detailed. 

[ecraigsmit]

Fotomoto, just a suggestion, use some liquid electrical tape to brush over the wire nuts to keep water out.  The steel springs inside the nuts will eventually rust out allowing the "hot" leads to be free, especially if you live in the NE where salt on roads accelerates the process. Craig

[jdbob]

fotomoto hasn't been on here since last September. I think he said he sold his C-Max Hybrid and just has an Energi.

 

As for wire nuts, I wouldn't use those for anything other than AC house wiring. 

[jdbob]

Only lasted two weeks before one of the LED's failed. And here I thought I was doing good by testing them in the freezer overnight as well as in a toaster oven at 120F for many hours. No sign of water intrusion, probably just driving the LED's with too much current. Will look for a higher quality replacement that will fit.

[BIG ROCCO]

This is a good solution to a problem I didn't know I had

[jdbob]

This is a good solution to a problem I didn't know I had

 

They wouldn't do much good in Phoenix, being so far south and sunny. Phoenix is at about the same latitude as Athens, Greece.

 

Just put on the second attempt today. These required quite a bit more engineering, will be interesting to see how long they last.....

[raadsel]

They wouldn't do much good in Phoenix, being so far south and sunny. Phoenix is at about the same latitude as Athens, Greece.

 

Just put on the second attempt today. These required quite a bit more engineering, will be interesting to see how long they last.....

 

Actually, Athens is well to the north of Phoenix. Athens is much closer to (and still north of) San Francisco, in terms of latitude. Athens is 37°58'N and San Francisco is 37°47'N. Phoenix is at 33°27'N, Baghdad is about the same latitude at 33°20'N; and both are a bit north of Dallas, Nagasaki, Japan( both 32°47'N), and San Diego at 32°43N. Houston is at 29°46'N, making it a bit South of Cairo, Egypt (30°3'N) and a bit North of Kuwait City (29°22'N)