Daylight Running lights

[Waylander]

last week i took the old wreck out for a blast and it was a bit late in the afternoon and getting a bit dusk / dark, some nameless twat pulled out in front of me and it was close, so after a bit of cross white line shouting (as you do) he admitted he did not see me.

so with that in mind and all 968's in Canada are equipped with DRL (daylight running lights) I had a mad moment and decided to look into this as an option.

there is three big issues with this little enterprise,

1 the USA wiring is different
2 the G6 Bridge is also different
3 the relay 944 615 123 00 for CDN (Canada) daylight running lights is NLA and is over £100 as I found one in Germany.

I would still like to do this but make it switchable so they are hidden and only used when I want them.

the Canada DRL put on your fog lights when the engine is running, no side lights or tail lights or dash illumination.

and go off when dipped beam is selected, I don't want to run fog lights all the time so another solution is the project.

so with this in mind i have been shopping..................

First thing needed is a controller for DRL

this will control the function of the DRL.

even dim them when indicators are used on that side of the car,

then on to the lights...

I have bought some of these they are 10w led and 20mm in diameter, I intend to hide these in the lower grill right at the outside edges, I have 4 of them but may only use two.

as my lower grille is just a bit of cheapo mesh it wont matter if I bugger it up.

what do you guys think about this.....................

 

[Peter F F]

Hi
This has proved to me that I've been right in never driving without my side lights and fog lights on in all the time I've owned my cab (12 years). It makes good sense in sunlight especially and your near miss proves the point If he didn't see your 968 in Cobalt Blue what chance would I have in an Oak Green cab driving along country lanes in Norfolk !

Keep us all up to date with your DRL's, then I may do the same.

 

[Waylander]

little update
it was going to be hard work trying to fit them so I decided to make some little plastic mounts, bit of black rain water pipe to the rescue.
I made a template and cut out what I needed
bit of drain pipe

Marking out

hole drilled and test fit of the LED

Dremel cut the bit out and shaped with sand paper
first one done

Lamp test

pair done

Cables extended and plugs soldered on....

there will be more when I get the chance to fit them

 

[Waylander]

well they are now fitted and working

excuse the broom handle, when its cold the bonnet gas struts wont hold it up, bonnet catch in the head is very painful!!!

the other cool part is it takes 30 seconds for the battery voltage to drop below 13v so you get see me home lights for about 30 seconds.

the total cost of this install was about £13

 

[Waylander]

this is how they look switched off, and yes I know the front needs painting and I need a new grille, two years in and its still a work in progress

 

[simkin911]

Nice one Martin. Incidentally, I've had one of those grills for 2 years in the garage to be fitted be haven't managed to get round to it yet!

 

[Waylander]

It's about time you got the bull by the horns and broke a few bolts and changed it then, slacker []

 

[warby]

Looks great Martin, very smart

 

[John Sims]

As with all modifications the best ones don't look like a modification. Very sweet.

I would say however, considering the main reason is to be seen, when viewing the front 3/4 photo the lights aren't really visible, which rather knocks the whole point.

Those LED's seem to provide spectacular illumination, but that isn't really the point of running lights. Wouldn't you be better off with an array of smaller LEDs which would then extend the possibilities of being seen from a more extended angle?

 

[Waylander]

I agree John

they need to to be brought forward a fraction, that can be accomplished by redesigning the mounts.

they are right down the recess of the air vent, I will get some thing to make a mould of the space and make something better, this was just a starter to see how it looked, I really did not want to look like a modern car like the DS3

version 2 will be along when it's warmer and I have more time

 

[Waylander]

Nice one Martin. Incidentally, I've had one of those grills for 2 years in the garage to be fitted be haven't managed to get round to it yet!

you can flog it off to me at a new old stock discount []