Technical DRL control box fitted

[nitramtpr]

Hi guys,

I've seen a few threads about fitting DRLs and thought I'd get me a set.
I bought these DRLs:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x12V-9-L...ggy-Day-Driving-Lamp-lamps-White/272792113100

And one of these controllers:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Automatic...Relay-Harness-DRL-Control-Dimmer/162430543896

The DRLs were easy peasy to fit, they fit nicely in between the slots in the bumper (I've a bog standard active). You just need to drill 3 holes, one for the wire and one for each of the screws.

The DRL controller connects straight to the battery and has three wires coming out of it (apart from the battery connections). A red, black and a white one. The red and white are the connections to the DRL and the white one goes to the sidelight or dipped beam positive so that the DRLs can dim when the lights are on.
I've not connected that one up, my DRLs are on all the time.

Here are the DRLs close up:

Driverside:

Passenger side

 

[g8rpi]

Unfortunatly the DRLs do not appear to be approved or (E) marked, so are not legal for road use.

How long did they take to arrive? They both say UK location but business addressi s in China.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[nitramtpr]

Ummm, they took about a week, possibly 10 days...I actually got them from this seller...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/youngfashionyoung

I fitted the DRLs a fair few weeks ago, wired them into a feed from the fuse box under the bonnet and found it was live all the time! I really couldn't be arsed trying to get a wire into the bonnet from the inside of the car and forgot about them..... I had an MOT while the lights were fitted but not working and it passed without any mention of them, I'm guessing because they didn't work.
I then remembered that they needed wiring and found the controller on Ebay, that I ordered on Friday and it turned up today. Because I'd already got the lights fitted and the wiring up to the battery it took ten minutes to sort out the DRL install.

The lights are bright but I would really doubt if they are bright enough or enough of a distraction that would warrant a tug from the police about them. And if they cause an MOT failure all I need to do is pull the fuse!

I was more mentioning this with regards to the DRL controller rather than the DRLs themselves. I found it a really simple and easy way to power a set of DRLs. It also gives the option of dimming them when you put your lights on.
I think you could get two, connect one up to the left indicator and DRL, the other to the right indicator and DRL and they correct side will dim when you indicate...which is how I think they should work (legally).

 

[g8rpi]

Ummm, they took about a week, possibly 10 days...I actually got them from this seller...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/youngfashionyoung

I fitted the DRLs a fair few weeks ago, wired them into a feed from the fuse box under the bonnet and found it was live all the time! I really couldn't be arsed trying to get a wire into the bonnet from the inside of the car and forgot about them..... I had an MOT while the lights were fitted but not working and it passed without any mention of them, I'm guessing because they didn't work.
I then remembered that they needed wiring and found the controller on Ebay, that I ordered on Friday and it turned up today. Because I'd already got the lights fitted and the wiring up to the battery it took ten minutes to sort out the DRL install.

The lights are bright but I would really doubt if they are bright enough or enough of a distraction that would warrant a tug from the police about them. And if they cause an MOT failure all I need to do is pull the fuse!

I was more mentioning this with regards to the DRL controller rather than the DRLs themselves. I found it a really simple and easy way to power a set of DRLs. It also gives the option of dimming them when you put your lights on.
I think you could get two, connect one up to the left indicator and DRL, the other to the right indicator and DRL and they correct side will dim when you indicate...which is how I think they should work (legally).

Hi,
I doubt you will get stopped for these but that does not change their approval. I just want readers to know the status of these lights. They don't have to go off or dim with the indicators unless they are very close together. However they should go off, or dim (if they act as side lights (position lights)) when you turn the headlights on (dip or high beam). They might fail the MOT if they don't do this, but currently are not testable unless they also act as side lights. More information here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/daytime-running-lights/daytime-running-lights

Robert G8RPI.

 

[nitramtpr]

Thanks for the info, I wondered why I saw some new cars with DRLs turn them off when indicating and some didn't.
I will connect the loose cable I have on my controller to the dipped beam so they go off as per the link you posted.
Good point regarding the E marking

 

[Ziggy122]

Had my e marked drls on for quiet a while
There dying now like...
Always had drl on full regardless as i never put the wire for dippin in....
No issues with mot or plod
Mot guy has said there meant to dip but there aftermarket so dunno rules and mot wise

 

[g8rpi]

Had my e marked drls on for quiet a while
There dying now like...
Always had drl on full regardless as i never put the wire for dippin in....
No issues with mot or plod
Mot guy has said there meant to dip but there aftermarket so dunno rules and mot wise

Currently DRLs are not UK MOT inspectable items unless they are also the side lights. As most aftermarket ones do not replace side lights they are not inspectable. This is another example of things that have to be compliant for the car to be legal, but are not covered by the MOT. A valid MOT does not mean the car is road legal.
Day brightness DRLs at night are very annoying.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[s and b]

ive fitted exactly the same drl's to the wifes car as that too is black and so some drivers fail to see it as it approaches junctions,i used a drl relay and wired it into the sidelight circuit so lights dim when factory lights turned on,i am aware that its technically an illegal fitment under constructions and use but for safety i think they are a very useful ad on
just my two pennorth

 

[Ziggy122]

My drls are failing... many of the leds are going
So tbh im on 25 - 40% output anyway

Ziggy

 

[nitramtpr]

Just updating this with a new link for the controller:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-DRL-C...g-Light-Relay-Harness-Dimmer-Fog/263851255945

And a new link for the DRLs:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-12V-9...-Strip-Lamp-Car-Fog-Driving-Lamp/153040348519

 

[AndyRKett]

Just updating this with a new link for the controller:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-DRL-C...g-Light-Relay-Harness-Dimmer-Fog/263851255945

And a new link for the DRLs:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-12V-9...-Strip-Lamp-Car-Fog-Driving-Lamp/153040348519

What was the reason for replacing them? Did you have problems with the old ones?

 

[judderbar]

These very white LED lights are a real pain for me. I am 64 soon. When you are younger you see a bright light as just a point of brightness but I am now seeing significant whiting out of the rest of my vision from these horrible intensely white lights. I am supposing it is not just me who is suffering from these lights? Audis seem to be fitted with the bloody things as standard headlights.

 

[nitramtpr]

What was the reason for replacing them? Did you have problems with the old ones?

I just changed the links to the items on ebay, the original links didn't work any more, my DRLs and controller box are still working just fine and dandy :slayer: