Questions about Daytime Running Lamps DRL

S

SteveW

Active member
Nov 3, 2012
567
44
28
Greetings !!

I'm planning on installing some new LED headlights and they include "angel eyes" rings that function as daytime running lamps.

None of our current vehicles have DRLs so I'm questioning how they operate:

Are they on with ACC or on with engine running ??

Do they remain on with low beam headlights ?? High beam headlights ??

Are they on with parking lights ??

And can anyone suggest the appropriate circuit to tap into for proper operation ?? Preferably a circuit that's accessible in the engine compartment
rather than the fuse box behind the glove box... Perhaps the center post of the isolator ??

As always - thank you for all of the experience and wisdom shared here.

Steve W
1973 23'
Southern California
 
With body computers on most modern vehicles these days, most DRLs are controlled by them. Some DRLs run the headlights a lower voltages. Others run
separate lights. There are several other implementations. On my Colorado the DRLs are on only when the engine is running, the trans is not in park
and maybe neutral, and the headlights are off. On my Blazer and Jimmy, the DRLs go off when the turn signals are used. Both vehicles turn off the
DRLs when the headlights are on.

So you need to decide what you want to accomplish and figure out from there how to wire them. DRLs are normally lower wattage so heavy wire and
planning for the electrical load is probably unnecessary.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
My coach has DRL from a PO, its been a legal requirement on all new cars here in Canada since the early 90's.

Its not LED just the regular OEM incandescent, but it might help you. A cube relay is mounted on the aluminum wiring plate under the passenger side
hood.
-One side of the relay coil goes to the center of the isolator to provide power to the relay only when the engine is running.
-Other side of the relay coil goes to the power wire for the high-beam headlights. (this will provide the ground through the high-beam filament when
the high-beam is off)
-Common relay pole goes to battery positive post on the aluminum plate.
-Normally open pole connects to the low beam headlight power wire.

Operation:
-When the engine is started, 12V from the alternator terminal of the isolator is applied to the relay coil. The low current of the relay coil goes to
ground through the high-beam headlights filaments and pulls in the relay contacts. This now provides power to the low beam headlights for DRL.
-When you pull ON the headlights on low-beam, the relay contacts are simply in parallel with the headlight switch and the clearance and tail lights
come ON.
-When you switch on the high-beams, 12V is applied to the high-beam power wire. This puts 12V on both sides of the relay coil therefore 0V across the
coil so the relay contacts OPEN and the low-beams go OFF.

Hope this helps or gives you some ideas.

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
As an aside -- those vehicles that use the main lamps for DRLs are the main cause of the lamps being burned out at night when you actually need them.
Also they aren't $5 anymore like the old sealed beam where you got a fresh reflector and new real glass as well.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
I imported a '94 Caprice wagon from USA.
To pass inspection it had to have DRL's.
I took it to a gov't recommended shop and they installed the gizmo.
There is a wire wrapped around a spark plug wire that allows the lights to be on when the engine is running.
"Induction"?
What I don't like about DRL's is the fact that your dash lights may come on with them.
This gives the false impression that all your lights are on.
The tail lights are not on. This is not good in bad weather and at night.
I think that problem has been addressed with newer cars.
 
Drl's! More of that old "I'm from the government, and I'm here to protect
you from yourself". They need to stick to roads and schools, and bridges,
and power grids. What they do best, imho.
Jim Hupy

I imported a '94 Caprice wagon from USA.
To pass inspection it had to have DRL's.
I took it to a gov't recommended shop and they installed the gizmo.
There is a wire wrapped around a spark plug wire that allows the lights to
be on when the engine is running.
"Induction"?
What I don't like about DRL's is the fact that your dash lights may come on
with them.
This gives the false impression that all your lights are on.
The tail lights are not on. This is not good in bad weather and at night.
I think that problem has been addressed with newer cars.

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
DRLs were introduced while I was with an now gone OE. Part of it was the Canadian rule and part of it was the same lame issue we had with motorcycles
years ago.

The great joke to me was that this came to be after the change of headlights to QI (aka Quartz/Iodine aka Halogen). I knew these lamps well from my
theater work.
A known problem with incandescent lamps (and it has been know since Edison) is that the tungsten filament throws atoms onto the inside of the glass
envelope where they stick. One of the reasons that QIs stay bright is that they fix this. The fused quartz envelope runs too hot for the atoms to
stick and the iodine collects them and puts them back on the filament.

Problem: This only works when the lamp is at full power.
Guess what happens when you run them at less than full power..... (Hi John)

Setting up a performance, I would always badger the light guys I was training to run the lights at WOT during the preset to clean the bulbs.

I am going to put in a set, but I have not figured out yet how to reprogram the coach's body controller. ;)

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Done here, in lower slower Alabama, with DRL's, you just might see that car in the dark. Seems to be a major problem, along with turn signals
defective brake lights bald tires, etc. Sometimes, I miss the vehicle inspection routine in Virginia. At least, at one point in the year, someone
looked at these things.
Tm, MS II
--
1975 GMC Avion
KA4CSG
 
I imported a '94 Caprice wagon from USA.
To pass inspection it had to have DRL's.
I took it to a gov't recommended shop and they installed the gizmo.
There is a wire wrapped around a spark plug wire that allows the lights to be on when the engine is running.
"Induction"?
What I don't like about DRL's is the fact that your dash lights may come on with them.
This gives the false impression that all your lights are on.
The tail lights are not on. This is not good in bad weather and at night.
I think that problem has been addressed with newer cars.
===============
 
Most LED conversion kits come with instructions. Why not wait and see how they want you to wire them.
--
Patti & Jerry Burt
73 Gmc 26' Canyon Lands -
77 Palm Beach
Members: FMCA - GMCMI - GMCWS - Pacific Cruisers - 49ers
 
> Why go to all that bother? Power whatever you want for DLR via a simple key on relay. Bosch, Hella and lots of ebay sources sell small, linear
> led clusters that can stick to the top of one bar in your grill. They consume almost no power, don't bother on coming drivers, can be seen for
> miles, and are on whenever the key is. No need to tie into anything having to do with your OEM lights. KISS
>
> Jerry

Jerry,

The simple answer is that most of the LED assemblies that are suitable are so bright that they will wash out the facing driver's ability to see and
understand a front turn signal. This leaves two options in my way of thinking.
1 - Do a complex job of shutting down the DRL with the turn indicator operation. (Complex with reprogramming the body control module.
2 - Install a second turn indicator that is far enough removed so this is not an issue.

I'll let you know which I do.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
To turn off the LED when the turn signal flashes, connect the ground side of the LED to the floating (switching) ground side of each front side marker
light (separately). IIRC it is a blue wire.
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
That will also make the LED flash alternately :)
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
> To turn off the LED when the turn signal flashes, connect the ground side of the LED to the floating (switching) ground side of each front side
> marker light (separately). IIRC it is a blue wire.
> That will also make the LED flash alternately :)

Terry,

I thought about that for nearly 3 seconds.
That is just exactly what I don't want as the light I have are bright it would be as bad as the AH on the other side of the railroad tracks that does
not shut down his lights at night while you are both waiting for train to pass. This and about a thousand other courtesies seen to have been lost.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
The same module can also be used to turn a primitive side turn signal repeater (what I have on my UltraVan) into a marker light/turn signal (same
function as on the GMC)

> Daniel Stern Lighting makes a module for converting front turn signals into DRL/turn signals:
>
> http://dastern.torque.net/Mods/DRL/DRL1.html
>
> Safe travels,
> Owen
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Applied GMC
Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back