My Driving Lamp Project (pics)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (Daves_rusty_75)
Dave,
I asked for it so thanks for the reply! I would not expose myself to criticism needlessly. Besides there seems to be some interest in this thread. Many lurkers benefit also.
My Plan B is to take that red-hot-fused wire off the distributor feed (no harm done because of the scotch-lock) and run it back to the battery + terminal from the underhood switch-fused. I will have to do some rug-lifting but what the heck ;) . That will give a direct, uninterrupted 12 volts to the lamps. Or drop it down to the + on the starter. But I worry about that. But I sure do like those lamps. They give me visibility on the highway that I have wanted for sooooo longggg!
[Modified by paul79, 9:42 PM 9/3/2002]
I asked for it so thanks for the reply! I would not expose myself to criticism needlessly. Besides there seems to be some interest in this thread. Many lurkers benefit also.
My Plan B is to take that red-hot-fused wire off the distributor feed (no harm done because of the scotch-lock) and run it back to the battery + terminal from the underhood switch-fused. I will have to do some rug-lifting but what the heck ;) . That will give a direct, uninterrupted 12 volts to the lamps. Or drop it down to the + on the starter. But I worry about that. But I sure do like those lamps. They give me visibility on the highway that I have wanted for sooooo longggg!
[Modified by paul79, 9:42 PM 9/3/2002]
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
I installed C-4 driving lamps in my 1980 C-3. See Ghostrider pics in http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=378878
posting. They have turning lights and halogens wired to switched 12V circuit.
posting. They have turning lights and halogens wired to switched 12V circuit.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Kristiansand
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (1970 Stingray)
If you want an automatic system the easiest installation is to just run two wires of the alternator to a relay, one wire from the alternator output for power and another from the charging lamp output to control the relay.
Cant be much simpler than this.
Then your driving lights wont turn on before the motor has started and you have full battery power to the starter.
Cant be much simpler than this.
Then your driving lights wont turn on before the motor has started and you have full battery power to the starter.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,858
Likes: 0
From: A 12/8 man in a 4/4 world
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (1970 Stingray)
Paul,
great overall effect. except for the fine tuning a job well done. another project on my things to do list...(it seems the more i hang out here, the more projects get added to that list... hmmm. check book feel lighter too!)
Some critiques. Instead of electrical tape i would use heat shrink tubing. its a little more attractive and gives a better seal. id also look around for a more attractive light switch. on my wifes jeep here fog lamps have a real small push-button in a box switch. it quit a bit smaller than the switch you have.
[Modified by Got79Fever, 11:39 AM 9/4/2002]
great overall effect. except for the fine tuning a job well done. another project on my things to do list...(it seems the more i hang out here, the more projects get added to that list... hmmm. check book feel lighter too!)
Some critiques. Instead of electrical tape i would use heat shrink tubing. its a little more attractive and gives a better seal. id also look around for a more attractive light switch. on my wifes jeep here fog lamps have a real small push-button in a box switch. it quit a bit smaller than the switch you have.
[Modified by Got79Fever, 11:39 AM 9/4/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,242
Likes: 0
From: Lexington, North Carolina
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
Paul, Your installation looks great! I was thinking about this last night, and Daves_rusty_75 post about this too.
Dave said:
If I ever do this, I would use a variation of Daves idea.
I believe you can buy different styles of relays... A normally open relay (off) or a normally closed relay (on). Radio Shack would probably have these relays. I would use a normally closed relay. I would wire right from the alternator to the relay, then to the driving lights. Then use the low beam power to turn on the relay, which would open the switch for the driving lights. This way the driving lights would turn on when the car starts. The driving lights would work when the parking lights are on (Might be good if the headlights don't want to pop-up), turn off when the low beams are on.
Since the low beams stay on when the high beams are on, I don't know how to hook it up so that they will work with the high beams and not the low beams. :confused:
Dave said:
Throw the switch away (well, keep it for some other project). You can wire the relay in, so that the driving lights will automatically go out when the lights are on. Here's how to do it. Connect the red power wire to the alternator - as you planned. Connect the two Y wires to the lights as shown. Now for the changes: Connect the blue relay wire (GND) to a parking light power wire that gets 12v when the car lights are on. I believe this is a brown wire. Connect the yellow relay wire to a switched 12v power (comes on with key). You're done.
Here is how it works: You turn the key on and the relay coil is powered by the yellow wire at 12v. If the parking lights are off, then the GND side of the relay coil will conduct through the parking light bulbs, but not enough to turn them on. The relay will now be switched on and the driving lights will get power from the alternator - via the relay. NOW - turn the parking (or head) lights on. The headlight switch supplies 12v to the GND side of the relay coil - with 12v still applied to the power side of the relay coil. With 12-12= 0volts across the relay coil, the relay turns off, and the driving lights will be off.
Here is how it works: You turn the key on and the relay coil is powered by the yellow wire at 12v. If the parking lights are off, then the GND side of the relay coil will conduct through the parking light bulbs, but not enough to turn them on. The relay will now be switched on and the driving lights will get power from the alternator - via the relay. NOW - turn the parking (or head) lights on. The headlight switch supplies 12v to the GND side of the relay coil - with 12v still applied to the power side of the relay coil. With 12-12= 0volts across the relay coil, the relay turns off, and the driving lights will be off.
I believe you can buy different styles of relays... A normally open relay (off) or a normally closed relay (on). Radio Shack would probably have these relays. I would use a normally closed relay. I would wire right from the alternator to the relay, then to the driving lights. Then use the low beam power to turn on the relay, which would open the switch for the driving lights. This way the driving lights would turn on when the car starts. The driving lights would work when the parking lights are on (Might be good if the headlights don't want to pop-up), turn off when the low beams are on.
Since the low beams stay on when the high beams are on, I don't know how to hook it up so that they will work with the high beams and not the low beams. :confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 2
From: Katy TX
CI 3-4-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09-'12
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
Paul,
Awesome job, congratulations on your work. I actually had thought of putting lights back there when I was in HS, but never had the nerve to try it. Damn, that was 10 years ago! Anyway, it all looks great and you are truely an example I follow whenever I do anything on my 79. You have done a great job with your car. :cheers: :cool:
Awesome job, congratulations on your work. I actually had thought of putting lights back there when I was in HS, but never had the nerve to try it. Damn, that was 10 years ago! Anyway, it all looks great and you are truely an example I follow whenever I do anything on my 79. You have done a great job with your car. :cheers: :cool:
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
I realize people are getting tired of this thread so I will close it off with my final configuration....hopefully ;) .
I heeded the advice on not connecting to battery power at the distributor. Possible damage to the ignition module. Made a lot of sense! The scotchlock is gone. So now I must tap the battery directly from the underdash switch. But a lot of wiring through the rugs to the back. Why not tap battery power at the fusebox? So I looked in my Service Manual for an ignition-switched circuit that was not being used. And independent from all other accessories/circuits. Found one. You see it below: the auxiliary cooling fan. This is an option I do not have. Tested that port on the fusebox and it was live and switched by ignition.
So I tapped it! Driving lamps now work fine on an independent, ignition-switched circuit. Many thanks to all for advice and your patience! So many useful tips....What a learning experience! And the underhood switch is tacky so I will look for a replacement.
[Modified by paul79, 6:48 PM 9/4/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 8:42 PM 9/4/2002]
I heeded the advice on not connecting to battery power at the distributor. Possible damage to the ignition module. Made a lot of sense! The scotchlock is gone. So now I must tap the battery directly from the underdash switch. But a lot of wiring through the rugs to the back. Why not tap battery power at the fusebox? So I looked in my Service Manual for an ignition-switched circuit that was not being used. And independent from all other accessories/circuits. Found one. You see it below: the auxiliary cooling fan. This is an option I do not have. Tested that port on the fusebox and it was live and switched by ignition.
So I tapped it! Driving lamps now work fine on an independent, ignition-switched circuit. Many thanks to all for advice and your patience! So many useful tips....What a learning experience! And the underhood switch is tacky so I will look for a replacement.
[Modified by paul79, 6:48 PM 9/4/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 8:42 PM 9/4/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 0
From: GA
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
I don't think anyones tired of it. I think it great that your updating it as you go along. One of the most informative threads yet as far as I'm concerned. Great job. :cheers:
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (Armstrong)
Thank you! I have learned a lot from Forum members. And that is what the Forum is all about. I was pleased to share my neophyte experiment. And nothing went up in smoke, thank goodness. Oncoming cars will now see me in the daytime (I started out with a DRL post) and that is what motivated me at the origin. I am happy with the outcome. My thanks to ALL!!
They light up the night as well. Pretty impressive for such small lamps. But they are too bright for use after dark. So they are DRLs.
[Modified by paul79, 9:48 PM 9/4/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 10:14 PM 9/4/2002]
They light up the night as well. Pretty impressive for such small lamps. But they are too bright for use after dark. So they are DRLs.
[Modified by paul79, 9:48 PM 9/4/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 10:14 PM 9/4/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
Good job Paul - just what you wanted - and a GREAT post - you usually
don't see this many hits on a tech topic.
John is right - a normally open relay would be the best option for what I described, but I didn't want to send you out shopping.
:seeya
don't see this many hits on a tech topic.
John is right - a normally open relay would be the best option for what I described, but I didn't want to send you out shopping.
:seeya
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (Daves_rusty_75)
Dave,
I really appreciated your advice. Thanks! In the end I went with the simple circuit seen below. The Hella plastic switch was discarded today and a robust 20-amp toggle switch was placed under the dash where it is hardly noticed. I am finished fooling about. Time now to drive. Weekend looks like very nice sunny and mild weather. Not too many left before winter :( .
I really appreciated your advice. Thanks! In the end I went with the simple circuit seen below. The Hella plastic switch was discarded today and a robust 20-amp toggle switch was placed under the dash where it is hardly noticed. I am finished fooling about. Time now to drive. Weekend looks like very nice sunny and mild weather. Not too many left before winter :( .
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: My Driving Lamp Project (paul79)
I have put on about 50 miles with these new driving lamps and no problems! So that circuit works. I truly feel more comfortable with the feeling that people can more readily see me coming with that low C3 profile. And that is why I started this thread and my project. Now finished. Many thanks.
[Modified by paul79, 10:18 PM 9/7/2002]
[Modified by paul79, 10:18 PM 9/7/2002]
