What do daytime running lights look like? Daytime running lights (light-emitting diode, led), do-it-yourself installation

Relatively recently, amendments were added to the rules of the road, among which there is also a mandatory ride with the lights on in the daytime. Failure to comply with this paragraph will result in a fine of 500 rubles. And for this, even its own equipment is provided - daytime running lights, they are DRLs. But not all cars from the factory are equipped with such lighting devices, although automakers are increasingly equipping their cars with them.

There is no strict requirement in the rules that only DRLs should be used for daytime driving. For this, almost any car lighting fixtures are suitable for this. IN different countries use high or low beam headlights, turn signals operating in constant glow mode, parking lights.

But still, the most optimal is the use of DRL as a designation of a car for oncoming traffic when driving during the day.

Often, daytime running lights are confused with position lights, but this is wrong. The brightness of the parking lights is very weak, since they are designed to indicate the car in the dark. If you use them during the day, then in bright sunlight, the glow of the marker lamps is practically invisible.

Therefore, headlights are more suitable for this, but here another problem arises. The resource of optics is not eternal, and the constant use of low and high beam headlights will eventually lead to burnout of the lamps, as well as burnout of the reflectors. The cost of optics can be significant and the need for periodic replacement of damaged headlight elements will be quite costly.

Also, the use of high beams can play a negative role. The brightness of the lamps in this mode is strong, so there is a possibility of blinding drivers of oncoming vehicles, especially in cloudy weather.

Therefore, the use of dipped headlights is considered more optimal. But it is worth noting that the energy consumption of lamps is significant, which in turn affects. This should also include such a design feature that when the headlights are turned on, the parking lights and the backlight of the dashboard light up, and this, in fact, is not necessary in daylight conditions.

Another disadvantage of using headlights as a sign of a moving car is that they are turned on manually. And this means that the driver can simply forget to turn off the headlights when parking the car, and if it is long in time, then the side lights are on.

Roughly the same applies to . They consume a large amount of energy, and the constituent elements of these lighting devices gradually wear out. The only thing is that after the engine stops, the fog lights also go out and the battery will not be discharged.

There is no need to talk about turn signals operating in the constant glow mode. Using them as DRLs can confuse drivers and cause accidents.

Daytime running lights and their advantages

Video: Daytime running lights and how to connect them

The use of DRL solves all problems. LEDs are used in their design, so the energy consumption of such lights is negligible and they do not affect the fuel consumption of the power plant.

1. Such lighting equipment shines much brighter than parking lights, and their light is visible even in sunlight, that is, the car will in any case be visible to drivers of oncoming cars, but it will not blind them.
2. The DRL is powered from the ignition switch, so they will burn while the power plant is running. When the engine is stopped and the ignition is turned off, the running lights will turn off.
3. Some versions of daytime running lights have a function to turn off or dim the glow when the dipped headlights are turned on.
4. Also, daytime running lights perform a decorative function. For cars that provide for the installation of such lighting equipment, they are often mounted in headlights for styling.

They also look good when installed in special niches in the bumper. Here are just seats for DRLs in modern cars that provide for the installation of such equipment, but it is not included in the package. As for older cars, the owners will have to make slots in order to perform the installation.

DRLs are produced in a variety of types:

• round;
• swept;
• in the form of stripes;
• L-braces;
• a set of separate LEDs (they are installed several in a row);

Some craftsmen even stick LED strips on the bumper. There are combined DRLs, in which LEDs are installed in two rows, and lamps are installed in one of them orange color. This allows you to use such a lighting device also additionally as turn signal repeaters. In general, you can pick up daytime running lights for almost any car.

Features of installation, selection, connection

Video: How to install daytime running lights yourself simply and ingeniously

If the equipment of the car does not provide for daytime lights, but there is a seat for them, then it will not be difficult to install the equipment, the main thing is to choose them correctly in shape and size. In such cars, the manufacturer took into account the correct location of the instruments.

As for cars that do not have niches for DRLs, the driver still needs to choose the right place for installing the equipment.

Scheme of installation of daytime running lights

So, according to the standard, daytime running lights should not be located below 25 cm from the ground and above 1.5 m. As for the width, the distance between the inner edges of the lights should be at least 60 cm (40 cm is allowed for vehicles whose width is less than 130 cm). At the same time, the distance from the edge of the car to the outer edges of the DRL should not exceed 40 cm.

The car accessories market offers a large number of daytime running lights of different price categories. At the same time, cheap Chinese products do not always fully fulfill their functions. Therefore, when purchasing DRL, you should take into account some of the nuances:

1. High-quality flashlights have reflectors in their design, while cheap ones do not always have them. DRLs that do not have reflectors do not shine strongly enough, and in terms of brightness, such lights approach the side lights, that is, during the day they will be barely noticeable.
2. The kit must include a relay for connection. If it is not there, then you will have to connect them directly to the lock and it will not be possible to organize additional modes of operation of the DRL.
3. The build quality of inexpensive flashlights leaves much to be desired. Often cheap products break or crumble after six months of use.
4. In good lanterns, installation is carried out using fasteners, while cheap ones often sit on double tape, so it is highly likely that DRLs will simply disappear at the races.

Connecting daytime running lights is easy. In the kit there is always an instruction with a diagram on how to connect everything correctly. Most often, the relay that comes with the kit has 4 outputs, each of which needs to be connected to its own wire.

Video: A simple way to connect DRL

In four-contact relays, one of the outputs is designed to connect the lamps themselves. The second is needed to power the DRL from the ignition switch. The headlight switch is connected to the third output (due to this, the lights will reduce the brightness of the glow or go out when the dipped beam is turned on). And the fourth output is for ground connection.

Quite a common situation - summer, sunny afternoon, deserted road. Everything around glares, bright flashes appear either on the right or on the left. And suddenly a car rushes past you with a roar, forcing you to shudder nervously. Where did he come from, because the road was empty? And everything is very simple, glare and reflected light mask and hide any object, contributing to the emergence of a dangerous situation similar to the one described. To avoid this, traffic rules oblige drivers to use daytime running lights (abbreviated DRL), or as they are also called, daytime running lights.

About running lights for cars

Their main purpose is to indicate the position of the car during daylight hours on the road. In other words, they can be attributed to passive safety equipment, they, showing the location of the car, reduce the likelihood of an accident. This is a fairly general description of the purpose of DRLs, and what they are allows you to understand the photo

In accordance with the above general description, the purpose of such lighting devices, as they can be used:

• headlights on while driving (low beam);
• switched on (with reduced supply voltage or reduced radiation intensity) high beam headlights;
• fog lights included in the daytime;
• special daylight emitters located in front in accordance with approved rules and emitting a luminous flux of acceptable intensity.

Location rules, more information

Most often, car drivers who do not have standard daytime running lights installed have to turn on the headlights while driving (dipped beam) to comply with the traffic rules. In our country, this is allowed, although in some states it is prohibited. However, more convenient and profitable are specially made, based on led devices (light-emitting diodes).

LED running lights, in comparison with the use of dipped beam for these purposes, provide:

1. increased safety, better indicating the position of the car on the road, thanks to increased brightness;
2. reduction in fuel consumption, because the electricity consumption of led appliances is less than that of traditional incandescent lamps, which are installed in low beam headlights. Such DRLs have a lower load on the generator, and, accordingly, on the engine, saving fuel;
3. extended lifespan of your car lighting. In cases where led devices are used, turning on the head light will have to be done less frequently, which will ensure the safety of the lamps;
4. ease of use. Special LED DRLs turn on when the engine is started, and go out when it is turned off. Thus, there is no need to control whether the headlights are off or not when the car is parked overnight.

It is worth noting that daytime running lights are placed not in an arbitrarily chosen place, but in accordance with existing regulatory documents, as shown in the photo below

What to look for when choosing led

A large number of vehicles in use are not equipped with daytime running lights, and their drivers have to constantly turn on the headlights. However, if you wish, you can install running lights with your own hands. This work is being done by several different ways- buy ready-made kits or assemble from commercially available parts.

Various options for how to install navigation lights will be discussed later, but now it is worth paying attention to the criteria that should be followed when choosing led-based devices.

Diode running lights, their installation on their own

As already noted, the installation of navigation lights is quite possible to do it yourself. There are several mandatory requirements that must be followed when performing similar work everything else is down to personal choice. There should be two led running lights on the car, they must be located on the car in front, and their location must be carried out in accordance with applicable regulations (these placement requirements are shown in the photo above).

An important question is how to connect daytime running lights to the car's on-board network. This can be done quite arbitrarily, for example, according to the scheme shown in the photo.

It is only necessary to take into account that they should automatically turn on when the engine is started, and go out when the main light is turned on.

One of the convenient and simple options how to install the daytime running lights yourself is to purchase ready set such as the one shown in the photo. Of course, such a set must be selected based on the intended location for future installation.

An additional bonus in such sets may be the presence of a mode when they work like strobe lights. It should be noted that led strobe lights are very bright and their flashing is noticeable in almost any conditions. This will definitely draw attention to your car, and will allow drivers of other vehicles to adjust their actions. Stroboscopes can also be used in cases where it is necessary to demand to give way to a slower car.

Thus, in such LED sets, daytime running lights, which also act as strobe lights, will allow you to simply equip your car with the desired accessory. True, the strobe lights resemble the signals of special services cars, but the use of this mode will be based solely on your decision.

However, sometimes the cost of such kits is quite high, and many people prefer to make daytime running lights with their own hands. And it is not always possible to find a set suitable for a particular car. There is nothing wrong with that, you can equip your car with daytime running lights, using, for example, fog lights.

Fog lights with daytime running lights

For the manufacture of such products, foglights are bought, then all the insides are removed from them, as a result, a set of parts shown in the photo is obtained.

A substrate for led devices is cut out of aluminum plates, its appearance is shown in the photo

The plates with the help of sealant are attached inside the case. LEDs are used flexible, on a tape. The required number of them is cut out of it and attached to the plates with a sealant. To reduce the brightness of the glow, the inner surface of the diffuser can be painted or glued with a tint film. When everything is dry, the finished product is assembled, and the parts are fastened together with a sealant, the product ready for installation is shown in the photo

Daytime running lights of this type are being installed in the places provided in the bumper for fog lights. The connection can be made quite arbitrarily, the most important thing is to withstand the requirements listed above.

Other DRL manufacturing options

Reduced variant self-manufacturing is not the only one. For example, for these purposes, not flexible LEDs on a tape, but ordinary, discrete devices can be used. Moreover, both in bulk and placed in special cases with a lens. True, in this case, they will have to make a board and carry out installation, but this allows you to get an option that you definitely can’t find on other cars.

Connecting such daylight devices can be done in various ways, much in this case will be determined by personal preferences. Indeed, in these products there are only actuating elements, but everyone can apply their own control schemes. The main thing is to fulfill the mandatory requirements, but otherwise modern electronics allows you to implement any flexible control algorithms, including strobe lights.

Conclusion

Daytime running lights are mandatory for use when the vehicle is moving. True, instead of them, the use of standard headlights is allowed, but the use of DRLs is more cost-effective and provides greater safety on the road. While many older machines don't have these features, they can be equipped with them at relatively low cost.

To begin with, let's figure out what is Daytime Running Lights. And so, DRLs are lighting devices designed to indicate a car during daylight hours. The difference between the parking lights is greater brightness in comparison with the latter, designed to indicate the car at night, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility.

What is dho?

To begin with, let's understand what are daytime running lights. So, DRL These are lighting devices designed to indicate a car during daylight hours. The difference between the parking lights is greater brightness in comparison with the latter, designed to indicate the car at night, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility.



Daytime running lights are low-beam headlights, and low-intensity low-beam headlights, used, for example, in Subaru, fog lights, external turn signals operating in constant mode (American system) and the most important - individual devices with a certain scheme for changing the beam of light and light intensity.
The latter are the safest with less power consumption and the absence of potential disadvantages. The beneficial result is obvious.

Dipped beam is on all cars, and in many countries this is the main running lights. On modern cars they turn on when the ignition is turned on, which blocks their shutdown forcibly. Many manufacturers make headlights with reduced voltage. Initially, such cars appeared in Germany in connection with a change in legislation. High-beam headlights with reduced brightness most satisfy the requirements of the standards, because they shine higher, and the brightness is lower, due to which they do not blind, and at the same time they are clearly visible.

In Russia, it is allowed to use fog lights to mark a car when it is prohibited in other countries.

Separate DRL are the best option that meets the requirements of the standards of many countries, including Russia. The location of the lights should fall within the range of 25-150 cm relative to the ground, and the distance between the two should be at least 60 cm, as well as from the edge of the car no further than 40 cm, while when the dipped beam is turned on, they should turn off. The advantage is lower power consumption compared to other proposed options. According to the results of numerous studies, experts have come to the general opinion that, statistically, the use of external navigation lights reduces the number of accidents, but it has a worse effect on the identification of pedestrians and motorcycles. Americans contradict all experts and have their own personal opinion on this matter. According to their statistics, the accident rate decreased only with light trucks and buses.