LEDs and DRL

[fasteddie2015]

15 LC. Changed my high beams to LED with anti-flicker modules (diode dynamics). Happy with the lights. Bright and great color. A little more spill off to the side lighting up the signs than I'd like but thats ok.

So here's the issue. Probably happens with all LEDs. When I turn on DRL, I get high beams full blast. Is there a way to get the LEDs dimmed in DRL mode? Anyone know if LC DRL is PWM or voltage drop? I'm guessing voltage drop based on the LED function.

I asked diode dynamics and here's what they said:

The SL1 will still be the same cool white color when functioning as a DRL. I would verify that your DRLs function on a PWM (Pulse with Modulation) signal, as opposed to a voltage drop. Our SL1 will only dim properly on a PWM signal.

 

[Cruisin911]

100% sure your high beams are a voltage drop scenario. They were designed to work with halogen bulbs that will still operate at the lower voltage but at a reduced brightness as to not blind anyone. Unfortunately, LEDs in the high beams on this vehicle are a poor choice if you decide to use them as DRLs.

 

[cboyd]

You can always disable DRL in tech stream or Carista

 

[GoISU]

I was able to disable my DRL’s from the infotainment system. I run my park light LED’s and Rigid DOT fogs wired to the parking lights. I’d be interested in LED high beams if they were an upgrade. The halogen high beams do a pretty good job regardless if they look a little wonky compared to the rest of my lighting.

 

[Cruisin911]

Personally, I like the warm color of the DRL halogens. Probably why they're the only non-upgraded lights on my LC.

 

[fasteddie2015]

I know I can disable, but I want to get it working. Retired engineer with time on my hands.

So the LC DRL works by voltage drop. I know from some recent experience that there are LEDs with minimum voltages near 12v and some that light up lower. I typically test LEDs with a 9v battery. Recently a dome light from Baja Designs wouldnt light up below 12V and they said thats normal. So, if someone could come up with a 2 led tower and either by nature of the LED or by a switching circuit, have one react to the DRL voltage and the other or both react to the full 12v.

Anyone know what the DRL voltage is?

Time to dig deeper into LEDs I guess.

 

[Cruisin911]

So, the plan is to get an LED that will work at the lower voltage? I don't think they make headlight LEDs that are "dimmable." By nature they're off or on. So, getting an LED to operate at a lower voltage will only allow it to ignite at that lower voltage, its output will not be lower and you'll be in the same situation. This is a binary situation with these bulbs, on or off. Running around with LEDs in the high beams on full brightness will only blind everyone else....

 

[fasteddie2015]

I hear what you’re saying but LEDs come in different colors and brightness. Is your license plate light dimmer than your high beams? If one could be added, dimmer and lower voltage required, that would fire at the lower voltage it might work. Think of led flashlights. 3v, 6v? Never seen a 12v flashlight. That battery would be a bitch to carry.

And I turned off the drls as soon as I switched to LEDs. I don’t like getting blinded and would never do that to anyone else.

 

[Markuson]

So, the plan is to get an LED that will work at the lower voltage? I don't think they make headlight LEDs that are "dimmable." By nature they're off or on. So, getting an LED to operate at a lower voltage will only allow it to ignite at that lower voltage, its output will not be lower and you'll be in the same situation. This is a binary situation with these bulbs, on or off. Running around with LEDs in the high beams on full brightness will only blind everyone else....

My IPF LED high beams work very well as DRLs...no flicker after more than 2 years.
No problem handling the reduced current.

But I’m on an 08...

 

[Cruisin911]

I hear what you’re saying but LEDs come in different colors and brightness. Is your license plate light dimmer than your high beams? If one could be added, dimmer and lower voltage required, that would fire at the lower voltage it might work. Think of led flashlights. 3v, 6v? Never seen a 12v flashlight. That battery would be a bitch to carry.

And I turned off the drls as soon as I switched to LEDs. I don’t like getting blinded and would never do that to anyone else.

My IPF LED high beams work very well as DRLs...no flicker after more than 2 years.
No problem handling the reduced current.

But I’m on an 08...

I think you guys are kind of missing the point here. Of course I'm aware that there are different sizes and brightness. If you put a "lower voltage/lower output" bulb into the high beams such that you can use them as DRLs and not blind everyone during the day, those same bulbs will not light up brighter when you engage the high beams. Google doesn't show any such thing as a dimmable headlight LED bulb.

Headlight bulbs are binary in their operation. Off or on. You will not be able to run them as dim DRLs then expect them to be full brightness upon high beam engagement. You get on or off, brightness determined by the bulb intensity. Halogen bulbs are dimmable by their very design nature. You would need a dual stage LED and I can't seem to find a single one in a 9005 configuration that is LED. Now, this one has a high/low function but not sure if the low beam will be dim enough for a DRL application aimed in a high beam orientation.:
Amazon product ASIN B077P6H1X9
For what its worth, I've run LEDs in both low and high beams in this truck and the technology simply isn't there yet in this package. The HiD lights in the low beams are really your best bet and the high beams in LED would work, but not as a DRL. I rewired my LED strip at the bottom of my lights to work independent of the switch position and use those as DRLs. The LED bulbs all have fans or a heat sink on the back of them that just don't work well enough to be reliable for me.

 

[fasteddie2015]

I understand the limitation. What I had in mind was 2 LEDs, one dim that would fire at a lower voltage and one that would fire at hi beam voltage. My gs400 had 2 bulbs in the same housing. 1 for drl and one for high beam. Kind of like that but on one tower/stalk. I’m probably content to keep the drl shut off and wait until someone develops a solution.

I am curious about how u re-wired and what year lc you have.

 

[Cruisin911]

Not retired quite yet. Although I did retire from the Navy..... My LC is a 2011 but I upgraded the headlights and harness to 2013-2015.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Has anyone figured out what the DRL voltage is on a 2013-2015 LC, or is it Pulse Width Modulation?

There are two bulb type options from VLED for High Beam/DRL.

One for voltage drop applications: THESE DO NOT WORK FOR TOYOTAS THAT EMPLOY A VOLTAGE DROP

MICRO EXTREME HIGH BEAM LOW VOLTAGE DRL 9005 HB3

Moderate Output 200LM Low - 4500LM High (per bulb) Indexing LED direction is infinitely adjustable for optimal output in a variety of housings Color Temp Available in 5000K or 6000K color temperature Housing Type OK for use in all types of housings Molded Plug Fits perfectly into factory...

www.vleds.com

And one for PWM applications:

MICRO EXTREME 9005 HB3

Highest Output Available 4500LM actual output (per bulb) 30% increase from Evolution Indexing LED direction is adjustable for optimal output in a variety of housings Color Temp Available in 5000K or 6000K color temperature Housing Type Projector or reflector high beam Molded Plug Fits...

www.vleds.com

 

[lx200inAR]

Has anyone figured out what the DRL voltage is on a 2013-2015 LC, or is it Pulse Width Modulation?

There are two bulb type options from VLED for High Beam/DRL.

One for voltage drop applications:

MICRO EXTREME HIGH BEAM LOW VOLTAGE DRL 9005 HB3

Moderate Output 200LM Low - 4500LM High (per bulb) Indexing LED direction is infinitely adjustable for optimal output in a variety of housings Color Temp Available in 5000K or 6000K color temperature Housing Type OK for use in all types of housings Molded Plug Fits perfectly into factory...

www.vleds.com

And one for PWD applications:

MICRO EXTREME 9005 HB3

Highest Output Available 4500LM actual output (per bulb) 30% increase from Evolution Indexing LED direction is adjustable for optimal output in a variety of housings Color Temp Available in 5000K or 6000K color temperature Housing Type Projector or reflector high beam Molded Plug Fits...

www.vleds.com

On the 2008-2011 LX it's definitely voltage. Affected by adding a resistor and putting the high beams into series instead of parallel.

The initial posts in this thread seems to suggest that this holds true for the 2013-2015 LCs. I've not heard of any of the DRLs (where the high beam is the DRL) on a 200 not being voltage drop.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Ok, just ordered High Beams (Voltage Drop), Low Beams and Fogs all in matching 5000k color temps from VLED. This would be the first time that the color temp for all three matches on my truck, and hopefully the light production is improved across the board. Will update when I have them installed. Thank you to all the Mud members that continue to contribute to the community and to ensuring my wallet doesn't get too heavy. Hopefully paying a premium for good LEDs is worth it.

 

[gaijin]

Ok, just ordered High Beams (Voltage Drop), Low Beams and Fogs all in matching 5000k color temps from VLED. This would be the first time that the color temp for all three matches on my truck, and hopefully the light production is improved across the board. Will update when I have them installed. Thank you to all the Mud members that continue to contribute to the community and to ensuring my wallet doesn't get too heavy. Hopefully paying a premium for good LEDs is worth it.


View attachment 2867088

Very interested in how the low beams in particular turn out. Thanks for keeping us posted!

 

[Itsky]

Very interested in how the low beams in particular turn out. Thanks for keeping us posted!

Same. Interested in this result!

 

[Markuson]

My IPF LED high beams work very well as DRLs...no flicker after more than 2 years.
No problem handling the reduced current.

But I’m on an 08...

Just to update…
I’m at nearly 5 years now and my IPFs are still flawless, including DRL using high beams at low power…zero flicker.

Highly recommend.

 

[cosport]

Just to update…
I’m at nearly 5 years now and my IPFs are still flawless, including DRL using high beams at low power…zero flicker.

Highly recommend.

Do you have the part number? There are a number of different IPF 9005 LEDs that come up when searched.

 

[Markuson]

Do you have the part number? There are a number of different IPF 9005 LEDs that come up when searched.

Its been quite a while.
I’ll try to find the order…