Re-wiring fogs as DRL's?

[spaber05]

I know there are probably a number of you out there that have done this, but I can't seem to find a DIY write up. I'm thinking of doing a quad projector set up and would like to keep my DRL's so help on this would be much appreciated. Vehicle is an '06 LC.

 

[yotasavg]

Glad you asked this, I'm curious as well as I've been considering moving my DRLs to the LEDs in my Depo fog lights. I was considering disabling the stock DRLs, and wiring the LEDs to ignition with a switch. Not being very experienced in this stuff, I'd love to hear others' input.

 

[RobRed]

As you may or may not know the DRL is simply the high beam lamps running at diminished power...

Simple approach: So to avoid running your second projectors at half power (or moving to other lamps) you will need to actually defeat the DRL circuit. You'll then need to create a circuit to power up your fogs.

There is no write up that I've seen to do the mod you want - Here are two links that may provide some insights in related areas

Adding a Switch to Control Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Mod

Fog Light Switch Rewire for High Beam Use

 

[spaber05]

As you may or may not know the DRL is simply the high beam lamps running at diminished power...

Simple approach: So to avoid running your second projectors at half power (or moving to other lamps) you will need to actually defeat the DRL circuit. You'll then need to create a circuit to power up your fogs.

There is no write up that I've seen to do the mod you want - Here are two links that may provide some insights in related areas

Adding a Switch to Control Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Mod

Fog Light Switch Rewire for High Beam Use

Yeah I realize that the DRL's are just the high's at lower power, but didn't realize how much that may complicate things. I did read that running the 2nd set of projectors with the DRL's still running would kill the lights pretty quickly, hence my interest in moving the DRL's elsewhere.

Those links may prove to be helpful so I'll see what I can find there. If there's one thing I'm not entirely comfortable tackling on my own, it's any electrical related items so anything short of a step-by-step DIY and I may be leaving this to the professionals.

Thanks for the input, hoping others who have done this before will chime in too.

 

[yotasavg]

I did the fogs on with brights mod a while back, and I highly recommend that no matter what you end up doing with DRLs @spaber05. Also thank you to @RobRed for all the helpful resources you've put out for us all.

 

[spaber05]

I did the fogs on with brights mod a while back, and I highly recommend that no matter what you end up doing with DRLs @spaber05. Also thank you to @RobRed for all the helpful resources you've put out for us all.

Yeah I read up on that and can definitely see the benefits. I realize that I'm looking for a really specific set of instructions here, but I imagine that there have to be guys that have done retrofits and wanted to keep their some form of DRL's without adding LED strip or something to the headlights themselves.

Would there be an easy way to just give the fogs constant power whenever the truck is on? Would the aforementioned DRL switch mod allow me to do this provided I just left the switch in the "on" position?

 

[yotasavg]

I don't believe that would do it, because that would keep the high beams running at low power. Essentially I think we'd both need to do the DRL disable mod and keep it in in the off position, or just not connected really if you're never going to run them. In my first post I mentioned just wiring the fogs to a switched ignition circuit. If you look online for DRL kits you'll notice they are all just lights, a switch, a relay, and tapped to switched power (some directly to battery). I don't see the need for the switch, if you want them always on (as in stock, but in a new location), so switched with ignition makes sense to me. I'm no expert on electrical, so I'd love to be told why this is a bad plan, if indeed I'm overlooking something.

 

[PADDO]

Is turning off the the DRLs via techstream an option in an 06 LC? It is for an 03 LX. If so then I'd look at turning off the DRL feature and then you could rewire your fogs to be powered through a relay controlled by an IG source with a series switch if you wanted to turn them off. If it's possible to disable the DRL feature via techstream in an 06 LC then you don't have to worry about hacking your wiring very much at all and the 1/2 voltage DRL to high beam lamps issue goes away.

 

[spaber05]

Is turning off the the DRLs via techstream an option in an 06 LC? It is for an 03 LX. If so then I'd look at turning off the DRL feature and then you could rewire your fogs to be powered through a relay controlled by an IG source with a series switch if you wanted to turn them off. If it's possible to disable the DRL feature via techstream in an 06 LC then you don't have to worry about hacking your wiring very much at all and the 1/2 voltage DRL to high beam lamps issue goes away.

A good question, and one that I am not qualified to answer! I've resigned myself to the fact that I will in fact be disabling the DRL's and essentially creating my own with the fogs. Just figuring out how to do that is what is getting to me.

 

[yotasavg]

^ lot's of basic wiring diagrams out there if you do a google search. Should be very simple, or you could even order a $15 kit off ebay and use that. I may go that route myself. They come with the relays and everything else you'd need. Like this one: Universal Car Fog Work Light DRL Dual DT5 Wiring Loom Harness Relay Switch Kit

 

[RobRed]

Is turning off the the DRLs via techstream an option in an 06 LC? It is for an 03 LX...

Good point... If you just need to disable for HID retrofit then that's a great alternate.