Is it possible to fit a pair of Daytime running lights that are not connected to the ignition but instead are switched on and off when needed by the driver.
I'm curious hence the question. I've a spare space under the DSC push button switch to place another that I could use to switch the DRL's on and off at will.
How would you wire it up?

Here's my reasoning for a 'manual overide'
Sometimes sidelights are just not bright enough and dipped headlamps are too bright but DRL's would be just right.
However there are occassions when fulltime DRL's are not needed.
I as the driver would like to choose when I need to use them.

Thanks for your thoughts ...

Technically I don't see any reason why not. You can just do it the old fashioned way, direct connection to a fuse with sufficient capacity of a spare fuse, switch to LED DRLs. Or direct from the plus pole, fused wire and then the rest.

The question is where do you want to put them and what type of lights do you want.

There are some people that fitted them on here, rings around headlights (I did, they unfortunately seem to be duff, I paired them onto the side lights that are still working, some of the other members got them to work fine) or "straight" type DRLs in various grill parts. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

No reason at all you couldn't do what you want.
You need a piggy-back connector with 5A fuse plugged into the passenger side fuse board, either into a permanently live fuse position or an ignition controlled fuse position. I'd recommend the latter.
Run a 5A cable from the piggy-back connector to your on-off switch and then a 5A cable from the switch out thro the bulkhead to the front of the car to a position behind the front grille.
Run a 5A cable from that cable to each led DRL and then a 5A cable from each DRL to a suitable earth point.
You have manually controlled DRL's.

the hardest bit is to find a route for the cable from the interior to the lights outside.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Have you upgraded your sidelights to LED's yet? That really makes a big difference, even in the daytime they are nice and white. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Quick replies as usual!
I've already got LED sidelights which are a dissapointment. However I have a new pair to fit that have been recommended by others on the forum. I'll see what they are like but I am seriously looking at the DRL's as well.
If I do fit the 'manual' DRL's they will be horizontal and going in each of what I can only describe as the small black coloured grilles situated on the lower offside and nearside of the front bumper.
I'll update the thread when I fit the new sidelights, and I'll update it further if I fit DRL's.

(The new sidelight bulbs wont be fitted until the middle of next week when the recurring bonnet opening problem I have is fixed)

Thanks for the info on how to wire the DRL's.

What about....... Linking the DRL's so they switch on with the sidelights but switch off when main lights are switched on?
Good DRL's have a sense wire that switch off the lights when main lights come on. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Do you really want switchable DRL's or are you just looking for something to switch so that you can fill the empty space ?

DRL's should come on with the ignition and go off as soon as you switch the lights on.

I'm struggling to think of a situation where DRL's are 'not needed' if you've got them fitted......

Your DRL's have to dip/dim when the headlights come on. MOT man might not like them being user switchable, although this would be no different to "driving lamps" I guess.

Are you not tempted to replace the fog light bulbs and turn them into DRL's, or you could just miss out the DRL controller and use the fog light switch with suitable LED bulbs ? Depending on the bulbs you get you might need resistors to prevent messages.

Route through the firewall/bulkhead from engine bay to cabin is behind the battery or similar place on the right hand side .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Joe90 Technically, You cannot use the foglamps as DRL's

Foglamps are still foglamps even if you change the bulbs...

Craig, its not a legal requirement to have front fogs so converting them to drl's is ok.. obviously you have to remove the high power 55 watt halogen bulbs and replace with low power smd/led's.

i ran mine like that for nearly two years and it passed mot's and i never had problems with the law.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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You can get the LED rings for the foglamps and use the rings as DRL's while retaining the foglamp functionality. There is a thread here on the forum about how to.

Although I don't see a reason to actively switch DRL's on/off other than with running engine, it is doable as described. Unless of course you're a PI and want to do covert operations in which case a FFRR is not the best cover I think  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

like these Eugene,





http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160993202842?ssP...1438.l2648

i've just oredered a couple of these to experiment with, only £3.53 delivered. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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I tend to agree with Craig on this, if you simply remove the existing fog lamp bulbs and replace with leds the lamp fitting is still a foglamp as prescribed by the car manufacturer. You cannot imo simply call it a DRL.
After market DRL's are not testable items under the MOT as are front fog lights for that matter. No problem there.
The problem with using fog lights, even with different bulbs fitted, as DRL's, is plod. They used to be very hot on people with fog lights on during the day when it was un-necessary, whether this is still the case with the advent of DRL's I'm not sure.
The only "safe" way to use a foglight fitting as a DRL is to fit an additional bulb into the fitting to use as a DRL whilst still retaining the original fog light bulb.
At least then you can demonstrate if required that you don't have your foglights on in broad daylight. Hence the fitting of supplementary led halo's etc.

Exactly my point sir... Stan, you can remove the lamps and replace them with a DRL lamp

But simply changing bulb means its still the manufactured "fog lamp" with a different bulb...