LED Daytime Running Lights in JDM fogs

Animal Mother · Post by **Animal Mother** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:14 pm

After buying some nice cheap JDM fogs for my 5G I thought I'd do something a little different that just fit them as standard fogs. I already have Nightbreakers fitted so don't really need additional lights, also, I didn't want to mess about with miles of wiring and another switch in the cabin. So, I've decided to make the JDM fogs into Daytime Running Lights (DRLs).

I've split the lenses from the light bodies and cleaned the lenses up with some cutting compound. I'm currently cutting some black Correx sheet to fit into the lenses as I want to retain, but not use, the reflectors, but I want a black background to the DRLs.

I've some LED strips that I'm going to use as the lights but I'm going to double them up.

I'll take some progress photos if anyone is interested.

Post by **cebul** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:20 pm

I'm intereted mate, so get some photos and put them here

littlefeller · Post by **littlefeller** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:57 pm

those are smd led, best bet is 3w chips( though 3w led are actually about 2w in reality) , these are single diodes @ 3watts, unless you plan on using the strips like audi lights (like eye brows).

Supermarine Blues · Post by **Supermarine Blues** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:50 pm

I believe the fogs may be too close to the indicators to make DRLs legal. Unless you wire them to cut out when indicating...

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:30 pm

Supermarine Blues wrote:I believe the fogs may be too close to the indicators to make DRLs legal. Unless you wire them to cut out when indicating...

This^ plus our cars are old. They just don't suit old cars.

chrismc · Post by **chrismc** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:25 pm

RattyMcClelland wrote:
Supermarine Blues wrote:I believe the fogs may be too close to the indicators to make DRLs legal. Unless you wire them to cut out when indicating...
This^ plus our cars are old. They just don't suit old cars.

+1. 100% agree.

(IMO)- DRL's are just a modern fad- an attempt by manufacturers to cash-in & make an ultra-trendy & chic lighting setup to suit the front-fog brigade....

No time for them personally

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:04 pm

DRL are amazing and serve a great safety purpose and there is always a test on the road at dusk with out lights on.
But not on old cars.

littlefeller · Post by **littlefeller** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 11:04 pm

i think in the end led will replace all bulbs

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:55 pm

There's no question about that.

JayJay · Post by **JayJay** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:17 pm

Aren't new cars legally required to have running lights now? Something like that. To combat the idiots who don't put their damn lights on as it gets dark (TWO BLACK CARS drove past me, at night, without their lights on. A third almost ran over my girlfriend).

*edit* and I hope the main point of interest in this story isn't that I have a girlfriend