wiring l.e.d.s

[steviewitt]

Hi Guys/Gals. Just bought myself some L.E.D. running lights and want to wire them up so they light up when the ignition is on but I cant find a wiring diagram to locate the correct wire to connect to. Has anyone fitted L.E.D.s and if so, which way did you power them? I cant use the radio live as this is now connected to my leisure battery which would mean constant illumination without the ignition. I have a 99 V6 tin top. Any help much appreciated.

[Colin H F]

full wiring diagrams in the members section mate

[wonkanoby]

i think to be fully legal you neeed a switch like these

turns them of when you turn on lights

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksi ... h&_sacat=0

[Northern Bongolow]

bongo's will possibly be aged exempt from the new regs, and any extra lights fitted to non standard are exempt from the mot.

mine are just wired in behind the right knee fuse box to a ignition switched live.

[mikexgough]

DLR's either standard equipment or aftermarket should be e marked and should illuminate on with the ignition, then when side lights are switched they should either dip or extinguish.Also if not using the headlights for DLR then watch for the mounting requirements too

In reality you need a purpose built module to switch/dim/extinguish to stay legal, full on bright LED's with headlights on will get you a ticket.
I use a module from Germany which operates the dipped headlights only like Golf/Polo/T5's ..... then extinguishes them when you use your side/headlights from the switch. when you turn off the lights it defaults back to the dipped headlights only for DLR

The first cars to be factory fitted will be MOT'ed in 2014 and DLR will be in the MOT from then.
If the DLR's are not "armed" they will fail the MOT and I would hazard a guess they will bring after market fits in at the same time....
Many cars can and are being retro fitted to older models with either switches or relays/wiring links as certain markets require them and generic looms are fitted to vehicles these days .... hence my previous comment about future MOT changes......let's face it Ball Joint boots were not expected to be added....

[steviewitt]

Thank you for the replies, most helpful. I think I will have to invest in the modulator to keep legal then but at least it seems to come with full instructions on how to fit.

[Simon Jones]

DLR = Docklands Light Railway. DRL = Daytime Running Lights. Similar, yet different

[mikexgough]

Best staying legal.....

[paramatt]

I got a set of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-DAYTIME-R ... 232131f5fd

Been fitted a couple months now, no problems, just screwed into the bumper. 3 wires to fit, red to live (ignition), black to earth and white to headlamp, this switches them off automatically.
Cheap and cheerful too!!

Matt

[steviewitt]

My lights only came with 2 wires, I never had a white one. Ive ordered a modulator to resolve this but can you tell me where you connected to the live ignition wire?

[paramatt]

I struggled to find something at first, but managed to tap into the live feed on the wiper motor I think. I'm sure someone here will tell me if I'm wrong, but I just stripped the wire back and taped over with electrical tape!

[steviewitt]

Thanks Paramatt, that would probably be ok I reckon. i'll get onto it this weekend.

[David Edwards]

I too have sets of strip light led's bit they also only have two wires one red one white, I just want them on when the sidelights are on, is this hard to do folks bearing in mind I know very little re electrics.

[perros huevos]

heres regs on fitting drl's
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/d ... lights.pdf

[paramatt]

Dave, you just need to connect the red wire to your sidelight, then they will come on with the side lights. However, they will stay on with the headlights unless you fit the regulator thingy to turn them off, connected to the headlight wire.
Mine came with the white wire, which basically turns them off when the headlights are turned on.

Matt