12V source in sync with ignition under the SE/NB bonnet?

[Wuey]

I have a pair of low wattage but bright Hella daylight running lights that I want to install onto the mouth of the SE. Is there a handy 12V power source in sync with the ignition that I can easily tap into in the engine bay? I know I can route the positive wire into the cabin but it will be easier if there is alternate plug-and play source in the engine bay. In my previous NA, I found an unused plug near the windscreen wash bottle that I could use and there was also a temporary capped 12V plug for hooking up diagnosis equipment or timing light near the engine diagnostic box.

[TieNN89]

Do you have any pictures of the lights you are planning on fitting?

[hks_kansei]

how about the parkers?

not auto on with ignition though.

if you leave the lights on with the ignition off (and key out) in an 8B do they stay lit or turn off? Parkers too?

I know on the 8A they just stay on, but if they turn off on the 8B you could simply tap the Parker power and leave the parkers on all the time.

[Wuey]

TienNN89, I had a pair of these on my previous NA.



The front of the NA is pretty sparse so they don't look cluttered when installed and they will not affect the airflow of the radiator. If any NA owner who wants to know how to wire a pair of DRL onto his car, I will post more details. The lights stay on whenever the ignition is on, and they're approved by RTA. The beauty about these lights is that they consume very little power, just 6w for each globe but they're very bright during the day. The replacement halogen globes do cost a bit, just over $23 for a pair. I think from memory the lights cost me about $120.



For specs re these lights, see: http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogu ... maint=2643

I've been thinking the addition of these lights to the mouth of my SE will make the front look too busy with its factory spoiler, factory fog lights(they're actually not fog lights, just ordinary auxiliary lights) and an aftermarket chrome intercooler protection mesh. I found a way to turn those auxiliary light into DRL as shown on the Mazdaspeed link here. What it means is provided the onboard switch stays on, those lights will turn on whenever the ignition is on, or they can be turned on manually while other lights stay off. The last thing I want is to confuse a motorist behind me with a pair of constantly turn-on rear parking lights in broad daylight. For other NB models, there are some writeups on Miatanet how to convert your fog lights into DRL.

hks, the parkers don't make bright enough DRL without some mods such as using brighter globes, redo the wiring so that other lights don't get turned on during the day, and make them sync with the ignition.

I've been broadsided at a t-intersection in broad daylight in my other car on a major suburban road so I'm a little paranoid. My previous white commodore was spun 360 degrees and all I saw was a nearby huge power post threatening to jump onto my path.

[MINX]

My understanding is it is illegal to have your 'fog' lights on unless there is fog.
This law was recently brought in in Qld.

And I wouldnt be putting anything in the mouth that would hinder the air flow to the FMIC on the SE.

[Wuey]

minx, as far as I know, or least with my SE, they are not fog lights which should be yellowish or do fog lights come in other colours other than yellow? To me, they're just normal white auxiliary lights which never turn off even with the high beam on while the onboard switch is turned on. Yes, I'm aware the SE runs much hotter than my other non-turbo cars, and I'm concerned those DRL will affect airflow.

[MINX]

minx, as far as I know, or least with my SE, they are not fog lights which should be yellowish

Interesting argument. Wonder what Mr Plod would say.
AFAIK they are called 'Fog' lights. (I know they dont work in fog, except for spotting rats under the spoiler!)

I have never seen the term Auxiliary lights used in any literature for the SE.

[Wuey]

I use the word 'auxiliary' as I can't see whatever useless function they serve other than for aesthetic although they can come in handy(to be seen) if one of the headlights fails. I might just ask Vicroads the legality of having them on in broad daylight.

[NZMiata]

From a legal point of view, how would they be any different to all the new Audis running around with LED DRLs?

[Mr Morlock]

The lights - bumper mounted - are fog lamps on the MX5 and many other cars- the term auxiliary lighting is not correct. The old coloured lenses are long gone- decades. Fog lights in Vic are only allowed to be used in foggy conditions - it is an absurd law because fog lamps do not cause dazzle but that is the rules. I still use mine when conditions are not clear though and investment in drls is probably smart. The proper DRLs are an excellent idea and yes you do not need high wattage to be seen but rather properly designed optics achieve "being seen"- (reflector and lense) .

A fog lamp can never be a drl - again totally different lamp.

A drl is designed for front mounting in mind and the only place it will fit is the grille / mouth unless you want to mount a light bar behind the licence plate- as the Police do. I would say it is illegal to run a drl on the rear because it is white which is for front- red is for rear ie your tail lights ( 5W)

Hella provide a wiring diagram for all their aftermarket lights.

PS ignore US ideas on lighting- their rules are different and our lights are based on Euro lighting. The US for years stuck with antiquated lighting systems and only with globalisation did they progress.

[Wuey]

Frankly I don't know how the laws work as some of those European cars have annoyingly super bright LED DRL. Many European as well as Japanese cars, for example the Lexus 4WD have blinding white headlights, even on low beam. If you can't see well on suburban streets prior to the introduction of these hazardous white lights, you shouldn't be behind the wheel. The most annoying ones are those bogans who installed blue headlights as I've read somewhere in one of our major daily newspapers that human vision can be impaired by blue light and I do find them exceedingly annoying. Also I found this: re blue light damages eye vision.

[Wuey]

...The proper DRLs are an excellent idea and yes you do not need high wattage to be seen but rather properly designed optics achieve "being seen"- (reflector and lense) .

Yes Mr. M, that's why I splurged out on a pair of Hella rather than some pair of cheap Chiwanese brand that scatter light helter-skelter all over the road and their cheap lenses don't stay clear for long.

[Mr Morlock]

the OE leds cannot dazzle but they are noticeable-- I believe it irritates some people merely because it is visible- rest assured approx 6watts is not going to cause dazzle-for sure fashion is a big factor. I reckon the Audi lights look really tacky like fairy lights on a cake. For most conditions drls are not necessary in Oz but I do think the MX5 is generally a much lower profile than most other cars and visibility to others might be affected.

Quality OEM headlights properly set ( easiest method- a beam setter)should not dazzle. The experts reckon that if you see too much blue on an hid headlamp then it was poorly designed and allowed too much stray light. Blue lights are simply illegal.