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      10-22-2020, 01:41 PM   #1
fortythirtyfive
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Need a switched live wire for DRL's

So I have just fitted some new DRL RGB led chips that require their own 12v power source (mainly for the wireless controller/driver).

My biggest problem though is trying to find a switched power supply.. my first thought was the headlight power source, however that seems to be a constant live source. Someone else suggested to me the 12v cigaret plug, but that doesn't time off until 10 minutes has passed after locking the vehicle.

I need an solution that will provide 12v after unlocking the car and then cut it after locking the vehicle.. I presume someone must have found a power line to tap from when fitting something like a dash cam?
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      10-22-2020, 03:30 PM   #2
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Managed to find a bank of 5amp fuses that only switch on when the ignition is, but it's not very oem.. i.e the DRL's won't switch on when unlocking the car.

What I really need is a fuse or power source that goes live the second the car locks and dies when I lock it.
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      10-22-2020, 04:44 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fortythirtyfive View Post
Managed to find a bank of 5amp fuses that only switch on when the ignition is, but it's not very oem.. i.e the DRL's won't switch on when unlocking the car.

What I really need is a fuse or power source that goes live the second the car locks and dies when I lock it.
How about the HUD or the dash?
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      10-22-2020, 05:12 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by BWbimmer View Post
How about the HUD or the dash?
Unfortunately I don't have a HUD, but dash could be worth a shot? The thing I've found with a lot of hardware so far is the wiring is permanently live but switched on via software.

I'll meter the dash plug tomorrow and see if goes off, thanks for the recommendation!
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      10-22-2020, 05:14 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fortythirtyfive View Post
Someone else suggested to me the 12v cigaret plug, but that doesn't time off until 10 minutes has passed after locking the vehicle.
That's what I use for the LED strips I added. Shutting off ten minutes after the doors lock isn't a problem, low power LEDs draw almost no current, so it won't drain the battery. If there's a fuse that will switch on when you unlock and shut off immediately when you lock you'll need to search it out with a DMM.
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      10-22-2020, 09:12 PM   #6
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I saw your post on another thread, what exactly did you install? Where did you get it?
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      10-23-2020, 03:57 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
That's what I use for the LED strips I added. Shutting off ten minutes after the doors lock isn't a problem, low power LEDs draw almost no current, so it won't drain the battery. If there's a fuse that will switch on when you unlock and shut off immediately when you lock you'll need to search it out with a DMM.
I'm now considering this if it's possible to change the 10 minute delay through coding - could you tell me though, do they light up on unlock? I feel positive (pardon the pun) that it puts power to those sockets as soon as I unlock..

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Originally Posted by psyki View Post
I saw your post on another thread, what exactly did you install? Where did you get it?
They're RGB led modules that fit on my lci headlights - you get a few neat features like startup colours that change to white.. a bit like Mercedes do with the blue to white.
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      10-23-2020, 10:30 AM   #8
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Finally came up with a solution myself.

I'm going to hook a switch relay in the follow config:



The idea is when the original LED chip receives signal to power up, bam.. the relay opens and allows the 12V supply to the new LED controller, vice versa when shutting down as well.

The original DRL chips HAVE to be plugged in for the car to keep a supply going to those wires though, if you try skipping it with either nothing or a fixed end to try trick it you'll find the car still refuses to power it.. so there's something in that chip which it checks for.

It does mean I'll have to build a new heatsink for the original chips to sit on though, otherwise they'll end up toasting themselves lol.

Hopefully this helps anyone else looking for a similar switched live when unlocking and locking the car?
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      10-23-2020, 11:00 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psyki View Post
I saw your post on another thread, what exactly did you install? Where did you get it?
I used a pair of LED strips from Walmart, total cost less than $30.

https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/BMW/LED DRL.jpg
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      10-25-2020, 07:14 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
I used a pair of LED strips from Walmart, total cost less than $30.

https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/BMW/LED DRL.jpg
I'm aiming for altering the existing lights rather than adding to them.


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