It is quite a common situation - summer, sunny afternoon, deserted road. Everything glares around, bright flashes appear on the right and then on the left. And suddenly a car rushes past you with a roar, making you shudder nervously. Where did he come from, because the road was empty? And everything is very simple, glare and reflected light mask and hide any object, contributing to the occurrence of a dangerous situation like the one described. To avoid this, traffic rules oblige drivers to use daytime running lights (abbreviated DRL), or, as they are also called, running lights daylight.

About running lights for cars

Their main purpose is to mark the position of the car in daylight on the road. In other words, they can be classified as passive safety devices; by showing the location of the car, they reduce the likelihood of an accident. This is a fairly general description of the purpose of DRLs, and what they are, allows you to understand the photo

In accordance with the given general description, the purpose of such lighting devices, as their capacity, can be used:

• headlights on while driving (low beam);
• headlights on (with reduced supply voltage or reduced radiation intensity) high beam;
• included in daytime fog lights;
• special daylight emitters located at the front in accordance with the approved rules and emitting a luminous flux of permissible intensity.

Location rules, more information

Most often, car drivers who do not have standard daytime running lights installed have to turn on the headlights when driving (low beam) to comply with traffic rules. In our country, this is allowed, although in some states it is prohibited. However, more convenient and profitable are specially made, based on led devices (light-emitting diodes).

LED daytime running lights, in comparison with the use of low beam for these purposes, provide:

1. increased safety, better indicating the position of the car on the road, due to increased brightness;
2. reduction of fuel consumption, because electricity consumption by led devices is less than that of traditional incandescent lamps, which are installed in low beam headlights. Such DRLs have less load on the generator, and, accordingly, on the engine, saving fuel;
3. increased duration of the lighting of your car. In cases where led devices are used, the head light will have to be turned on less often, which will ensure the safety of the lamps;
4. ease of use. Special DRLs on LEDs turn on when the engine is started, and go out when it is turned off. Thus, there is no need to monitor whether the headlights are off or not when the car is parked overnight.

It should be noted that daytime running lights are placed not in an arbitrary place, but in accordance with existing regulatory documents, as shown in the photo below

What to look for when choosing led

A large number of vehicles in service are not equipped with daytime running lights, and their drivers have to constantly turn on their headlights. However, if you wish, you can install the running lights with your own hands. Similar work is being done by several different ways- buy ready-made kits or assemble from commercially available parts.

Various options for how to install running lights will be considered later, but now it is worth paying attention to the criteria that should be followed when choosing devices based on led.

Diode running lights, their own installation

As already noted, it is quite possible to do the installation of navigation lights yourself. There are several mandatory requirements that must be followed when performing such work, but otherwise everything is determined by personal choice. There should be two LED running lights on the car, they must be located on the car in front, and their location must be carried out in accordance with the current regulations (these placement requirements are shown in the photo above).

An important question is how to connect the daytime running lights to the car's onboard network. This can be done quite arbitrarily, for example, according to the scheme shown in the photo.

It is only necessary to take into account that they should automatically turn on when the engine is started, and go out when the main light is turned on.

One of the convenient and simple options How to install daytime running lights yourself is to purchase a ready-made set, for example, such as shown in the photo. Of course, such a set must be selected based on the intended location for future installation.

An additional bonus in such sets may be the presence of a mode when they work as strobe lights. It should be noted that led strobe lights are very bright and their blinking is noticeable in almost any conditions. This is sure to draw attention to your car, and allow other drivers Vehicle adjust your actions. Stroboscopes can also be used in cases where it is necessary to demand to give way to a slower car.

Thus, in such sets of led daytime running lights, which also act as strobe lights, will allow you to simply equip your car with the desired accessory. True, strobe lights resemble the signals of special services vehicles, but the use of this mode will be based solely on your decision.

However, sometimes the cost of such sets is quite high, and many people prefer to make daytime running lights with their own hands. And it is not always possible to find a set suitable for a particular car. There is nothing to worry about, you can equip your car with daytime running lights using, for example, foglights.

Fog lights with running lights

For the manufacture of such products, foglights are bought, then all the insides are taken out of them, as a result, a set of parts shown in the photo is obtained.

A substrate for led devices is cut out of aluminum plates, its appearance is shown in the photo

The plates are attached with a sealant inside the case. The LEDs are flexible, tape-mounted. The required amount is cut out of it and attached to the plates with a sealant. To reduce the brightness of the glow, the inner surface of the diffuser can be painted or pasted over with a tint film. When everything is dry, the finished product is assembled, and the parts are fastened with a sealant to each other, the product ready for installation is shown in the photo

Daytime running lights of this type are being installed in the places provided in the bumper for foglights. The connection can be carried out quite arbitrarily, the most important thing is to meet the requirements listed earlier.

Other options for making DRL

The given variant self-made is not the only one. For example, for these purposes, not flexible LEDs on a tape can be used, but ordinary, discrete devices. Moreover, both in bulk and placed in special cases with a lens. True, in this case, they will have to make a board and perform installation, but this allows you to get an option that you definitely cannot find on other cars.

Connecting such daylight devices can be done in various ways, much in this case will be determined by personal preferences. Indeed, these products contain only executive elements, but everyone can apply their own control schemes. The main thing is to fulfill the mandatory requirements, but otherwise modern electronics allows you to implement any flexible control algorithms, including stroboscopes.

Conclusion

Running lights daytime running lights are required for use when driving. True, instead of them, the use of standard headlights is allowed, but the use of DRL is economically more profitable and provides greater safety on the road. And although many of the previously released machines do not have such elements, they can be equipped with them at a fairly low cost.

More recently in the rules road traffic amendments were added, among which there is a mandatory driving with the lights on in the daytime. Failure to comply with this point will result in a fine of 500 rubles. And for this, even its own equipment is provided - daytime running lights, they are also DRL. But not all cars from the factory are equipped with such lighting devices, although automakers are increasingly equipping their cars with them.

The rules do not strictly prescribe that DRLs should be used exclusively for daytime driving. For this, almost any car lighting fixtures are suitable for this. In different countries, they use high or low beam headlights, turn signals operating in a constant light mode, side lights.

But still, the most optimal is the use of DRL as a designation for a car for oncoming traffic when driving during the day.

Often, daytime running lights are confused with side lights, but this is wrong. The brightness of the side light bulbs is very low, as they are intended to mark the car in dark time... If you use them during the day, then in bright sunlight, the glow of the parking lamps is practically invisible.

Therefore, headlights are more suitable for this, but here another problem arises. The resource of optics is not eternal, and the constant use of low and high beam headlights will eventually lead to burnout of lamps, as well as burnout of reflectors. The cost of optics can be significant and the need for periodic replacement of damaged headlight elements will be quite costly.

Also, the use of high beam can play a negative role. The brightness of the lamps in this mode is strong, so there is a possibility of blinding the drivers of oncoming vehicles, especially in cloudy weather.

Therefore, the use of dipped headlights is considered more optimal. But it is worth noting that the energy consumption of lamps is significant, which in turn affects. This should include such design feature that when the headlights are turned on, the side lights and the dashboard illumination light up, and this is, in fact, unnecessary in daylight conditions.

Another disadvantage in using headlights as a designation for a moving car is that they are turned on manually. And this means that the driver may simply forget to turn off the headlights when parking the car, and if it is long in time, then the parking lights are on.

Roughly the same applies to. They consume a large amount of energy and also wear out gradually. constituent elements these lighting fixtures. The only thing is that after stopping the engine, the foglights also go out and the battery will not be discharged.

There is no need to talk about turn signals operating in constant glow mode. Using them as DRLs can confuse drivers and cause accidents.

Daytime running lights and their advantages

Video: Daytime running lights and how to connect them

The use of DRL solves all problems. LEDs are used in their design, so the energy consumption of such lights is insignificant and they do not affect the fuel consumption of the power plant.

1. Such lighting equipment shines much brighter than side lights, and their light is visible even in sunlight, that is, the car will in any case be noticeable to drivers of oncoming cars, but at the same time they will not be dazzled.
2. The DRL is powered from the ignition switch, so they will light up while it is running power point... When the engine is stopped and the ignition is turned off, the running lights will turn off.
3. Some versions of daytime running lights provide a function to turn off or dim when the dipped headlights are turned on.
4. Daytime running lights also have a decorative function. For cars that are provided with the installation of such lighting equipment, they are often mounted in headlights for styling.

They also look good when installed in special niches in the bumper. Here are just seats for DRLs are available in modern cars, which provide for the installation of such equipment, but it is not included in the package. As for old cars, owners will have to make slots in for installation.

DRLs are produced in a variety of types:

• round;
• arrow-shaped;
• in the form of stripes;
• L-shaped;
• a set of separate LEDs (they are installed several in a row);

Some craftsmen even glue led strip on the bumper. There are combined DRLs, in which the LEDs are installed in two rows, and one of them has orange lamps. This makes it possible to use such a lighting device additionally as turn signal repeaters. In general, you can choose daytime running lights for almost any car.

Features of installation, selection, connection

Video: How to install daytime running lights yourself is simple and ingenious

If the equipment of the car does not provide day lights, but seat for them there is, then it will not be difficult to install the equipment, the main thing is to choose them correctly in shape and size. In such cars, the manufacturer took into account the correct arrangement of the instruments.

As for cars that do not have niches for DRL, the driver also needs to choose the right place for installing the equipment.

Installation diagram of daytime running lights

So, according to the standard, daytime running lights should not be located below 25 cm from the ground and above 1.5 m.With regard to the width, the distance between the inner edges of the lights should be at least 60 cm (40 cm is allowed for vehicles whose width less than 130 cm). In this case, the distance from the edge of the car to the outer edges of the DRL should not exceed 40 cm.

The car accessories market offers a large number of daytime running lights in different price categories. At the same time, cheap Chinese products do not always fully fulfill their functions. Therefore, when purchasing DRL, you should consider some of the nuances:

1. High-quality lanterns have reflectors in their design, while cheap ones are not always available. DRLs that do not have reflectors do not shine strongly enough, and in terms of brightness, such lights approach the side lights, that is, during the day they will be poorly visible.
2. The kit must contain a relay for connection. If it is not there, then you will have to connect them directly to the lock and you will not be able to organize additional modes of DRL operation.
3. The build quality of inexpensive flashlights is poor. Often, cheap products break or fall apart after only six months of use.
4. In good lanterns, installation is carried out using fasteners, while cheap ones often sit on double scotch tape, so there is a high probability that DRLs will simply disappear at the races.

Connecting daytime running lights is simple. The kit always contains instructions with a diagram of how to connect everything correctly. Most often, the relay that comes with the kit has 4 outputs, to each of which you need to connect your own wire.

Video: A simple way to connect DRL

In four-contact relays, one of the terminals is designed to connect the lights themselves. The second is needed to power the DRL from the ignition switch. The headlight switch is connected to the third output (thanks to this, the lights, when the dipped beam is turned on, will reduce the brightness of the glow or go out). And the fourth pin is for connecting the ground.

First, let's figure out what is Daytime Running Lights... And so, DRL are lighting devices designed to indicate a car during daylight hours. Difference between parking lights consists in greater brightness in comparison with the latter, designed to indicate a car in the dark, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility.

What is DRL?

First, let's figure it out what are daytime running lights... So, DRL these are lighting devices designed to indicate a car during daylight hours. The difference between the side lights lies in the greater brightness in comparison with the latter, designed to indicate a car in the dark, as well as in conditions of poor visibility.



Daytime running lights are low-beam headlights, and low-beam headlights of reduced intensity, used, for example, in Subaru, fog lights, external turn signals operating in a constant mode (American system) and the most important are separate devices with a certain pattern of changing the light beam and light intensity.
The latter are the safest with less power consumption and no potential drawbacks. The beneficial result is obvious.

All vehicles have dipped beam, and in many countries these are the main running lights... On the modern cars they turn on when the ignition is turned on, which blocks their shutdown forcibly. Many manufacturers make low voltage headlights. Initially, such cars appeared in Germany due to changes in legislation. The main beam headlamps with reduced brightness most meet the requirements of the standards, because they shine higher, and the brightness is lower, due to which they do not dazzle, and at the same time they are clearly visible.

In Russia, it is allowed to use fog lights to mark the car, when it is prohibited in other countries.

Selected DRL are the best option meeting the requirements of the standards of many countries, including Russia. The location of the lights should fall within the range of 25-150 cm relative to the ground, and the distance between the two should be at least 60 cm, as well as from the edge of the car no further than 40 cm, while when the dipped beam is turned on, they should be turned off. The advantage is lower energy consumption compared to other proposed options. According to the results of numerous studies, experts have come to the general opinion that, statistically, the use of external navigation lights reduces the number of accidents, but worse affects the designation of pedestrians and motorcycles. Americans contradict all experts and have their own personal opinion on this matter. According to their statistics, the accident rate decreased only from light trucks and buses.