Mavic82 Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 A fellow member (RAW) and I have been kicking around the idea of DRLs on the seven. A great safety addition but really did not want to add non standard lights to the car, whether hidden or not they don't feel OEM.however I now think we have devised the perfect solution thanks to something called switch back LEDs. These LEDs are essentially like a brake bulb in the sense they have two connections. One shines bright white for DRL and the other bright orange for the indicators. And these are not like your average festune LED units these are seriously bright.the clever bit is when the DrL is on and you then switch on the indicator feed it automatically shuts down the DRL, all housed in the bulb.so the solution, replace the front indicator bulb holder with landrover stop light bulb holder, exactly the same shape and fitment, then fit a clear lens. The switchback LED fits straight into the barenet fitting of the stoplight holder. The earth and indicator wire connect just as they did to the old indicator you just need to add an extra wire for the DRL.in the engine bay I installed a small box that takes an ignition feed in (with fuse) and outputs two DRL feeds. These connect to the extra wires installed. This unit also takes a side light input. This achieves the full legal and OEM look by dimming the DRL when the side or headlights are on.i actually took my feed to this unit from the alternator warning light cable, it was close and kept cable runs down and has two advantages, the lights only come on when the engine is actually running and if the alternator fails they will go out, bonus.so I now have very bright DRLs at the front, which automatically turn off when the indicators are switched on and flash and also dim when the main lights are on.there is no change to the appearance of the car and they work really well.the only other tweak was to change the flasher relay for an LED compatible one. Parts cost £15 for the LED, £5 for the relay and £13 for the dimmer unit. Sundary connectors and cable I already had.thoroughly recommend them. Look OEM add safety and were easy to install. cheersGuy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Sounds great, any chance of a set of part numbers or web links, and some photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 27, 2014 Member Share Posted October 27, 2014 As TomB says. Photos next to an untreated 7? What's the nominal current that youre taking through that alternator terminal? Does anyone know if there might be a problem there, or the nominal current for a non-LED indicator bulb for comparison? You could easily add a relay if there is a potential problem.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted October 27, 2014 Author Share Posted October 27, 2014 You can always use a different ignition feed to power it. But led draw is very low. Time will tell though.A photo would be a bit boring, it looks like any other seven with clear lenses :-) plus I have no idea how to do that yet on this forum. Video would be better so you could see it work if that were possible.anyway this is the stuff I usedBulbshttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2PCS-Switchback-Amber-White-S25-1157-1210-Chip-120-SMD-LED-Turn-Signal-Light-/251609034412?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a95112eacdimmerhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRL-Daytime-Running-Light-Relay-Harness-Auto-Car-Control-On-Off-Switch-12V-New-/251027341601?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a72654121relayhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-90-110-WIPAC-INDICATOR-FLASHER-RELAY-4-PIN-LED-WFL7LED-/271473987496?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f351c4fa8light holderhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defender-Rear-Brake-Stop-Tail-Light-upto-95-/321184319307?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4ac813c74b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 27, 2014 Member Share Posted October 27, 2014 Thanks A photo with the lights on! :-) Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted October 27, 2014 Author Share Posted October 27, 2014 I will see what I can sort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 I can vouch they look brilliant, if you can excuse the pun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Lef Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 PIcs please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative bluenose Posted October 28, 2014 Area Representative Share Posted October 28, 2014 Why add extra weight? Just drive round with your headlights on all the time = DRLs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Bluenose solution is the obvious question! Whilst DRL are cool, Im just not sure they are needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 That creates a drain on you alternator which reduces HP :-)also so means you don't have the tail lights on and the sharpness of the DRL seem to attract attention in daylight. Plus it is something for me to mess about with.And it weighs about the same as a mars bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Excellent work.Good, neat solution. As you say, DLR in day do seem to grab attention. I have fitted cree led side light bulbs which are very bright. Have you beaten Caterham to this development? I assume legislation will move them in this direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 28, 2014 Area Representative Share Posted October 28, 2014 A very clever approach. Well done for finding these and for putting it here for members. For myself, I will get LED sidelights (the Cree ones mentioned above) for both Seven and 21, I try to run with sidelights only when it is daylight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 Well I need to investigate more before I get all chuffed.i had been running full brightness DLRs which switch to amber with the indicators. All worked great but was not strictly legal at night. So added the dimmer the other day. Today both my bulbs failed. Has to be something with the dimmer. May be faulty or something else.will report back when I sort it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 28, 2014 Member Share Posted October 28, 2014 Sorry to hear that.Does the dimmer have any statement of working range of lamp power?Which regulation is the problem?ThanksJonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 28, 2014 Area Representative Share Posted October 28, 2014 I certainly find that some LED daylight running lights are too bright (perhaps I mean unneccesarily bright). I'll take your word regarding legality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Not had a chance to investigate the DrL issue yet, just put two new ones in for the moment.but my new cree leed headlight bulbs arrived today. Hopefully as effective but much lighter than the Trucklite LED headlights I have been trialling for the last few months.will have some time in the garage tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 I have been learning all about video editing today, so as a result this YouTube link should show a short video of the parts used in this conversion and what it all looks like.DRL and indicator operating at the end.hope it all works.it was all working for the vid but I have now disconnected the DRL dimmer and just run the DRLs full brightness all the time as the dimmer is over heating the DRLs for some reason.anyway link here http://Youtu.be/NS3sQoQSHDs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 They certainly look bright! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 How do you find the led H4 with main beam vs dip? They look great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 Not had a chance to actually drive with them yet. But parked up they seem insanely bright white. Will report back when I get out and about.again subjectively there is a marked difference between main and dipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 2, 2014 Member Share Posted November 2, 2014 Thanks for the video and the update.But my guess is that a lot more people will be interested in the LED headlamps than the clever trick with the DRL control. Doesn't the power saving become trivial once you have the LED headlamps... ?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAL Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I love what you've done with your DRL solution.The lights (all round) seem to be the Achilles heel of the 7 and I am looking at all the alternatives.Anyone fitted anything like this? http://www.kitspares.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=709Buds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonyH Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks, very useful. Which H4 crees are those, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 I am still evaluating the cree bulbs. I am not yet sure they work well with our lights. They are very bright and powerful but the LED are only on one side of the bulb so they only reflect well from one side of the lens. Therefore not convinced yet, but need to try more adjustment. If the had led both sides they would be great.these were the bulbs http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60W-6000LM-H4-HB2-9003-CREE-LED-BULBS-HI-LOW-REPLACE-HEAD-LIGHT-KIT-6000K-WHITE-/111437422112?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19f2301e20i changed to these from Trucklight phase 7 led sealed beam lights. These were stunning, white bright, long range wide field. They were perfect but for two issues. They stick out of the bulb a little more than I like and they are damned heavy. But the light is by far the best I have had in the 7.trucklite lenses here http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&productId=92025i use Cibie 7" reflectors/lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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