LED wiring

[spyderdrifter]

Ok, I'm drawing a blank on this and its bugging me. I'm sure many of you have seen the LEDs I have in my head lights. I also have sequential turn signals with it as well. Anyway, when the white LEDs are on, its hard for anyone in front of me to see which way I intend on turning. So I want to wire the white lights to shut off when the blinkers turn on, and come back on after the blinkers are off. Any one able to lend me a hand here? I'm having a tard moment.

 

[DeadlyScone]

Hooking it up like it's a 3 way switch is what comes to mind for me.

 

[91-GS]

Splice in a relay to shut off the LEDs when turn signals is on. Although that would make the LEDs flash as well. To prevent that you might have to build a circuit to "smooth out" the pulses and make them into a constant signal. Too tired to think of exact circuit now, but will think about it tomorrow.

Or use a three-way switch, as DeadlyScone suggested.

 

[NHerron]

Tone down the LED's intensity? If someone can't see the blinker, that seems the LED's are way too bright.

Maybe get some amber color in there too.

But if you really wanted to do an offset pattern like that, it would be even better if you got a fade effect out of the LED's as opposed to them just cutting off. It would scream cheesy to me (like a last minute fix that auto manufactures do on cars, then recalls later). But then again I'm anal and indecisive on my hobbies.

If I think about a simple way to go about it I'll post again

Nevermind, thought of one.

Grab ignition power and run it through a relay in the 'normally closed (N.C.)' position, which is terminals 30 & 87A. That way when the key is on (or the light switch etc) power is constant to the LED's without the relay coil energized.

Then to get them to shut off, you would energize the relay coil so 30 & 87A are disconnected. Problem is- you need two separate coils to disconnect the same contacts. Because if you tapped the left AND the right turn signal wires to energize the coil, you will get the hazards going since both sides are now linked. It would work, you'd just need two relays. One for the left and one for the right. The coils would use a common ground, and you would wire the leds to go through BOTH relays. AKA Ignition +12V - relay 1, term. 30 - relay 1 term. 87A - relay 2 term. 30 - relay 2 term. 87A - then ends up to the LED's. When either relay is energized, the +12V ignition power is cut going to the LED's.

It would be a clunky setup and I'd personally go with a compact, more efficient design, rather then listen to my sleep deprived ass.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Grab ignition power and run it through a relay in the 'normally closed (N.C.)' position, which is terminals 30 & 87A. That way when the key is on (or the light switch etc) power is constant to the LED's without the relay coil energized.

Then to get them to shut off, you would energize the relay coil so 30 & 87A are disconnected. Problem is- you need two separate coils to disconnect the same contacts. Because if you tapped the left AND the right turn signal wires to energize the coil, you will get the hazards going since both sides are now linked. It would work, you'd just need two relays. One for the left and one for the right. The coils would use a common ground, and you would wire the leds to go through BOTH relays. AKA Ignition +12V - relay 1, term. 30 - relay 1 term. 87A - relay 2 term. 30 - relay 2 term. 87A - then ends up to the LED's. When either relay is energized, the +12V ignition power is cut going to the LED's.

It would be a clunky setup and I'd personally go with a compact, more efficient design, rather then listen to my sleep deprived ass.

Thanks for the ideas. The blinker LEDs are amber and the DRL ones are white. But both colors are on the same light strip, just alternated. I'll try to post up pics later. My computer crashed so I'll have to get my phone to post them for once.

That actually makes good since. I'm sleep deprived too... been up for a few days with maybe 5 hrs worth of sleep spread across those days. Luckily I got some spare factory relays and maybe some slots in my fuse/relay box that I can use for them.

 

[LandoAWD]

Buy switchback LEDs?

 

[spyderdrifter]

I like switchback LEDs, but I've never seen them in strips. And I don't want to pull my headlights apart again just to swap them out.

 

[NHerron]

About my post, to take the clunkyness out of standard relays, search ebay for some micro relays and mount them to some radioshack perf. board. I seal my simple perf. board projects with hot glue. (any small wires that go in or out of the board)