Switching DRL to high beam?

[Bullet2Bullet]

I am looking to add HID to my low beam H7 bulbs, but DRL is on the same beam. I really don't want the HID to be on all the time. Is there a way to switch the DRL to use the high beams instead? Or the park lights? Thanks.

 

[phunky.buddha]

Do you require DRLs where you are by law? I would just disable them... makes it easier for law enforcement to pick you out of a crowd when you have DRLs on.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Do you require DRLs where you are by law? I would just disable them... makes it easier for law enforcement to pick you out of a crowd when you have DRLs on.

I dislike DRL and thankfully don't have them. Using high beam sounds like a bad idea but the parking light or fog light makes the most sense.

 

[Bullet2Bullet]

I guess disabling them would be best, but i'd still like to have something on during the day, guess I'm used to it. I would love to use the parklights instead, say have the bright side on during the day and switch to the dim side when I turn the headlights on. I don't have foglights.

 

[thaxman]

Can you add some small tasteful LEDs to the outside corners of the grille and make those the DRLs? I realize that in The Great North, all cars come with DRLs, and not having them may make you stand out to law enforcement and not stand out to fellow drivers, both of which are big negatives. Then, you would also be updating the car to match the LED trend going on in the premium/luxury market.

I was thinking maybe a 3-LED triangle in each corner closest to the high beams.

 

[MrPerception]

I'm surprised the DRL setup is using the regular headlights. My '12 uses the high beams but on a lower voltage. I thought that was standard practice in Canada if park lights/LEDs weren't being used

 

[Bullet2Bullet]

Most vehicles do use the high beams as DRLs, but for whatever reason, this Mazda 5 uses the low beams, at full voltage. I was looking at an 05 and 06 Mazda 3 a few years back, and the 05 used the low beams, and the 06 used the highs at a lower voltage. Figured all the Mazdas with projectors would have changed the same time. I currently have LEDs ordered along with a DRL relay that will reduce the voltage of the LEDs when the headlights are turned on. They will be on all the time the car is running. Planning to disable the factor DRLs when I do the install.

 

[Wishmaster]

Most vehicles do use the high beams as DRLs, but for whatever reason, this Mazda 5 uses the low beams, at full voltage. I was looking at an 05 and 06 Mazda 3 a few years back, and the 05 used the low beams, and the 06 used the highs at a lower voltage. Figured all the Mazdas with projectors would have changed the same time. I currently have LEDs ordered along with a DRL relay that will reduce the voltage of the LEDs when the headlights are turned on. They will be on all the time the car is running. Planning to disable the factor DRLs when I do the install.

Not 100% sure... but pretty certain it's at a lower voltage. I notice all the time when I turn the car on at night that the DRL's are dimmer than when I turn the lights fully on.

 

[Davebert]

I can verify that the DRL runs at lower voltage, the signal is using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). The amount of on time determines the brightness of the light. Works well if you are running regular halogen bulbs. But it will cause problem if you do a HID conversion on the low beam because the ballast for the HID needs a constant 12-14V to work. Not a signal that is constantly going on and off.

 

[Bullet2Bullet]

Not 100% sure... but pretty certain it's at a lower voltage. I notice all the time when I turn the car on at night that the DRL's are dimmer than when I turn the lights fully on.

I guess I haven't noticed because I usually have my headlights set on auto and they come on as soon as you start the vehicle at night.

 

[Bullet2Bullet]

I can verify that the DRL runs at lower voltage, the signal is using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). The amount of on time determines the brightness of the light. Works well if you are running regular halogen bulbs. But it will cause problem if you do a HID conversion on the low beam because the ballast for the HID needs a constant 12-14V to work. Not a signal that is constantly going on and off.

I will be using a relay harness if I do the conversion anyway, so the lower voltage isn't a concern. The stock wiring will be giving the relay the signal to turn on or off, no other purpose. I don't plan to do anything until I get the DRL leds, then I'll decide which way I want to go with everything.