Hi all
I am thinking about mounting LED strips along the bottom edge of my headlights to operate as DRL's. I'd like to have these come on when the key is at ACC.
Is there a suitable wire I can tap in to in order to power these DRL's?

Windscreen wiper fuse in the engine bay fuse box.

Good idea. Thanks.

pics please when done

Windscreen wiper fuse in the engine bay fuse box.

Yep, Michael (maggie3.5) wired mine to the same fuse.

Ignition on = LED DRLs on.

Ignition on + lights on = LED DRLs still on.

Not strictly legal as the DRLs should be off when the lights are on, but the po po have never bothered me about it.

The whole problem having them hooked up to Acc, is when you are parked and say listening to the radio, the DRL are on, an ignition on power source would be better

Ignore my previous dribble, Michael is right, the LEDs come on with the key turned to "Acc", one click before "On".

Steve (Minotaur),

If you're after a pic of some 380s with LED strip DRLs, there are three of 'em on this page (Feb 2012 SA 380 photoshoot):

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92910&p=1472952&viewfull=1#post1472952

One teensy problem though, Michael has moved or deleted the pics!

From memory mine is the one on the far left of the line up (as you look at the pics, and of the 380's with LEDs).

Ignore my previous dribble, Michael is right, the LEDs come on with the key turned to "Acc", one click before "On".

Search "DRL Relay" on eBay

There are lots u just connect to 12v and they sense when battery is charging and turn on DRLS

Also have extra sense wire to turn off when headlights are on

:)

I just bought a couple of "Add-A-Circuit" fuse taps from ebay:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330796349941?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I actually want mine to come on when ACC is on, not just when the engine is on, so I don't need to use a relay at this time.
MY DRL's will be a flexi-strip running along the lower edge of the headlight housing, so not low enough to be considered fog-lights.

what i want to know is what circuts here at the main fusebox are acc controlled and what ones are ign controlled? i willbe wiring things like DRL's (ign) guages (acc) inverter (cant decide acc or ign) so need to know what is powered by what.

what i want to know is what circuts here at the main fusebox are acc controlled and what ones are ign controlled? i willbe wiring things like DRL's (ign) guages (acc) inverter (cant decide acc or ign) so need to know what is powered by what.

Easiest way would be to put the key in the each position and see what works and what doesn't

what i want to know is what circuts here at the main fusebox are acc controlled and what ones are ign controlled? i willbe wiring things like DRL's (ign) guages (acc) inverter (cant decide acc or ign) so need to know what is powered by what.

I've just got delivery of two pairs of Merc style (L shaped) DRLs to be fitted to the Outlander and my car. I also purchased 2 sets of those add-a-circuit mini fuse taps. I had a look at the engine bay fuse box and it looks like all you need to do is following:
1. A 5 pin relay
2. Two add-a-circuit fuse taps
3. DRLs
4. Use one of the fuse taps to replace fuse 1 or 2 (parker fuses) and hook the cable to pin 86 of the NC relay
5. Ground pin 85
6. Use the other fuse tap to replace either fuse 8 (automatic a/c, cooling) or fuse 17 (automatic a/c, engine control) and hook the cable to pin 30 of the NC relay
7. Hook pin 87a to the +ve wires of both DRLs and ground the -ve wires.

The circuit between pins 30 and 87a is closed when the relay is not energised (parkers are off) and is open when the parkers are on. To make it simple, you can also use a 4 pin NC (normally closed) relay

see i have my own cstom fuse box running power direct from battery to a fuse so i would run a 4pin nc relay after my fuse box with power passing through from battery to my LED's and the trigger side of the relay would take power from an ign or acc source before the factory fuse box.
mayb i could also use a 5pin so i can wire the extra to the parkers so it is not on when parkers are.

My "Add-A-Circuit" thingys arrived today. Have had to modify one because it wouldn't go in to the wiper fuse spot without the output wire hitting either an adjacent fuse or protruding past the edge of the fuse box.
Next step is removing the headlights and fitting the LED strips #notfun

My "Add-A-Circuit" thingys arrived today. Have had to modify one because it wouldn't go in to the wiper fuse spot without the output wire hitting either an adjacent fuse or protruding past the edge of the fuse box.
Next step is removing the headlights and fitting the LED strips #notfun

Mine arrived today as well. Will be planning to do it soon.

I fitted my DRL's today. They work well. It was already getting dark by the time I finished though, so I haven't taken any pictures as yet. Will post some up tomorrow.

OK here are some pics as promised:
I was able to install without having to remove the headlights at all. I used a re-purposed wire coat hanger to get a path through from the back of the headlight in to the engine bay, using this to fit a draw wire:
http://imageshack.us/a/img832/1753/img20121015164137.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img526/434/img20121015164148.jpg

I did the same on the other side as well.

Rather than hard-wire the DRL's all the way back to the fuse box, I installed connectors so the headlight assembly can still be removed if required. About $2.75 from Jaycar. They're actually white but I used nylon dye to dye them black:
http://imageshack.us/a/img16/7826/img20121015171147.jpg

Picture of the LED strips with crimps attached. I also extended the wires by about 30cm to ensure I would have enough to work with in the engine bay:
http://imageshack.us/a/img198/2200/img20121015172924.jpg

I didn't attach the black connectors at this point. I used the draw wires to pull the wiring through, then fitted the connectors. Pics of LED strips installed, and where the wires enter the car. Might have been a bit neater if I had installed them with the headlights removed. I'd also already put my headlight protectors back on:
http://imageshack.us/a/img822/6316/img20121016160408.jpg

Wiring in engine bay fuse box. I tapped off the wiper fuse with an Add-A-Circuit:
http://imageshack.us/a/img87/5011/img20121016153110.jpg

Installation complete:
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/5615/img20121016150259.jpg

With key in ACC position:
http://imageshack.us/a/img23/1739/img20121016150250.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img88/86/img20121016150240.jpg

Dusk shot:
http://imageshack.us/a/img840/8783/img20121015193519.jpg

Looks good. One question though, did you not use an NC relay wired up to the parker fuse using an add-a-circuit tap so that the DRLs turn off when you switch the lights on to make it legal?

Looks good. One question though, did you not use an NC relay wired up to the parker fuse using an add-a-circuit tap so that the DRLs turn off when you switch the lights on to make it legal?

Nope. I'm not sure that it's illegal as it is? I have seen other vehicles on the road (that have DRL's fitted as standard) that have them on even with the headlights on.
Easy enough to add a relay at a later date though if required.

Those that are still on are most likely at a lower wattage and do not have separate parker lights at the front.

Note ADR:
Daytime running lights
(1) A pair of daytime running lights may be fitted to a motor vehicle.
(2) A pair of daytime running lights fitted to a vehicle with 4 or more wheels must be fitted with the centre of each light:
(a) at least 600 millimetres from the centre of the other light;
and
(b) not over 510 millimetres from the nearer side of the vehicle.
(3) However, a pair of daytime running lights fitted to a motor vehicle under 1300 millimetres wide may be fitted with the
centre of each light not under 400 millimetres from the centre of the other light.
(4) When on, a daytime running light must:
(a) show a white or yellow light visible from the front of the vehicle;
and
(b) not use over 25 watts power.
Note The third edition ADRs only allow white daytime running lights.
(5) Daytime running lights must be wired so they are off when a headlight, except a headlight being used as a flashing signal, is on.
(6) For subrule (3), the width of a vehicle is measured disregarding any anti-skid device mounted on wheels, central tyre inflation
systems, lights, mirrors, reflectors, signalling devices and tyre pressure gauges.

OK I have added a relay now, so should be 100% ok legality-wise.