2009.01.24 - DRL / Twilight Turn Signals (Pt. 2.75)
- Tested halogen bulbs in turn signal housings with various resistance values
- Ordered resistors (50-watt, aluminum housing) from Action Electronics
My halogen bulbs arrived yesterday, so I installed them into the turn signal housings. I discovered, to my surprise, that the passenger side turn signal housing has the bulbs clocked 180-degrees from the driver side. In order to prevent having the low and high filament positions being reversed on one side, I modified the tab openings so that I could rotate each bulb 130-degrees and have them positioned symmetrically. I had also forgotten that inserting the H13 bulbs in the turn signal housing would require a slight amount of filing around the bulb opening, and unfortunately I was a little bit too aggressive in doing this. Because I had filed away more than I had intended to, the bulbs were not as tightly held in place as I would have felt comfortable with so I used a dab of clear silicon to help keep the bulbs locked in place.
By testing a few different resistance values with some 10-watt resistors that I already had, I was able to determine the resistance values that seem most suitable in order to achieve the proper levels of brightness--bright enough to be noticeable but not so bright as to be blinding to other drivers--from the halogen bulbs. I plan to use 1-ohm of resistance for each filament under normal circumstances, and 2-ohms of resistance for the DRL filaments when the headlights are turned on.
$58.85 - Resistors for DRLs
- Ordered resistors (50-watt, aluminum housing) from Action Electronics
My halogen bulbs arrived yesterday, so I installed them into the turn signal housings. I discovered, to my surprise, that the passenger side turn signal housing has the bulbs clocked 180-degrees from the driver side. In order to prevent having the low and high filament positions being reversed on one side, I modified the tab openings so that I could rotate each bulb 130-degrees and have them positioned symmetrically. I had also forgotten that inserting the H13 bulbs in the turn signal housing would require a slight amount of filing around the bulb opening, and unfortunately I was a little bit too aggressive in doing this. Because I had filed away more than I had intended to, the bulbs were not as tightly held in place as I would have felt comfortable with so I used a dab of clear silicon to help keep the bulbs locked in place.
By testing a few different resistance values with some 10-watt resistors that I already had, I was able to determine the resistance values that seem most suitable in order to achieve the proper levels of brightness--bright enough to be noticeable but not so bright as to be blinding to other drivers--from the halogen bulbs. I plan to use 1-ohm of resistance for each filament under normal circumstances, and 2-ohms of resistance for the DRL filaments when the headlights are turned on.
$58.85 - Resistors for DRLs