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WebElectric DRL-2P installation into 2012 Prius v

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by Offline, Jun 8, 2013.

  1. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    I will be "building" and correcting the attached document as I install a WebElectric DRL-2P kit into a 2012 Prius v Five with the Advanced Technology Package. I will add photos and describe the colors of the Prius v wiring harness wires to which I connect the DRL-2P kit as I determine them with a test light.

    I am NOT a professional but I have done many automotive projects in my almost 50 years of driving ... engine rebuilds, audio and phone systems, Euro headlights with and without washers, front and rear fog lights, horn mods and on and on.

    This looks like an easy project - maybe a "3" on my "1 to 10 difficulty scale" - with the most difficult part being crawling under the car to remove panels and to make the connections with the turn signals ... not fun as I get older. This project should be substantially easier than the install of Scion IQ signal mirror covers on this same car which I documented on this forum and which was perhaps a "6" on my difficulty scale.
     
  2. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Here is a document about my installation of the WebElectric DRL-2P Daytime Running Light kit on our 2012 Prius v Five and also to a link to a demonstration of it that I uploaded to YouTube:


    Please let me know if you see any errors and I will correct them. Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Are DRLs orange in the US ? They are bright white over here in the UK.
     
  4. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Both amber and white DRL are permitted in both the U.S. and Canada.
     
  5. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    I realized that I did not provide a critique on how well the WebElectric DRL kit works.

    The output of the front turn signals of our Prius v when in DRL mode is VERY good and seems better than some similar OEM amber DRL systems I have been noticing (e.g. those on Cadillac sedans) and white OEM DRL on such cars as newer Volkswagens. Some OEM LED-based DRL systems seem to put out more light - e.g. Mercedes, Audi. - but I have noticed that the LED based DRL on Prii that have them are not all that bright.

    I especially like that the opposite side DRL on our Prius v shuts off when signaling a turn - reminds me of how OEM Audi LED DRL turns off when signaling a turn.

    I am not comparing the functionality of the WebElectric DRL system to OEM high-beam based DRL which I think were a terrible idea from the get-go. The days of high-beam based DRL are numbered and they are no longer allowed in many countries.

    Anyway ... the results of the WebElectric DRL kit on our Prius v substantially exceeds my expectations. I hope it proves reliable. If the WebElectric DRL module does ever fail, it will take only a couple of minutes to bypass it due to the how I installed it.
     
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Why do you think high beam DRLs are a terrible idea?

    I wanted DRLs on our 2011 Prius 3 and considered the webelectric option, but I didn't want to tap into all the factory wiring with numerous connectors.

    I ended up making my own DRL module, link in my signature. It's been working great.

    How long do the turn signal bulbs last being used constantly for DRLs at full power? The highbeam 9005 bulbs last a long time as DRLs because they are only being used at half power and they have a much larger space within the headlight enclosure to dissipate heat, which ultimately causes the filament in the bulb to fail.
     
  7. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Gosh, it's not just me. High beam based DRL have been controversial from the beginning for a variety of issues such as drivers - often elderly - forgetting to turn on their regular headlights during darkness and blinding other drivers with their DRL while also not having their taillights illuminated. Another common problem is that the glass of high beam based DRL bulbs tends to blacken and makes the bulbs less effective for use at night as high beams.

    Have you noticed that new cars made by both U.S. and foreign manufacturers are no longer using high beamed based DRL? Why? The 20 EC countries do not allow high beam DRL - google and you can find the EC DRL specifications ... from 2011 or 2012 if I remember correctly.

    I do not know how long the turn signal bulbs on our Prius v will last when used as DRL but others have reported no problems with using the regular Prius turn signal bulbs as DRL with the WebElectric kit. Also remember that the very first DRL's ever - on Volvos in the 1970's (I had a 145 wagon and 242 sedan back then) - used 21W incandescent bulbs as DRL with no problems. Also note that the non-LED DRL on newer cars such as the ones from Cadillac and VW that I mentioned also use incandescent bulbs.

    There are only seven straight foward connections to make when installing the WebElectric DRL-2P: two to each turn signal, two to a parking or side marker light and one to fuse 28 in the underhood fuse box. If for some reason the DRL-2P module ever fails, all I have to do to get the front turn signals working again is to unplug two connections on the left side of the underhood fuse box and connect two connectors leading to each front turn signal together. In the event of a front turn signal failure, the Scion IQ signal mirror covers I installed will act as a backup.
     
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    It was not my intention to sidetrack your thread, I was curious why you despised reduced power highbeam DRLs. ;)

    I would like to say good job on your installation of the webelectric DRL module and for posting instructions and the video for others to use as a reference. :)

    That being said, I think we can agree that Toyota dropped the ball on safety when they didn't include OEM DRLs on the pre-2012 Prius hatchbacks and the Prius v when it is included on almost all of their cars in their lineup and on the Scion lineup. Especially when they tout their STAR Safety Systems. DRLs have been shown to reduce accidents by increasing visibility of the vehicle to other drivers who may not be 100% attentive to the driving task at hand.

    It is common for signal light incandescent DRLs to exhibit heat related damage to either the bulb socket or the lens/headlight cover, as in the case of the Toyota Tacomas with the integrated turn signal/DRLs in the headlight housing. A Google search will turn up many instances of the Tacoma having heat damaged headlight lenses from the DRLs as well as the Corvette forums discussing heat damaged sockets or bulbs blowing out prematurely.

    The VW DRL enclosures on their late model Jettas and Passats seem pretty small, so I hope the engineers have addressed the need for adequate heat dissipation to avoid heat related damage.
     
  9. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    It's not my thread! It's "ours". :)

    I would not go as far as saying that I despise high beam DRL - only that there have long been better solutions. Probably the only reason we have DRL in the U.S. at all is that GM petitioned the DOT back in the 1990's to allow them as a money saving move so that the vehicles they made for the U.S. would be more similar to the ones they made for Canada. And the only reason high, or in some cases low, beams were used as DRL was so that car manufacturers could provide DRL at low cost.

    As both a buyer of vehicles made by Toyota and a TMC shareholder, I find it disturbing that Toyota has left DRL off its smallest, most vulnerable vehicles. But they are not the only car company doing (or not doing) it. The tiny 2012 Smart ForTwo I rented for a month last fall didn't have DRL either although DRL is an option on it.

    I admit to being "rabid" about automotive safety and DRL. I've driven with DRL or headlights on during daylight hours since I was ran off the road by an oncoming driver while driving my little silver Mercedes 2-seat convertable on a two lane highway in 1969 .... the little silver car seemed to disappear into the gray highway on a hot summer day.

    As I have found out first hand, it has been, and maybe still is, illegal in some U.S. states and some European countries to drive with headlights on during daylight hours except under certain conditions such as low visibility or while in a funeral procession.

    If using the Prius v turn signals for DRL doesn't work out, I'll revert to "Plan B" and install the turn signal/LED DRL combo units used on the Prius v sold in most of the rest of the world.

    I'm glad you bought up the potential issue about heat - I will check that out. The turn signal housings seem pretty roomy and the bulbs are of the small "spade type" (I don't remember the correct term for the bulb type.).
     
  10. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Regarding the amount of heat generated by the turn signal bulbs being lit all the time ...

    After driving about 30 minutes at a maximum of 45 mph today (outside temperature 85 degrees F.), I pressed the palm of my hand firmly against the face of each turn signal lens. Each lens was quite warm. I don't know how warm but I could have pressed by hand against one of the lenses indefinitely without discomfort.

    It really does bear watching to see if the heat generated by the continuously lit turn signal bulbs causes problems over the long or even short term. I rarely drive the car and will ask my wife to notice if the DRL stops working or works intermittently. As DRL, the turn signal bulbs are quite bright and it's often obvious they are working by seeing their reflection on a vehicle ahead when stopped in traffic - even on a bright sunny day like today.
     
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Have the price on these DRL-2P kits from Webelectric been reduced? They are $39.95 now, I thought they were over $100 before?

    Also, thought I'd let other v owners out there know that there are some solid state (no mechanical relays/parts) highbeam DRL control modules on eBay that are simple hookup (5 connections) available now:

    Economy model: $25 + $8 S/H

    Deluxe model: $40 + $8 S/H

    They use the highbeam bulbs at 30% power for the DRL function so heat and glare should not be an issue. I have ordered the deluxe model even though I have been using my homemade one for the last 2 years. Wanted to have solid state module and 30% DRLs (mine are running at approximately 50%).

    The seller is super responsive to questions and concerns and has answered all my questions. I'm not going to lie though, English isn't his first language, so there may be some problems, though his English is pretty good. ;)
     
  12. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    Definitely worth a try - looks substantially easier to install than crawling under the car to connect the DRL-2P kit to the turn signals and preferable for those looking for something that looks more like the OEM high beam based DRL on the 2014 US spec Prius v and for those importing U.S. spec cars into to Canada. I wonder if there is any functional difference between the Economy and Deluxe versions.

    I suspect that these products were formerly used to satisfy the DRL requirement in Poland. The seller may be looking for a new sales outlet now that a single standard non-headlight DRL protocol has been mandated for all EU countries.

    I am not aware of a price reduction on the DRL-2P - still $40 with free shipping. And still working fine after almost six months.
     
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    There are additional wires on the deluxe version that's clearly seen on the pdf installation/instruction file, though I'm not too sure what functionality the extra wires offer. I was trying to determine what those wires were (white and black), but that's where the language barrier popped up. :confused:

    Here is the seller's reply to my question about what the black wire does/is for:

    Black wire off the charging voltage measurement in our unit. In a cheap model of the device must be connected to the lights went out after turning off the car.

    Where cheap model refers to economy model.
     
  14. Ivan White

    Ivan White Junior Member

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    I added the deluxe model to my Prius V Five and used fuse 28 in the underhood fuse box to tap into for power, as suggested for the WebElectric DRL-2P. The DRL high beam lamps seem to go on and off intermittently and the Seller has said I need to use the black wire.

    Anyone else had a problem with the Polish deluxe solid state model? Where did you tap into for power? Thanks.
     
  15. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I installed the deluxe Polish DRL module on our 2011 hatchback and it is working great. I contacted the seller and found out what the white and black wires are for.

    The Black wire: +12v signal wire, connect to switched ignition wire. This provides a manual On signal to the DRL module. Find a fuse in the engine fuse block that is hot only when in Ready Mode and tap it. My take on this is it may be needed in an application for our hybrids with start/stop engines. I have my Black wire tapped into a fuse in the fuse block next to the drivers side of the dash (seat heater), only because I had a previous foglight installation that ran wires through the firewall and have these wires/fuse tapped already. I decided to use the existing wires from my foglight installation to provide the lowbeam headlight signal (green wire on DRL module) and the signal for the Black wire.

    The White wire: An indicator LED or light can be wired, in series, between white wire and ground to indicate when DRL lights are on. Do not use if no signal light used. White wire is powered when the DRL module is supplying the highbeam bulbs at 30% and off when the DRL module is inactive.

    To answer your question on where I am getting power (Red wire on DRL module), I am using the available terminals in our 2011 hatchback, see red wires, one is for my fogklights and the other is for my DRLs. Do you have similar terminals in your v fusebox?

    [​IMG]
     
  16. Ivan White

    Ivan White Junior Member

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    Thanks for that explanation and photo. Yes, my fuse box looks the same and it looks like one of your red + cables is plugged into your 10 amp ECU fuse. I just changed to fuse port #29 because it says it is a fused ignition converter inverter port and will hopefully overcome the in-and-out DRL lamps I am now getting.

    If not, I'll follow your suggestion and plug into a fused ignition port like the seat heaters.
     
  17. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I forgot to mention that I have a relay controlling power to the DRL module on that red wire from the fuse box, since I wasn't comfortable with the DRL module being fed a constant 12v.

    That same ignition switched seat heater fuse tap is supplying both the black wire on the DRL module and the relay for the 12v power wire for the DRL module.

    Hope that isn't confusing.


    SCH-I535
     
  18. Ivan White

    Ivan White Junior Member

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    Not confusing at all. What relay are you using and why the concern over constant 12V power?
     
  19. ImeanGreen

    ImeanGreen Prius v Five BP Brigade #236

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    It will keep your DRL's on all the time without a relay whether your ignition is turned off or on.
     
  20. Ivan White

    Ivan White Junior Member

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    My DRL lamps go off when I hit the power button. Do you mean that there will continue to be 12V power to the module all the time without a relay? What is the potential harm? What relay should I get in order to avoid this and where does it tap in? Thanks for all advice.