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How To Install LED DRLs on Your Gen2 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by CatsAreGods, Feb 8, 2015.

  1. CatsAreGods

    CatsAreGods Junior Member

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    2006 Prius
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    I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but never found the right lights. I just happened to be browsing a website someone told me about and found some really inexpensive, new technology COB LEDs and decided to order a few based on the reviews, one of which said "they're so bright you can't look directly at them". I thought it was hyperbole until they showed up at my house (only a week later directly from China!), and they weren't kidding!

    20150207_210032_960x720.jpg
    These lights are very thin, and there's an aluminum bezel, but it just protects the edges and is useless for mounting, so they come with double-sided adhesive tape. The first thing I did was put one in my cargo area in parallel with the little "trunk light". Somehow I blocked the switch on the trunk light so it no longer turns on, but that's OK because you could barely see it anyway. Now my wife complains that it blinds her...go figure!

    Anyway, the first thing I did was put some silicone on the wires as a strain relief, because they are very thin 24 gauge. Then I had to buy 8' of 1/2" aluminum angle at Lowes and some serious Scotch Ultimate double-sided tape that was rated as waterproof (or at least outdoor-capable). I did all the mounting stuff and attached them to the highest louver on the lower grille, and finished up with some cable ties, because I'm a belt-and-suspenders kinda guy.
    20150131_163738_960x720.jpg

    The tricky part was figuring out how to wire everything. After perusing everything useful on the net (85% of which was here on PriusChat), I decided to keep it real simple and do hookups in only one spot. The easiest thing to get to was the little relay box under the middle of the windshield, and it comes off easily with two 10mm bolts. Cut the cable tie where it comes into the box, and carefully pry the back off. Now you can get to the wires themselves.

    You only need two connections here. One goes to the purple wire (it's marked violet in the actual wiring diagrams) on either the PTC HTR1 or PTC HTR2 relay (they both go to the same point, and it provides +12 volts when the Prius is in READY mode). The other goes to the brown wire on the fog light relay, and that goes to +12 volts when any lights (running, low beam, high beam) are on. So I used an SPDT relay for the simple "logic" necessary to turn off the DRLs when the lights are on, per US guidelines.

    I used a fuse coming off the relay to the DRLs, and a ground wire to the engine just a few inches away. I enlarged the mounting hole on the relay and mounted it right to one of the relay box bolts.

    20150207_205449_960x528.jpg

    Hopefully the photos and schematic will explain the rest. Any questions, please ask away!


    Prius DL schematic_547x960.jpg
     
    Justdidit likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well done, great write up and pics, thanks!(y)
     
    CatsAreGods likes this.
  3. CatsAreGods

    CatsAreGods Junior Member

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    Thank you sir/madam! And since I see you're from the Boston area...hope you have snow tires!
     
  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Nice! Do they show up well in bright, sunny conditions lol? I guess you don't really have that now though. ;)
     
  5. CatsAreGods

    CatsAreGods Junior Member

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    Actually, I'm in California, but we're having torrential rains and wind right now so I'm not leaving the garage anyway! I know about Mass. because I have a friend there near Framingham who's seriously snowed in.

    I plan to post updated pics if/when the sun comes back.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    brutal winter, at least you don't have to shovel rain.:cool:
     
    CatsAreGods likes this.
  7. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I wonder how well these Circuit On Board LEDs will hold up to the elements? Please update your experience, do you run your car through automatic car washes?
     
  8. CatsAreGods

    CatsAreGods Junior Member

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    Never use automatic car washes, but I did take a good look at the edges of the circuit board, because I was sure that "cheap LEDs from China", even if claimed waterproof, were going to need more sealing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they appeared to be quite well molded and sealed already. If they fail, I'll certainly post about it.
     
    xliderider likes this.
  9. CatsAreGods

    CatsAreGods Junior Member

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    Anyone here from Roseville, California? I passed through there a week or so ago and saw someone driving with these same LEDs!

    Mine are still going strong, BTW.
     
  10. Vinnie_febs

    Vinnie_febs Junior Member

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    Since these are DRLs, I guess I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of them outside during the day.
     
  11. NivlacK

    NivlacK New Member

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    Mind telling me where you got them from? :)
     
  12. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    There's a lot of them on eBay.
     
  13. NivlacK

    NivlacK New Member

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    Do you know specifically which one he used?