ok, so riding in my moms truck made me want some auto headlights, the ones with the photo sensor that turn on and off automatically. anyway, i've thought about it and i was thinking to just put the photo sensor inline with the part of the stock switch in the on position for the headlights. only problem with this is the car wouldnt know when to turn them off when the car is off.
my question is, is there a module that tells the switch when your turn the car off to shut them off after 10 seconds or whatever? this could probably be done with a time delay relay (and probly is from the factory) that is kicked when the switched power is shut off, but i am hoping to basically transplant this system from another vehicle rather than screwing around with generic electronic parts.
any info is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance
I'd think you could just wire it in with an accessory circuit. Say radio, ignition.... dont matter. I'd say wire the sensor to an accesorry circuit, and wire the headlight to the sensor. I've never done it, so I wouldnt know
auto headlight kits are for potheads.... i got pulled over when I was 16 for driving with my headlights off and going 20 in a 40 cause I was crackin up over a story my buddy was telling me and we had like 5 people in the car.... good fun, good fun.
sounds like a cool idea... but do u just leave the switch in the on position then?
or how does the switch work?
http://www.dsp-mobilityelectronics.com/accessories/head.html
you probably leave the headlights on. the light sensor picks up a no-sunlight situation, waits a predetermined amount of time to make sure you aren't going through a tunnel or something, sends the signal to a relay, it closes, and sends power to the headlights.
Desert Tuners
“When you come across a big kettle of crazy, it’s best not to stir it.”
I'm sure this will require some creative wiring... but would it be possible to run 2 of those units (or have a variable photo sensor) to have the lights come on in stages (park lights during one level of daylight and headlights at another level)?
I don't see why not as the headlights and parking lights are separate circuits from what I know. I do believe there are sensitivity adjustments on these, so you would use that for each circuit.
I saw a few "DIY" kits on the net as well. the issue would be coming up with the PCB or breadboard for it, but definitely doable.
these kits just use a photoelectric cell, which outputs a small signal or no signal, depending on the light situation. there's an op amp to increase the signal from the photoelectric cell to drive a relay. the relay closes, and sends power to your lights. there's also a small RC-based timing circuit or a counter chip as well, so this thing doesn't click your headlights on while driving under a tree.
Desert Tuners
“When you come across a big kettle of crazy, it’s best not to stir it.”
Just find a busted up caddy in a junk yard... pull the complete system out...rig it up to your car following others advice and you will be good. Cadillacs sensors have it to where it leaves the lights on for like 15 seconds after you get out of ur car (for when you forget to turn the lights on and you cant find ur way to ur door or something) and automatically shut off. Why would you want them anyways? Doesnt our cars come with that battery run down thing where it will shut everything off after a while?
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Doesnt our cars come with that battery run down thing where it will shut everything off after a while?
Not the headlights.
It would be a good idea say, for a road trip. One less thing to forget about.
They'd wire into your orange wire into the headlights. It'll work, just make sure you can adjust intensity and delay.
Has anyone tried that kit on ebay because i like this idea and 30 dollars for the stuff to do it isnt bad but how do i know if it works.
My old mans 98 GMC Sadoma has them if u can find one in a junk yard
thanks guys. i know a lot of cars come with them from the factory so it wouldnt be hard to find a vehicle to pull from. just wanted to confirm my thoughts i shall let you know what i come up with, that first link posted seems like a pretty solid kit as well as the ebay one. may just be easier to pick up one of those and throw it in.
