Canadian DRLs [Archive]

kboutsider

08-12-2009, 04:25 PM

Do the lights go off when you apply the parking brake? I was sorting through some wiring diagrams. I did post a link to the Shop Manual as well.

Yes they do but the light comes on in the dash, which I don't want for a couple of reasons 1 being that light comes on when you have a brake issue and 2nd it's annoying.

Yes thanks a million for the shop manual post grabbed that as soon as I saw it haven't had a chance to look at it though had to go to work.

Davebert

08-12-2009, 04:37 PM

Do the lights go off when you apply the parking brake? I was sorting through some wiring diagrams. I did post a link to the Shop Manual as well.

Yes, the DRL turns off when the hand/parking brakes are applied.

From the diagram that you posted, I think the DRL module is missing because it just show the lo-beam connected to a relay getting power directly from the battery. This might be a US model diagram.

It would not be hard to come up with a circuit to turn the fog lights on to run them as DRL instead of the lo-beams. The hardest part is doing a nice wiring harness with the proper connectors to avoid cutting up the original factory harness.

skyhawk

08-12-2009, 08:14 PM

We need an electronics person.

I don't have the wiring diagram for the Canadian Mazda5.
It is possible the Canadian MZ5 DRL is only a routine in the computer programming itself.

conditions for drl for example are:

- Engine running
- Light switch not in OFF position
- HAnd brake not pulled up
- Light sensor not detecting 'Night',

The computer can sense the above easily.
Then to do a DRL function, the system
- computer simply turns on 'headlight low' relay.
- relay sends 12 volts to the headlights.
=================

It Will not be easy to automatically divert that 12v to the foglights
and back for normal headlight functions.

====

If the car does not yet have a drl, then it is easy. Just buy those
drl add-ons from Canadian tire..

Davebert

08-14-2009, 12:23 PM

I spent a couple of hours yesterday coming up with a circuit to get the fog lights to go on as DRL instead of the using the lo-beam lights. From my experience with my HID conversion, I believe the lo-beam lights runs at reduce power when in DRL mode. This is accomplished by sending a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to the lo-beam lights. The ratio between the on and off time of the PWM signal determines the power (or brightness) of the lo-beam lights.

Based on this assumption I when ahead and designed a circuit, here is what I have come up with. I have tested it on a test bench and it works like this:

DRL off ----> Fog lights off, lo-beams off
DRL on ----> Fog lights on, lo-beams off
Lo-beams on ----> Fog lights off

With the lo-beams on, the circuit still allows you to turn the fog lights on. You can still manually switch the lo-beams and fog lights on and off using the factory switch next to the steering wheel.

As I have mentioned before the hardest part is to locate a source for the proper H11 and H7 connectors to build a wiring harness so one does not have to cut in to the original factory harness to do this mod. Here is the schematic, anyone with suggestions are welcome.

PS:Is it legal to use the log lights as DRL?

http://i28.tinypic.com/25rpgsy.jpg

AwaKeN

08-14-2009, 01:36 PM

Yes it's legal tu use the fog lights as DRL, just check the Neon and the Murano. If you would be able to do a "howto" to put the fogs independant would be a lot more usefull !

Davebert

08-17-2009, 06:29 PM

Yes it's legal tu use the fog lights as DRL, just check the Neon and the Murano. If you would be able to do a "howto" to put the fogs independant would be a lot more usefull !

I do not have all the parts needed to build a proper harness. I am missing a couple of correct relays and sockets. I can certainly put everything together once I get the relays but I do not know where I can get the proper H7 and H11 connectors. I can document everything including the building of the circuit and wiring up the relays. All the parts (relays, Mosfets, diodes, resistors, capacitors, fuse, fuse holders, wires, wire looms, prototype board and project box) not including the H7 and H11 connector should come in under $20CAN.

I might be able to start the circuit on Thursday or Friday. My other car's fuel pump just sprang a leak. I will need to replace it but not in this heat that we are currently experiencing. I will update this thread as things progress.

PS:AwaKeN, if you are brave enough you can be the guinea pig for this project since I was not planning to do this mode (at least not until there is a bright enough LED H11 light to replace the Halogen fog lights that we have now).

AwaKeN

08-17-2009, 08:23 PM

I have HID now in my fogs, if i can be sure that you will not screw up my M5 i have no problem to be the guinea pig !

Davebert

08-17-2009, 10:24 PM

I have HID now in my fogs, if i can be sure that you will not screw up my M5 i have no problem to be the guinea pig !

I have designed it so the factory fog and lo-beam outputs are isolated from each other and from my circuit with the 1N4001 diodes. If anything bad should happen with my circuit it will not find its way back to the factory connection. I used to build and compete autonomous sumo robots when I was an University student. So I know how to interface and isolate hi power applications to sensitive microelectronics.

The biggest issues for me is the mechanical aspect such as finding a way to house and mount the relays and circuit board. The other is just getting the right length of wires, route them nicely and sourcing the proper H7 and H11 connectors.

Check your PM, I am sending you a link to some of my sumo robots.

AwaKeN

08-18-2009, 08:45 AM

Your project is very cool Dave, if you want a Guinea Pig just contact me hehe, and if you speak french it will be better ! My english is not so good :P

kboutsider

08-19-2009, 02:45 AM

This is way more complicated then when I did this to my P5. I would test this on my car as well.

AwaKeN

08-19-2009, 03:14 AM

This is way more complicated then when I did this to my P5. I would test this on my car as well.

Be careful, this shema is for Canadian model WITH DRL !

Davebert

08-19-2009, 06:21 AM

Some good news, I found a source for the H7 and H11 sockets. It was posted by Bigdogoh in the "Lamp Replacement Guide MAZDA 5" thread. The company is autolumination located in AZ.

http://autolumination.com/connectors.htm

I just need a little more info from AwaKeN on his HID conversion so I can order the correct sockets.

AwaKeN, is both your lo-beam and fog lights HID? If they are HID, did you use the relay harness kit when doing your conversion? I need to know this so I can order the appropriate quantity and correct gender H7 and H11 sockets.

Dave

AwaKeN

08-19-2009, 06:44 AM

My hid on the low beam i have the relay harness that is connected to the "remote" wire on the corner. and my HID in the fog lights is plug with the original harness (H11) Hope it's more clear like that ?

kboutsider

08-21-2009, 06:24 AM

Be careful, this shema is for Canadian model WITH DRL !

Yes and that is exactly what I have. That's why I started this thread.

kboutsider

09-07-2009, 05:35 PM

Any progress on this? I've been trying a few different things and haven't gotten anywhere.

Davebert

09-07-2009, 10:47 PM

Any progress on this? I've been trying a few different things and haven't gotten anywhere.

I had some difficulties in finding the proper H11 and fuse connectors. The only places I was able to find them are in the US (I'm in Canada), I order them a couple of weeks ago from 2 different sources and I hope they will be arriving this week.

I have started with some documentations and will take pictures while I am assembling the circuit. The challenge is making it plug and play without modifying or cutting the original factory harness. The harness needs tol work for someone who has done the HID lo-beam and or fog light conversion, or just stock configuration.

There will be some updates to this later this week.

AwaKeN

09-08-2009, 08:21 AM

Great job Dave !

kboutsider

09-08-2009, 08:42 AM

Thanks Dave. I'll be looking forward to the updates.

Davebert

09-14-2009, 06:47 PM

Sorry for the lack of progress with this project. I have received the H11 connectors but not the fuse holders. So I have decided to assembly the circuit instead of keep on waiting for everything to arrive. The portion of the circuit in the box on the schematic diagram is what is soldered onto the prototype board.

http://i28.tinypic.com/30hld9y.jpg

Here is the top view of the circuit assembled:
http://i25.tinypic.com/ta69n5.jpg

Here is the bottom view. The black marks on the board is where wires will go for the harness. The 2 arrows indicate where the trace was cut because they should not be connected.
http://i28.tinypic.com/30caav5.jpg

I will have to do some measurements to see how long to cut the wires for the harness. Hopefully I will have some time tomorrow to make the harness.

AwaKeN

09-15-2009, 08:58 AM

Wow that`s totally crazy !

kboutsider

09-15-2009, 09:31 PM

Wow that`s totally crazy !

x2

Davebert

09-15-2009, 11:31 PM

I started to assembly the harness today but ran into some problems with the wiring. I only have the wiring diagram that do not have the DRL circuit and according to that diagram the lo-beam via the connector gets power from the relay, then to the halogen light and then goes directly to ground.

The DRL circuit can be wired 2 ways:

+12V --> DRL module --> lo-beam halogen light --> ground
or
+12V --> lo-beam halogen light --> DRL module --> ground

I have to determined which way the M5 is wired because this will affect how the MOSFETs are wired. I found the polarity of the factory lo-beam connector when I was doing my HID conversion but did not measure to find out if the negative part was going directly to ground.

Finished work too late tonight to do any measurements because I do not have a garage and cannot do this on the street in the dark. Also the wife does not like it when I fiddle with the car so I have to do this when she is not around.

AwaKeN

09-16-2009, 08:49 AM

Also the wife does not like it when I fiddle with the car so I have to do this when she is not around.

Unfortunatly, you are not the only one in that situation hahahah

Davebert

09-17-2009, 12:03 AM

I managed to check the wiring of the H7 connector before I left for work today. I also found that the colors on the wires does not match up to what is stated in the factory wiring diagram. Here is the way the DRL circuit on my 2006 Canadian Mazda 5 is wired:

+12V --> DRL module --> lo-beam H7 halogen light --> ground

The polarity of the H7 female connectors is as followed:
http://i29.tinypic.com/21b845w.jpg

I worked on the harness today. I was rushing and ended up making some wiring mistakes. After a couple of hours I finished and tested the Fog light portion of the circuit. I ran out of large gauge crimped 1/4" female spade connectors. I will see if Canadian Tire or The Source have them, if not I will go to our local surplus place in the weekend.

In the meantime I can finish wiring and test the rest of the harness and just put the spade connectors on later. The end is near.

AwaKeN

09-17-2009, 08:16 AM

I think you will make a lot of cash selling those harness, if it's almost plug and play, a lot of us will buy you this harness me first !

Thanks a lot for your great work Dave !

kboutsider

09-17-2009, 06:51 PM

Me second.... and great work btw.

Davebert

09-21-2009, 08:36 PM

The harness and circuit is 90% complete. It has been tested on the bench and it work as it should.

DRL on --> fog lights on, lo-beams off
Lo-beams on --> fog lights off
Lo-beams on, fog lights on

The only item left is to put a heat shrink over the controller board and determine the polarity of the factory H11 fog light connector because the H11 connector I have is polarized and can only fit in one way. I will see if I can replace this with 2 1/8" male crimp connectors.

Here are the revised schematics for stock configuration (Halogen fog and lo-beam), H7 (lo-beam) HID conversion with relay harness, and H7 with H11 (lo-beam and fog) HID conversion with relay harnesses. The same controller circuit can be use for all 3 configurations, the only difference is the use of relay(s) and extra wires.

http://i35.tinypic.com/i5ndc2.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/14m9e9u.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/2wmnj3m.jpg

Here is the almost completed harness for H7 HID conversion that have a relay harness. The only thing missing is the heat shrink over the controller board and the connectors to go to the factory H11 connector.

http://i35.tinypic.com/2zsxsvc.jpg

The last step is to actually tested on the car. This will have to wait until the weekend.

AwaKeN

09-21-2009, 10:02 PM

Wow, i'm speechless ! hehe Great work Dave, How much (approx) does it cost you to do that ?

AZeitzM5

09-23-2009, 02:07 PM

Looks Great. Can't wait to see how this looks and how well it work.

Davebert

09-23-2009, 11:51 PM

Have been busy at work the past few days. I will have a parts list with prices tomorrow. I am trying to source all the parts from 1 or 2 suppliers and will substitute the 3 H11 sockets ($15CAN) with 6 1/8" crimp quick disconnects ($2CAN) used in the fog light portion of the harness to keep the cost down.

Davebert

09-25-2009, 01:24 AM

Here is the parts list and their prices. There is a column for "Stock Halogen" which is the factory setup. Another one is for someone that has already done the H7 HID conversion using a relay harness, it will also work for someone that has done a H11 HID conversion and did not use a relay harness.

I source the parts from 2 places:

http://www.digikey.ca

http://www.addison-electronique.com/

To sum it up if you have a stock system it will cost $40.66 and if you already have done a H7 (with H7 relay harness) and or H11 (without H11 relay harness) conversion the cost just for parts are $29.17.

If I were to make the harness, there is also the labor cost, I estimate that it will take me 1.5 to 2 hours to build and test a harness, and there is also the shipping cost. I will have to draw the wiring diagram and make sure the parts list is correct to finalist the list.

AwaKeN

09-25-2009, 08:21 AM

How much for a complete set like this with labor ?

- H7 HID with relay and H11 with HID (no relay)

I will go take it since you are in MTL i will save on shipping and see how it install !

DKaz

09-25-2009, 02:29 PM

Dude put me down on the list, I'll buy one!

kboutsider

09-26-2009, 02:58 PM

I'll take one too. Just let me know when/if you will be making these available to buy.

Davebert

09-28-2009, 07:33 PM

I have been trying to document this if anyone wants to build this themselves. As I was drawing up the wiring diagram I realized that I can make some changes to make installation a little easier. I will also be updating the original parts list to reflect the changes, the new parts are 3/8", 3/4" black and 3/8" red wire looms to protect the wires.

Now to the disclaimer, this to me is considered an experiment mod and people who decide to do this mod is doing it at their own risk. I am not responsible for any damages to your car if you try duplicate what I am doing and install this into your car.

It may be easy for me to do this mod but I need to know how difficult it is for others who is also trying to do this. So, I would feel much more comfortable if Montreal area members try this first, this way I can provide assistance and advise before making a kit available to the rest of the members. This way, if there are any issues such as installation procedure or changes to the circuit they can resolved locally.

I can make up another harness by this weekend and can help a local member in the installation of it if there are any takers. I will provide some installation instructions for him or her to follow and will be present during the installation to provide assistance if required. Does this sound reasonable approach? Any input and advise is welcome.

AwaKeN

09-29-2009, 08:40 AM

If you have another kit and want a guinea pig just tell me.

Davebert

09-29-2009, 06:11 PM

Thanks AwaKeN, which day is best for you? Sunday afternoon is best for me, this will give me time to also do the installation procedure. I do not have a garage and looks like rain this weekend. Do you have some place dry to work?

I will get started on the harness using the new wiring method.

AwaKeN

09-30-2009, 09:11 AM

Sunday we celebrate my sun's birthday. I will be able to do that on monday (action de grace) or the next weekend and i have a garage, if you want to come you are more than welcome :P

Davebert

09-30-2009, 09:46 AM

Monday evening will be fine with me. I will PM you with more details.

Davebert

10-20-2009, 12:38 AM

I was finally able to meet up with AwaKeN on Saturday to actually test the harness. The installation was easy, the only hard part was getting access to the fog lights.

The bad news is that we could not get the fog lights to come on when in DRL mode. The lo-beam was on all the time but the fog lights would come on when using the switch on the signaling stock. The only test equipment I brought with me was a multimeter which was not enough to diagnose the problem. The only thing I was able to do was to measure the working DRL voltage. So, we took the harness off.

I had a couple of days to think about it and bench tested the harness again tonight and I think I found the problem. My assumption on the working voltage of the DRL was a little too low I had it set for around 7-8 volts but the actual DRL voltage is around 10.5V. So while testing the harness on the car it would think that the lo-beam was on even when it is in DRL mode. This can be easily remedy by changing a resistor and capacitor value.

A big thanks to AwaKeN and it was also very nice to meet someone from this forum.

AwaKeN

10-20-2009, 08:34 AM

Anytime Dave, it was very cool to meet you and practice my english hehe !

Fivo

10-20-2009, 07:27 PM

Can't wait to see if you can get it to work Davebert!

AZeitzM5

11-13-2009, 04:32 PM

Can't wait to see if this works. Right now I drive around with my DRL low beams and fogs on all the time. I would like to have just the fogs as my DRL.

Davebert

11-13-2009, 11:23 PM

Sorry for not updating this thread, I injured my knee rock climbing a few weeks ago and ended up straining my other knee compensating for the bad one. I have started to work on it again a couple of days ago and just finished testing it today after work.

I have changed the value of a capacitor and resistor to make sure the DRL signal will not falsely trigger the circuit. Also, I have added a switch to allow the setup to revert back to the stock configuration (DRL --> Lo-beam on) in case one of the fog lights are burned out or in the unlikely event of getting stop by the police for having fog lights on during the day.

I was hoping this project would be done by now. I will not be able to install it into the car until my knee gets better(cannot bent one knee more than 30 degrees). From our last experiment the installation is pretty straight forward and can be done in around an hour.

That is all for now.

SGT_OKINAWA

11-15-2009, 05:32 PM

Sorry for not updating this thread, I injured my knee rock climbing a few weeks ago and ended up straining my other knee compensating for the bad one. I have started to work on it again a couple of days ago and just finished testing it today after work.

(confused)

Good God man, don't hurt yourself anymore ... (sick) take it easy, it's just headlights. :)

we don't want to see stuff like this:

http://www.seiritsu-int.com/contents/2008110411510000-thumb.jpg

Take care of yourslef and get it done some day, the hollidays are really going to suck if you mess yourslef up even more.

Peace!(rei)

yangsui

11-15-2009, 05:34 PM

WOW, first time encountering other people who want to do a PROPER fogs as DRL mod. Kudos to you fellas.

I had this problem in the summer of 08 and here is my solution:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3773175

My post was promptly ignored by everyone. I guess because the mostly American population on this forum don't have to deal with the Canadian DRL system.

Anyway, my approach was a little less elegant than what y'all are trying to do since it involved cutting and splicing into the lighting system wiring.

It's been a while so let's see if I can explain my solution.
The basics are:
1. trick the DRL module into thinking the parking brake is always up thus disabling the daytime running lights.
2. splice the fog light relay line into the ignition wire so that the fog lights have power anytime the key is in the "ON" position.
3. add a SPDT relay to kill power to the fogs when the parking brake is up.
4. add another SPDT relay to kill power to the fogs when the main headlights turn on. But set up the circuit in such a way that the fogs can still be turned on/off with the stock fog light switch.

Optional: I also put in two DPDT switches to switch between my custom circuit and the original connections. That way I can sort of return my car to stock if necessary to pass safety check or whatever. Just in case.

I hope my diagrams are much clearer than my explanation above. The end result was that my fog lights work exactly like DRLs. The only down side is that the parking brake light on the dash no longer light up when the parking brake is up. But really, who needs a light to tell them the parking brake is up?

I've run this setup for over a year now without any issues.

SPDT relays can be bought from any performance shop. I paid $10 for those two relays. The DPDT switches I bought from the Source for a few bucks each. So cost is not an issue. The most difficult part was identifying the correct wires to cut/splice but all the information is in the Protege shop manual. Also there was very little room to work in and you have to lay in a awkward and uncomfortable position to get at the wiring.

Davebert, good luck with building a module. That's a much cooler solution than my hack job. But I hope my working solution can help somebody out.

Davebert

11-16-2009, 02:50 PM

(confused)

Good God man, don't hurt yourself anymore ... (sick) take it easy, it's just headlights. :)

Take care of yourslef and get it done some day, the hollidays are really going to suck if you mess yourslef up even more.

Peace!(rei)

I afraid I am my own worst enemy. I should have stop going to the climbing gym when my left knee started to hurt, instead I climbed another 5 or 6 nights before I had to stop. Now it is 3 weeks later, my left knee is fine but my right knee is letting me know that I should not have climb with just one good leg.

I have already started with up documentations and will post a wiring diagram today.