LED - head lights (DRL)

[syscon]

Does anybody knows if LED - head lights (DRL - Daytime Running Lights) will be available for TCH?
I'm sure they would be easier on battery? Maybe 2012 model will be available with ones.

[jordan_lin]

I am not sure if they will, but at the mean time, i am adding LED DRL to my TCH and disabling the factoring high beam DRL. will upload the picture when i am done.

[ukrkoz]

which sort of makes me ask a question: which battery are headlights actually running off? hybrid or 12V? most likely off alternator while driving.
i am simply trying to picture what benefit is it? if it's running off alternator, then who gives? not gonna give you any mpg improvement, right?
i mean, i understand the cool factor. so do i understand potential hassle to this 4 wheeled electronics can.

[jordan_lin]

the DRL is running of the high beam so for sure it's using 12v system. that means it's getting power from the alternator for sure. power wise, i will be running about 6 watt LED on each side. i am not sure how much power the DRL is at, but assuming 50% duty cycle you are still looking at around 25w on each bulb. so i will save about 38w total. since i am using less power, the engine doesn't need to run as hard as before. i guess i will be saving some fuel (but not significant for sure). doing all this is just for cool factor.

[ukrkoz]

khool factor it is. of course, cost of the project times hassle of messing something up vs hypothetical (??!!) savings....

but hey, what is that we, men, won't do for khool factor, right? like me moving stupid mike overhead...

[arabianobsession]

All of the car's accessories run off of the 12v battery, not the hybrid battery.

[ukrkoz]

man, i just love that name. makes me think of 1001 Nights right away!

will it be too much of stretch to consider headlights running off alternator in ICE mode? which is most of normal driving?

isn't HSD battery feeding headlights in HSD mode? I honestly don't know. I am not even sure if headlights are considered accessory. But I am learning and very fast, from knowledgeable explanations. and those I am grateful for.

[arabianobsession]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

man, i just love that name. makes me think of 1001 Nights right away!

will it be too much of stretch to consider headlights running off alternator in ICE mode? which is most of normal driving?

isn't HSD battery feeding headlights in HSD mode? I honestly don't know. I am not even sure if headlights are considered accessory. But I am learning and very fast, from knowledgeable explanations. and those I am grateful for.

Thank you I created the name originally for my aol account about 7 years ago, back when we lived on a farm raising Arabian horses.

[ukrkoz]

oh yeahh... brings memories... knew a gal back in Alabama that was doing same. very cool!

[andym1978]

All car accessories (except AC) are run by the 12v battery, which is topped off by a step down converter (14.4v) running off the hybrid NiMH battery.

The more power accessories draw, the faster the hybrid battery depletes, which means less power for assist. The end result is reduced MPG. A high power device like the AC draws a lot of power, which makes a noticeable difference in MPG.

Adding LED DRLs won't make a noticeable short-term difference in MPG (unless you add up the savings over moths and years), but will look very cool. I swapped all of my interior lights for LEDs and love the look. As a bonus, my wife left an interior light on once for 2 whole days, and the 12v battery was fine. LEDs typically draw less than 1/6th the power of halogens for equal light output.

To summarize, alternator power does not come free. On a normal car, putting a load on the alternator will put more drag on the engine, even while cruising on the highway. On an older car, while idling (to make it more noticeable), turn on all PURE electrical accessories (blower fans, high beams, stereo, rear defrost, etc) and watch the RPM's drop from the strain. You may even get belt squeal from the load if the belt is old.