[KiwiEV]

Ahoy folks!

I'm now living in Slovakia (as you do) and believe it or not, hello in Slovak is Ahoj, pronounced exactly like "Ahoy". The world's annual Speak Like a Pirate Day is kinda lost here...

Anyway, as I'm inbetween conversions, I bought myself a little gas guzzler yesterday (a 1998 Daewoo Matiz) but the law here is very strict about having your headlights on EVERY time you drive.

Back in New Zealand it wasn't the law, so naturally I keep forgetting to turn on my headlights. Then, when I DO remember, I forget to turn them off!

There's no ding-dong reminder, and the headlights work whether the ignition's on or off.

I can easily re-route the headlight switch to the "Accessories" of the key - that part's simple.
But, how do I delay the lights turning on by a few seconds (so that I'm not always starting the car with the headlights on)? I heard using a capacitor somewhere could work, but I'm not sure how exactly.

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Ektus]

I could envision various solutions for your problem. One would be to simply add a buzzer between "Key on ACC" and the headlights after the normal light switch. That one would buzz continuously if either the key is off and the lights on, or vice versa

For your time delay, check out the company "Finder". Type 80.11 - On-delay, multi-voltage should do the trick.

Data sheet:
http://www.finder.de/comuni/pdf/S80EN.pdf

Those devices are available at big vendors like Reichelt, Conrad and more.


Regards
Ektus.

 

[KiwiEV]

I could envision various solutions for your problem. One would be to simply add a buzzer between "Key on ACC" and the headlights after the normal light switch. That one would buzz continuously if either the key is off and the lights on, or vice versa

For your time delay, check out the company "Finder". Type 80.11 - On-delay, multi-voltage should do the trick.

Data sheet:
http://www.finder.de/comuni/pdf/S80EN.pdf

Those devices are available at big vendors like Reichelt, Conrad and more.


Regards
Ektus.

Lovely, will investigate those now! Thanks very muchly.
I've also found this eHow article here which seems simple enough too.
Now I've just got to find a place to buy an LED and a capacitor in Slovakia... Hmm.

 

[ws64play]

Hi, What do you think about adding a "T" to the engine oil pressure port and then connecting an additional oil pressure switch to energize a relay to turn the lights on when the engine is running and when the engine is off, no oil pressure the switch is open and the lights will be off?

Have a Great EVening,
Wayne A
www.waynesev.com

 

[mora]

How about wiring a buzzer between lights and switch which operates your indoor lights when you open a door? So if you have headlights on and you open a door the buzzer sounds. No re-wiring and you can't forget your headlights on anymore.

 

[madmike8]

Search "time delay relay 12v" on ebay and take your pick...

 

[dougingraham]

It is unclear to me why you care about turning off the lights when you are cranking the motor. When the voltage sags during cranking it is probably only pulling 5 or 6 amps. An insignificant amount compared to the cranking amps.

 

[KiwiEV]

All good points, and the oil pressure idea is a really interesting one!
Dougngraham, you have a point. With headlights and tail lights on the batterie's only drawing maybe 120 watts / 10 amps so I think I'll just wire the headlight switch off the Ignition power after all.