Cheap DIY Daytime Running Lights $14.00 Pretty Impressive for The Price

[Hcopter]

After doing the white, under hood LED (Thanks for the tip on that Redneck Garage!) I decided one of these in red would make an attention grabbing tailgate brake light, so I found a red, 47" strip on eBay for $12 and stuck it at the back of the bumper step under the tailgate. It's thin enough it doesn't block the winch hole for the spare and I just wired it to the right brake light since there doesn't seem to be a dedicated brake wire back there. Looks a bit odd with the right signal going but it was cheap and easy.

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[Dad]

After doing the white, under hood LED (Thanks for the tip on that Redneck Garage!) I decided one of these in red would make an attention grabbing tailgate brake light, so I found a red, 47" strip on eBay for $12 and stuck it at the back of the bumper step under the tailgate. It's thin enough it doesn't block the winch hole for the spare and I just wired it to the right brake light since there doesn't seem to be a dedicated brake wire back there. Looks a bit odd with the right signal going but it was cheap and easy.

Very cool look, but I have to wonder if this is legal. Some states forbid a flashing type light on vehicles that are not emergency. I have one 3-flash brake light on my cab and since it doesn't continually flash, it's legal in my state. I'm not sure if the dynamic brake light would be considered only for emergency type vehicles.

 

[Hcopter]

I agree, the flashing could be aproblem, it only happens with the right turn signal or emergency flashers and I'm looking for a way to fix that so the scanning/fill occurs with brakes only. I don't know if they would consider the scanning an issue, I've seen several turn signals do the same, some even from the manufacturer.

 

[gp1200x]

Ok I read all these posts and I think I am missing something. I want this led strip to be on all the time once the truck starts so it needs 12V when ignition is hot. I have a Lariat so you can't tap into the DRL circuit there. The side markers usually only light up when you have your running lights on...which I do not have on during the daytime. So why has no one found a source for a switched 12V lead in the engine bay or tapping from a fuse lead? What am I missing or are the Maverick running lights always on (never looked but that would not be the norm) ???

 

[BLachance75]

I’m pretty sure that the side marker lights are always on

 

[Maverick2023]

After doing the white, under hood LED (Thanks for the tip on that Redneck Garage!) I decided one of these in red would make an attention grabbing tailgate brake light, so I found a red, 47" strip on eBay for $12 and stuck it at the back of the bumper step under the tailgate. It's thin enough it doesn't block the winch hole for the spare and I just wired it to the right brake light since there doesn't seem to be a dedicated brake wire back there. Looks a bit odd with the right signal going but it was cheap and easy.

you probably need a resister to prevent the hyper flashing.

 

[gp1200x]

I’m pretty sure that the side marker lights are always on

It seems my Lariat lights (with no changes from delivery) work as follows.

If set to auto (which happens every time engine starts) the DLRs are on at full strength when the car is in drive during the day. Headlights off and side markings (running lights) are off.
If set to parking lights (running lights) then the side markers are on but the DLRs are now what appears to be half brightness.
If set to manual lights on, side makers are on, headlights are on and DLRs appear to be half brightness. I say half brightness since it is definitely not the bright white light (about half of it) and it is still lit compared to turning off all the lights.

So If I want to leave the lamp switch in auto which provides full DLR intensitiy during the day then I need to hook up the led strip to a 12V switched ignition power circuit. Just turning the light switch from auto to running lights will light up the led strip with the side markers on but turn my DLRs to half brightness.

Someone must have already hit this issue and wired it up to a switched circuit...what did you use?? direct line to panel box?

And did anyone use it with a Bugfender II front delfector without any weird light issues?

 

[Hcopter]

Ok I read all these posts and I think I am missing something. I want this led strip to be on all the time once the truck starts so it needs 12V when ignition is hot. I have a Lariat so you can't tap into the DRL circuit there. The side markers usually only light up when you have your running lights on...which I do not have on during the daytime. So why has no one found a source for a switched 12V lead in the engine bay or tapping from a fuse lead? What am I missing or are the Maverick running lights always on (never looked but that would not be the norm) ???

The under hood light is only really visible at night so you're not missing much by not having it on in the daytime.

 

[Dad]

you probably need a resister to prevent the hyper flashing.

Only if you are REPLACING an incandescent with an LED. If you are adding on a LED where no light existed previously, one does not need the resistor assisted bulb.

 

[TheWizziard]

Only if you are REPLACING an incandescent with an LED. If you are adding on a LED where no light existed previously, one does not need the resistor assisted bulb.

Also not needed if you tap into (not replace) an existing incandescent bulb circuit.

I tapped into the front left clearance light with out a problem.

 

[Dad]

Also not needed if you tap into (not replace) an existing incandescent bulb circuit.

I tapped into the front left clearance light with out a problem.

You are correct. Thanks for filling in that important bit of information to my post.

 

[Wiz]

Very cool look, but I have to wonder if this is legal. Some states forbid a flashing type light on vehicles that are not emergency. I have one 3-flash brake light on my cab and since it doesn't continually flash, it's legal in my state. I'm not sure if the dynamic brake light would be considered only for emergency type vehicles.

I'm thinking of ordering the red to put on the back of my motorhome in the crescent shaped opening as a third brake light. I'll have to get into the brake light wire but I think that's easy because I already have a trailer light hookup.

 

[Dad]

I'm thinking of ordering the red to put on the back of my motorhome in the crescent shaped opening as a third brake light. I'll have to get into the brake light wire but I think that's easy because I already have a trailer light hookup.

That would be wise. I know most states allow one light to flash on braking. Nice looking rig, by the way.

 

[Maverick Grabber]

Looks really cool, how is it used for day-time, is it visible?

 

[Dad]

Looks really cool, how is it used for day-time, is it visible?

The hood covers most of the light, so they are really only visible at night.

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