Driving with the headlights always on

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

I have been driving with my headlights on too. I like the fact that when you turn off the car and open the driver's door the lights automatically shut off. I am looking into a DRL solution for my yellow turn signals instead of my headlights.

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

Non HID all you will end up doing is replacing the halogen bulbs more often. That's DIY although a bit of a hassle

For HID Prius owners, do NOT run the headlights all the time. The bulbs/igniters are *very* expensive to replace. Cars and SUV's here with HID, such as Range Rover, Mercedes, Lexus, all use dedicated DRL bulbs

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

I ave driven with my lights on since day one with my Prius.

I replaced the left bulb at about 20k and the right at about 25k. I used regular bulbs rather than Silver stars.

I now have about 70k on my car with no further outages.

Changing the bulbs can be a hassle as mentioned above: primarily because you have to feel what you are doing rather than being able to see. I found that a small mirror helped some.

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

The standard headlights draw somewhere in neighborhood of 5 amps. (Not sure whether HIDs draw more.) That's a small drain on the battery, relatively speaking, but it will require a wee bit of engine power to replenish it. Though the actual impact on fuel economy is almost certainly insignificant, it is in part for that reason that some who are obsessed with FE choose not to run headlights in the day. Won't say who those someones are.

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

Plus the photons exiting the headlamps create a small amount of thrust in an undesirable direction (just for those really obsessing about mileage).

Tom

 

Yeah, but don't the red photons out the back create even more thrust? Hmmm...that means the brakes aren't as effective as they could be...

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

Hi SeaSalsa,

That's good to know about the expected longevity of the OEM halogen bulbs when they're constantly on (20-25k).

So what replacement bulbs did you use that have so far given you 40-45k and are still going strong?

Is the light at least as bright as the OEM's?

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Hi rep308,

FYI, when your OEM bulbs burn out, I think you should consider not replacing them with OEM bulbs from your Toyota dealer. I hear that Toyota charges $45-$50 for one OEM halogen bulb (plus labor). You can do better in all regards going outside OEM halogens.

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

So the general consensus here is *not* to leave the HID headlights on all the time, correct? I have the HIDs and I don't want to replace them before I have to. Thanks for the advice!! I've been leaving them on all the time, but I think now I'll only use them at night.

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

Yes, I think that's true. And in part because of the high replacement cost of the OEM HID bulbs (I hear Toyota dealers charge around $350 for each bulb alone -- installation is extra).

But I believe I've read elsewhere on PriusChat about some members modifying their OEM halogen fog lights so that they can turn them on independently of the HIDs; and by so doing, they're able to use the fog lights as daytime running lights, as well as having better performance of the fog lights in fog (no reflective glare-back from the HIDs).

 

Re: Driving with the head lights always on

I used the standard GE 9003 and have noticed no difference in brightness from the OEM bulbs.

 

Just a warning. Having the fog/driving lights only on is illegal in Canada and the US. That's why they can only be turned on when the headlamps are on.

The halogen bulbs draw 5 Amps each on low beam and 7 Amps each on high beam. The HIDs draw about half that. Yup, they're brighter AND draw less power!

I like Hella bulbs as replacements, but as I currently have three Phillips replacement H4 or 9003 bulbs from previous cars, I guess I will use them if they are ever needed (never needed them on the previous cars, even with them being on as DRLs). You can get much brighter Hella bulbs but be aware, they are illegal, though I'm not sure how a police officer would be able to tell you have put in higher power ones without removing one to check. They run the same colour temp as the stock legal bulb. I've seen stock low beam power, and 80 to 120W high beam power (stock high beam is 60W). Note the Watt rating is at 12V and the cars system runs at 13.8V. If you do decide to put in higher power bulbs you will have to worry about melting the plastic housings and the wire insulation if you go too high.

Note also my statement of the current draw is based on my measurements. I know it doesn't mathematically match the bulb watt rating. C'est la vie.

 

I also like to drive with lights on. I have a 2008 Prius with HID lights. I purchased a DLR kit from WEB Electric. Their schematic for the module is great. However, I have a problem with the car's part of it. I thought I could connect the module and it would work. I was able to access all the wiring in the car, but it didn't work. Has anyone completed this mod on a 2008 with package 6? If so, do you have the required car wiring color codes to hook up the module? I went ahead and disconnected the module until I can get more info. Thanks

 

Duh. Red photons, longer wavelength, lower energy. Sometimes I really wonder what went wrong with our educational system. :fish:

 

How about saving on gas by driving at night with the headlights OFF?

 

In reply to Raintree. I posted my thread under the "Technical Discussion" section. I, like the others just wanted to obtain information to accomplish a task. Some of us prefer to drive with DLR for safety. Maybe a few drivers are doing it for fuel conservation. I do not criticize drivers who don't use their lights. I don't know the purpose of your reply, I hope it was for humor.

 

Sorry, just trying to make a joke.

 

I've done that, but not to save gas. In my younger days we used to chase each other all over the county in Jeeps. At night you would turn off your headlights for stealth mode. It's a wonder any of us survive to be adults.

Tom

 

Doc:
Sometimes I really wonder what went wrong with our educational system.

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Sorry for this question; I'll claim that I got my formal education before these things were invented --

How do I quote a previous poster & get it to appear in that rectangular window/box?

P.S. red photons at 670 nanometers

 

Click on the Quote icon on the bottom right corner of the post, like I just did on yours.