[perl]

I have read through the various threads on adding driving lamps AND adding rear fog-lamps to NA models. Now, what I would like to do is...

Add a pair of driving lamps (Cibie or Hella) AND use the center toggle on a European toggle set to control them. Probably using the Helix Rally Lighting bar. Plus, I would like the existing LED used to indicate when the rear fog lamps are on to indicate when the driving lamps are lit. (I wired my rear fog lights to the brake lights already.)

I can get the lamps and order the Euro toggle switch set. What I am looking for is a way to redeploy the actual center toggle & PCB connections (intended for the rear fogs) to control the lamps. There have been several postings on this including a proposed external (not using the BC1) circuit to control the rear fog lamps. I could easily adapt that approach.

However, I have not seen all of this addressed in one succinct place. Adding to the confusion, the online installation diagram (2003 MCS, XENON/Washers) indicates some connections that don't make sense- like why do the driving lamps connect to the radio? And, is the bonnet reinforcement only required with the Mini lamps or is it a good idea in general with any added lamps, even if I use the Helix bar?

Has anyone attempted this, or does someone at least have all the information collected in one place?

perl

[perl]

In another thread [Do Your Fog toggle switches light up?]
MickeyTheMini http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...1#post 221942 wrote...

Quote:

Originally posted by mikeythemini
Here is my bit, but you do it at your own risk
Each time you flick the rear fog switch, a negative pulse is given out of the switch panel on the Black/yellow wire.

The first time you flick it , the computer switches fog on, 2nd time - switches them off and so on. (Each time I touched an earth to this wire the fogs would switch on or off.)

When the fogs are switched on by the computer, a live signal is sent back to the switch panel on the yellow/blue wire, to bring on the little led. (When I connect a live to this wire the led lights)...

...A special type of relay will be required that both latches and cycles on /off from the same wire...

...The theory:. Chop the Black/yellow and Yellow/blue wires a few cm from the switch panel. Connect the Black/Yellow from the switch panel to the trigger terminal on our relay. Connect the positive terminal on the relay to a sidelight live (grey/yellow at rear lamp)(so the fogs only operate with lights on)FUSE IT Connect the output from the relay to the rear fog lamp wires (Yellow/Black right, Yellow Brown Left)(I would chop them so dissconnected from the computer) Connect an extra wire to the output terminal to the Yellow/Blue on the switch panel for the LED.

Well, it seems to me this could be simplified for controlling driving lamps. All that is necessary is to use the relay's latched switch leads to replace the switch that is included in the factory driving lamp harness. A hot lead from the switched side of the relay would be fed back to the Yellow/Blue on the switch panel to light up the LED.

In this mode presumably the factory driving lamp harness connections to the BC1 and the radio (I'd still like to know what that is for) would assure that the lamps only worked in conjunction with the high beams.

Has anyone tried the suggestion above (it was posted last November) or made any progress with the suggested design?

perl

[perl]

I have looked over the driving lights wiring schematic posted at Mini Instructions. In particular, I looked over the schematic
and noticed a few things of interest:

* The switch (I) (upper right corner) appears to me a momentary contact type with an internal LED (Could someone with the factory lamps confirm this?).

This suggests that the drv lamp switch may do exactly what the toggle switch does (momentarily ground a lead and then light an LED) and might, in fact, be capable of being replaced by a spare rear fog lamp toggle switch.

* For some odd reason (Can't someone explain) the switch connects to pin 14 of the radio.

* The relay (H) also connects to the radio (pin 14) again, why?

* The harness also connects to pin 15 of the BC1. This suggests (based on the Rear Fog thread) that pin 15 is used to indicate whether the headlights are on high or dipped/dimmed.

Finally, has anyone here been able to order the driving lamp harness without the lamps?

perl

[scooterboy]

Quote:

Originally posted by perl
* For some odd reason (Can't someone explain) the switch connects to pin 14 of the radio.

Pin 14 on the radio is the illumination control. When the headlights go on, the radio display dims.

[headly21]

Is there a discussion anywhere that addresses wiring the rally lamps so that you can run them independently of the headlamps? My dealer installed them and the only time I can use them is if I have the headlamps AND brights on. They said they're not legally allowed to wire it the way I want, but that I can do it and they won't tell anyone
I'll have to check out the local statutes and find out whether this is a state of Florida thing, or a US thing.

Anyone else have a similar sitcheeayshun?

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by headly21

I'll have to check out the local statutes and find out whether this is a state of Florida thing, or a US thing.

Anyone else have a similar sitcheeayshun?

In VA, Driving lights can only come on when Hi-Beams are on. Fogs can only come on when Lo-Beams are on, and must go off when Hi-Beams are turned on. It is a state mandated thing. Sounds right for FL. Some states don't care.

Dain

[headly21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gr8Dain

In VA, Driving lights can only come on when Hi-Beams are on. Fogs can only come on when Lo-Beams are on, and must go off when Hi-Beams are turned on. It is a state mandated thing. Sounds right for FL. Some states don't care.

Dain

Ah, okay. As long as legislators are making those decisions, I'm satisfied with that. They do, after all, know what's best for us.

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by headly21

Ah, okay. As long as legislators are making those decisions, I'm satisfied with that. They do, after all, know what's best for us.

Don't they always know best?

I once hunted down the VA law that set the procedure when I failed an inspection. The law is kind of convoluted (aren't they all), but complete with what is expected. And since I am a good law abiding boy, I try to wire my accessorries so. Once in my Celica, I installed fogs, but went the easy direct wire way (it would fail). I took it to an inspection station with only one guy. He asked me to turn the lights on, then the fogs, then turn the headlights off. I had to flip both switches at the same time to fool him. He did the same with the hi-beams. I am not always so lucky when doing inspections, so I promptly switched the wiring to the legit way to cut down the hassle.

Dain

[ChilliRedS]

Has anyone managed to figure this out?