Amber DRLs?

[fxxkintallguy]

Does anyone know if its possible to change the DRLs from white to amber? If so, is there a tutorial online somewhere about it? Would it probably require me to switch out the actual LEDs to amber or RGB ones?

Sponsored

 

[KBKEITH]

Does anyone know if its possible to change the DRLs from white to amber? If so, is there a tutorial online somewhere about it? Would it probably require me to switch out the actual LEDs to amber or RGB ones?

I work for a semiconductor company and I personally work in the unit that deals in LEDs for the auto industry.

I just opened up a 2021 F-150 lamp here at work. The DRL consists of two light pipes that couple light from a small PCB with what appears to have two LEDs (or two small multiple LED clusters) mounted to it. I’ll have to find the PCB because it was removed a while back for some benchmarking.

Let me try and find this PCB and report back.

 

[KBKEITH]

I was able to find the board. I was close, there’s a two LED array for one light pipe and a 4 LED array for the second pipe.

This photo shows the PCB in the headlamp housing:

This photo shows the two separate light pipes that couple the light from the LED arrays:

This photo shows the assembled position of the light guides to the PCB:

Closer view:

And finally the middle section of the headlamp that incorporates the two DRL light guides:

You could remove and replace these white LEDs with amber. These are Nichia brand LEDs, so you’d have to get the same Nichia device only in amber. White is more efficient than amber, so the amber devices will not be as bright as the white.

Also, this PCB is a copper core board which is used to help with the thermal management. You’d have to have access to the right equipment to be able to remove and replace LEDs from this type of substrate. Takes a lot of heat.

 

[supamonks]

never have i seen, such an excellent answer to someone’s thread on a forum in my life lol that was so descriptive and informative haha

 

[Zyvin]

Just color the end of the tubes with an orange sharpie, lol.

Anyway, I concur with best answer ever on a message board, lol. Great info.

 

[fxxkintallguy]

Wow that was SUPER informative @KBKEITH! Thank you for all of that information, that helps way more than you know haha.

So with all that being said, I don't think I want to go in and mess with removing the LEDs. My normal hobbyist soldering iron probably can't handle that kind of heat output.

Are those LEDs just white? Or are they RGB?

Do you think putting an amber film on the ends of the light tubes might work?

 

[KBKEITH]

Wow that was SUPER informative @KBKEITH! Thank you for all of that information, that helps way more than you know haha.

So with all that being said, I don't think I want to go in and mess with removing the LEDs. My normal hobbyist soldering iron probably can't handle that kind of heat output.

Are those LEDs just white? Or are they RGB?

Do you think putting an amber film on the ends of the light tubes might work?

You’re welcome! It’s what I do for a living so I am more than happy to share. ??

The LEDs are white. No RGB for this application.

Yeah, a soldering iron unfortunately would not work here. The solder pads are completely on the bottom of the device. You would need at minimum a really good hot plate and ideally a good reflow oven.

The idea of an amber film could perhaps work. It would be worth a shot if you decide to take out a lamp and disassemble it.

 

[Pinero]

I’m sure diode dynamics will come up with an RGB board for these. I had them do some amber c-clamps for my 2013. This should be even easier for them.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

May I ask why? Aren’t there regs?

 

[KBKEITH]

May I ask why? Aren’t there regs?

I don’t believe there are for DRLs.

 

[fxxkintallguy]

May I ask why? Aren’t there regs?

There are no regs for DRLs as long as the color is a factory color (white/amber). And why? Because I love the way Amber DRLs look against white and black

 

[CommoSGT]

@KBKEITH Dude, if you aren't an engineer and haven't written an RCA (root cause analysis), you should be. Awesome write up!

 

[John_C]

I also love the look of amber DRLs.. I enabled the turn signals and fogs as DRLs in forscan, and I think it looks a lot better already. Now I just need morimoto to make a headlight for the new f150s.. Lol