HID mod so that dipped stay on

[gcpeters]

Hello

does anyone have any pictures/ experince of doing the HID mod so that the dipped stay on when you put on the main beam?

i have found this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... but the pictures are missing!

ill email alinton and see if he still has them!

thanks

GP

[jon h]

You don’t need to do the diode thing… I found out the hard way: I tried to do it, but the circuit board in my box differed from the one in the instructions. I thought I got it right, but did not, thus blowing up the steering wheel control box!!
All you need to do is cut 1 wire into one of the control boxes and job done- I cannot remember which wire or box off hand, but I found the information on here somewhere. If you can't find it, I will look at my car tonight for you - best PM me rather than post here if you need me to do it, as I may not be back here again today.


Jon

[plumAJP]

interested in this also as i have hids, and want the dipped to stay on, but i dont want to risk soldering PCB etc, tapping and extra wire on is easy

[gcpeters]

jon h said:

You don’t need to do the diode thing… I found out the hard way: I tried to do it, but the circuit board in my box differed from the one in the instructions. I thought I got it right, but did not, thus blowing up the steering wheel control box!!
All you need to do is cut 1 wire into one of the control boxes and job done- I cannot remember which wire or box off hand, but I found the information on here somewhere. If you can't find it, I will look at my car tonight for you - best PM me rather than post here if you need me to do it, as I may not be back here again today.


Jon

ive found the thread that says to cut the wire to stop the HIDs coming on when you put the sidelights on, but ive not found the one that keeps them one whilst you use main beam! ive pm'd you

GP

[dean_ratpac]

i have had the box removed and a loop wire fitted, so no cutting etc is needed. pics to follow tonight

[plumAJP]

PICS?????????????????????

any joy with taking some last night fella.

want to know what to do before i put the car back together.

[jon h]

Checked mine last night- The box to modify is ME0148 Lights Switching Unit.

There is a 17 way connector in the back. Disconnect the red/blue wire which is in the central pin on the bottom of the 2 rows- (There is no pin in the corresponding top row- top row has 8 pins, bottom row has 9) To the left of the correct wire as viewed from the wire side is an empty pin, to the right is a blue/white wire. I simply cut it sufficiently far from the connector that I could make a new connection if needed and insulated the ends. The car is a 97 4.2 if that makes a difference.

[plumAJP]

so you just cut the wire and that was it?

you havent mentioned that you looped anything?

[alinton]

Nope, that wire cutting thing only stops the reduced voltage that's usually fed to the dips when the sides are on.

You need the diodes, so that the main beam holds the dips on, but the dips don't make the main beam come on.

Let's try this 'upload an image (beta)':



And here are the original instructions:

1. Unplug box, remove 4 screws on connector end of box, remove PCB;
2. Solder two diodes between the main beam output connections and the dip beam connection. Diodes should be cathode (stripe) towards the dip beam connection; Scrape a little of the varnish off the PCB pad where the diodes meet to enable it to be soldered.
3. Replace PBC in box, replace cover and screws, reconnect to car.

The diodes I used are 1N5004 types, which are 10A current. Although the HIDs don't draw this all the time, there is a relatively high inrush current when they strike.

Edited by alinton on Thursday 23 July 21:48

Edited by alinton on Thursday 23 July 21:49