what is that 'follow-me-home' headlight?

gd1418 · 26th January 2007, 16:38

Am I missing on something? I've an Accord 3.0 and a Scorpio GLx. Haeven't seen this feature in it. How doe one activate that...

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipsyde

its available on the scorpio too. very useful feature.

gd1418 · 26th January 2007, 16:40

All Safaris too have this feature...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappo

What? a German Shephard system?

On a more serious note I recently realized that the Tatas have a low cost version (probably) of this in the Indicas (probably some other hatches also have this?!?). When you close the doors there is a delayed switch off of the cabin lights... This illuminates the place around the car for sometime. Anyhow compared to most other hatches the Indica cabin light is much bigger and stronger in intensity. A very handy thing. It helped me the other day when I had to visit a shop after 8.30 in the evening. The place was all dark and I had to get on a sidewalk and then walk upto the door. The illumination from the cabin lights actually helped.

gbpscars · 26th January 2007, 18:55

A very simple (in electronics' terms) 12V DC Delayed Cut-off timer circuit will do this trick to even the humblest cars.

what this circuit will do is to conduct current to the headlamps and starts counting down to N seconds (how much ever it has been setup for). Once the countdown is over, the headlamps shutdown.

Adding an activator / deactivator rather than a standard feature will help too.

The only point is that you will be running the headlamps on your car's battery without the engine (hence the alternator) running, so the lower the period of cut-off the surer your next morning's startup will be

you get me?

I dont know if this is available as a 'no-splice' series fitment in any shop here. Any hardcore electric shoppers... any idea? Delhi TBHP-ians??? Anything available there?

flipsyde · 26th January 2007, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by gd1418

Am I missing on something? I've an Accord 3.0 and a Scorpio GLx. Haeven't seen this feature in it. How doe one activate that...

dunno about the old scorpio's but the new crde ones come with this feature.... there isnt anyway you can activate this feature....it just works! its very useful on the office scorpio crde slx that i drive.

hellspawn · 29th January 2007, 02:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbpscars

A very simple (in electronics' terms) 12V DC Delayed Cut-off timer circuit will do this trick to even the humblest cars.

what this circuit will do is to conduct current to the headlamps and starts counting down to N seconds (how much ever it has been setup for). Once the countdown is over, the headlamps shutdown.

I dont know if this is available as a 'no-splice' series fitment in any shop here. Any hardcore electric shoppers... any idea? Delhi TBHP-ians??? Anything available there?

well there is something available here in delhi.its a delay timer for the cabin lights.it costs around rs.250 and it is connected to your cabin lights.it follows the same procedure as you mentioned above though the time cannot be set by the user.it is a predefined 5seconds from full luminosity to switch off.its pretty easy to connect.though,i didnt ask the shop owner whether it could be connected to the headlamps or not.will find out soon.

gbpscars · 29th January 2007, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellspawn

well there is something available here in delhi.its a delay timer for the cabin lights.it costs around rs.250 and it is connected to your cabin lights.it follows the same procedure as you mentioned above though the time cannot be set by the user.it is a predefined 5seconds from full luminosity to switch off.its pretty easy to connect.though,i didnt ask the shop owner whether it could be connected to the headlamps or not.will find out soon.

Thanks hellspawn!! pls do find out. but i doubt if it can be interchanged, due to the difference in wattage of lamps used between a cabin light and a headlamp.

Moreover full luminosity to switch off sounds like the electricity stored in a high-rated capacitor is allowed to discharge in a regulated manner.

But still pls find out.

vikram_d · 29th January 2007, 19:39

I dont what hellspawn is talking about can be fitted to headlights as the power requirements for headlights and cabin lights is very very diferent.

shyamhegde · 30th January 2007, 01:11

It is a useful feature. If it's manufacture fitted utility appreciate it.
Instead of doing all those relay and wiring jobs etc. I prefer to have a torch on my key bunch itself to guide me home. now-a-days you get high-brightness LED lights which consume very less energy for better brightness and very compact in size.

hellspawn · 30th January 2007, 05:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

I dont what hellspawn is talking about can be fitted to headlights as the power requirements for headlights and cabin lights is very very diferent.

what you are saying is true.but when i went to the car acessory shop again the owner told me that it can be fitted but would require "jugaad".
but he also mentioned the headlamps can fuse as the bulbs are not designed to be used as dimming lights.they are either off or on.to enable them to work as dimmers you have to incorporate certain resistors in the circuit.this he said would not be feasible as its not really reliable.so in the end he did not recommend it.

hyper-VTEC · 30th January 2007, 16:12

Indian car manufacturer's refer to this as "Theatre Dimming"

26th January 2007, 18:55	#18
gbpscars BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 401 Thanked: 5 Times	A very simple (in electronics' terms) 12V DC Delayed Cut-off timer circuit will do this trick to even the humblest cars. what this circuit will do is to conduct current to the headlamps and starts counting down to N seconds (how much ever it has been setup for). Once the countdown is over, the headlamps shutdown. Adding an activator / deactivator rather than a standard feature will help too. The only point is that you will be running the headlamps on your car's battery without the engine (hence the alternator) running, so the lower the period of cut-off the surer your next morning's startup will be you get me? I dont know if this is available as a 'no-splice' series fitment in any shop here. Any hardcore electric shoppers... any idea? Delhi TBHP-ians??? Anything available there? Last edited by gbpscars : 26th January 2007 at 18:59.
	(1) Thanks

29th January 2007, 19:39	#22
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,422 Thanked: 1,188 Times	I dont what hellspawn is talking about can be fitted to headlights as the power requirements for headlights and cabin lights is very very diferent.
	() Thanks

30th January 2007, 01:11	#23
shyamhegde BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 284 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	It is a useful feature. If it's manufacture fitted utility appreciate it. Instead of doing all those relay and wiring jobs etc. I prefer to have a torch on my key bunch itself to guide me home. now-a-days you get high-brightness LED lights which consume very less energy for better brightness and very compact in size.
	() Thanks

30th January 2007, 16:12	#25
hyper-VTEC BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bengal...ooroo Posts: 658 Thanked: 280 Times View My Garage	Indian car manufacturer's refer to this as "Theatre Dimming"
	() Thanks