liquidzyklon
09-10-2011, 01:12 PM
Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any damages if you follow this How-To. Material here are presented for your information. Use at your own risk.
Note this is for Mazda3s with DRL on highbeams (i.e. 2007+ models). If you have a 2004-2006 model, some other modifcations will be required and not shown here.
Background and Purpose of How-To
I asked about the Mazda3's Auto-Light feature and how to get it to work with aftermarket HID in this thread. (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?30835-Question-about-HIDs-and-Auto-Headlights-(2007-Models)) The conclusion was non-HID Mazda3 using the Auto-Light feature with aftermarket HID would have a higher chance of one of the ballasts not firing due to inadequate power from the battery when the car is starting.
I managed to find an adjustable automotive time delay relay that will delay my HIDs from starting when using the Auto-Light feature and starting the car. This will ensure that the HIDs are fired after the car has finished cranking. In addition, the time delay also has a delay off feature which you can use to keep your HIDs on for a period of time after you have turned off your car. Some people think of this as a safety feature to have your car's light stay on for you to see better when walking away from the car.
So this is my first How-To and it's to install an automotive time delay relay on aftermarket HID with a harness. Sorry that no photos were taken. But I'll post clear instructions with drawings for the wiring setup.
Start of How-To
The TDR relay will be installed between your car's trigger wires and the HID Harness' trigger wires as shown in the schematic below circled in dotted lines.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8353/image01q.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/image01q.jpg/)
Parts Required:
Automotive Time Delay Relay (TDR) (http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php) - Both TDR and TDR-P would work with instruction for each.
2 x Male Disconnects for 14 Gauge Wires (0.25" Tab Size)
7 x Female Disconnects for 14 Gauge Wires (0.25" Tab Size)
3 x Ring Terminals for 14 Gauge Wires
14 Gauge Wire (Length depends on location of relays, I used about 3m of wire and have some left over)
Wires to be Created (lengths depend on your wiring setup so cut accordingly):
2 x Trigger Wires A = One end with male disconnects and one end with female disconnects
1 x Trigger Wire B = Both ends with female disconnects
1 x Trigger Wire C = One end with ring terminal and one end with female disconncts
2 x Power to TDR = One end with ring terminal and one end with female disconnects
TDR vs TDR-P
The difference between a TDR and a TDR-P are shown on http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php
For a TDR, you'll need to connect the battery's Positive terminal to one of the Harness' Relay trigger wire and you'll connect the Load wire from the TDR to the other Harness' Relay trigger wire.
For a TDR-P, you'll connect the battery's Negative terminal to one of the Harness' Relay trigger wire and you'll connect the Load wire from the TDR to the other Harness' Relay trigger wire.
The difference is in Step 10 below.
Instructions for TDR-P
Disconnecting battery is optional. But be extra careful to not have wires between your car's Positive and Negative touch. Electric tapes on loose ends of wires is recommended.
The male disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into your car's trigger wires. Polarity does not matter since there's a switch on the TDR-P that can flip their polarity.
The female disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into the TDR-P on terminals 1 and 2.
One Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Positive terminal.
The same Power to TDR wire but female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P +12 terminal.
The other Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Negative terminal.
The Power to TDR wire female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P Ground terminal, labelled G.
Trigger Wire B connects to the TDR-P Load terminal, labelled L.
Other end of Trigger Wire B connects to one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
The Trigger Wire C ring terminal end connects to the battery's Negative terminal.
The Trigger Wire C female disconnect end connect to the other one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
After you have installed the TDR-P relay between your car's trigger wires and the harness' relay, it's time to test it. By default the time delay are set to 0 seconds so your headlights show turn on and off like normal.
If your headlights are not turning on and off normally, try flipping the little switch on the back of the TDR-P relay as shown on the manufacturer's website (http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php)
Now that you have the connections working properly, it's time to set the correct time delay for your own needs. This is more of a trial and error stage. When I was configuring the time delay, I think it was 1 turn = 1 seconds so you can use that as a guide line.
Here's all the wire names connected to the TDR-P relay.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9210/image02n.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/image02n.jpg/)
Here's the final wiring setup between the car's trigger wires, TDR-P, battery, and the HID harness trigger wires.
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6750/image03e.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/image03e.jpg/)
Instruction for TDR (Same as above but Step 10 differs)
Disconnecting battery is optional. But be extra careful to not have wires between your car's Positive and Negative touch. Electric tapes on loose ends of wires is recommended.
The male disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into your car's trigger wires. Polarity does not matter since there's a switch on the TDR-P that can flip their polarity.
The female disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into the TDR-P on terminals 1 and 2.
One Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Positive terminal.
The same Power to TDR wire but female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P +12 terminal.
The other Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Negative terminal.
The Power to TDR wire female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P Ground terminal, labelled G.
Trigger Wire B connects to the TDR-P Load terminal, labelled L.
Other end of Trigger Wire B connects to one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
The Trigger Wire C ring terminal end connects to the battery's Positive terminal.
The Trigger Wire C female disconnect end connect to the other one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
After you have installed the TDR relay between your car's trigger wires and the harness' relay, it's time to test it. By default the time delay are set to 0 seconds so your headlights show turn on and off like normal.
If your headlights are not turning on and off normally, try flipping the little switch on the back of the TDR relay as shown on the manufacturer's website (http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php)
Now that you have the connections working properly, it's time to set the correct time delay for your own needs. This is more of a trial and error stage. When I was configuring the time delay, I think it was 1 turn = 1 seconds so you can use that as a guide line.
End of How-To
Note this is for Mazda3s with DRL on highbeams (i.e. 2007+ models). If you have a 2004-2006 model, some other modifcations will be required and not shown here.
Background and Purpose of How-To
I asked about the Mazda3's Auto-Light feature and how to get it to work with aftermarket HID in this thread. (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?30835-Question-about-HIDs-and-Auto-Headlights-(2007-Models)) The conclusion was non-HID Mazda3 using the Auto-Light feature with aftermarket HID would have a higher chance of one of the ballasts not firing due to inadequate power from the battery when the car is starting.
I managed to find an adjustable automotive time delay relay that will delay my HIDs from starting when using the Auto-Light feature and starting the car. This will ensure that the HIDs are fired after the car has finished cranking. In addition, the time delay also has a delay off feature which you can use to keep your HIDs on for a period of time after you have turned off your car. Some people think of this as a safety feature to have your car's light stay on for you to see better when walking away from the car.
So this is my first How-To and it's to install an automotive time delay relay on aftermarket HID with a harness. Sorry that no photos were taken. But I'll post clear instructions with drawings for the wiring setup.
Start of How-To
The TDR relay will be installed between your car's trigger wires and the HID Harness' trigger wires as shown in the schematic below circled in dotted lines.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8353/image01q.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/image01q.jpg/)
Parts Required:
Automotive Time Delay Relay (TDR) (http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php) - Both TDR and TDR-P would work with instruction for each.
2 x Male Disconnects for 14 Gauge Wires (0.25" Tab Size)
7 x Female Disconnects for 14 Gauge Wires (0.25" Tab Size)
3 x Ring Terminals for 14 Gauge Wires
14 Gauge Wire (Length depends on location of relays, I used about 3m of wire and have some left over)
Wires to be Created (lengths depend on your wiring setup so cut accordingly):
2 x Trigger Wires A = One end with male disconnects and one end with female disconnects
1 x Trigger Wire B = Both ends with female disconnects
1 x Trigger Wire C = One end with ring terminal and one end with female disconncts
2 x Power to TDR = One end with ring terminal and one end with female disconnects
TDR vs TDR-P
The difference between a TDR and a TDR-P are shown on http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php
For a TDR, you'll need to connect the battery's Positive terminal to one of the Harness' Relay trigger wire and you'll connect the Load wire from the TDR to the other Harness' Relay trigger wire.
For a TDR-P, you'll connect the battery's Negative terminal to one of the Harness' Relay trigger wire and you'll connect the Load wire from the TDR to the other Harness' Relay trigger wire.
The difference is in Step 10 below.
Instructions for TDR-P
Disconnecting battery is optional. But be extra careful to not have wires between your car's Positive and Negative touch. Electric tapes on loose ends of wires is recommended.
The male disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into your car's trigger wires. Polarity does not matter since there's a switch on the TDR-P that can flip their polarity.
The female disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into the TDR-P on terminals 1 and 2.
One Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Positive terminal.
The same Power to TDR wire but female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P +12 terminal.
The other Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Negative terminal.
The Power to TDR wire female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P Ground terminal, labelled G.
Trigger Wire B connects to the TDR-P Load terminal, labelled L.
Other end of Trigger Wire B connects to one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
The Trigger Wire C ring terminal end connects to the battery's Negative terminal.
The Trigger Wire C female disconnect end connect to the other one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
After you have installed the TDR-P relay between your car's trigger wires and the harness' relay, it's time to test it. By default the time delay are set to 0 seconds so your headlights show turn on and off like normal.
If your headlights are not turning on and off normally, try flipping the little switch on the back of the TDR-P relay as shown on the manufacturer's website (http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php)
Now that you have the connections working properly, it's time to set the correct time delay for your own needs. This is more of a trial and error stage. When I was configuring the time delay, I think it was 1 turn = 1 seconds so you can use that as a guide line.
Here's all the wire names connected to the TDR-P relay.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9210/image02n.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/image02n.jpg/)
Here's the final wiring setup between the car's trigger wires, TDR-P, battery, and the HID harness trigger wires.
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6750/image03e.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/image03e.jpg/)
Instruction for TDR (Same as above but Step 10 differs)
Disconnecting battery is optional. But be extra careful to not have wires between your car's Positive and Negative touch. Electric tapes on loose ends of wires is recommended.
The male disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into your car's trigger wires. Polarity does not matter since there's a switch on the TDR-P that can flip their polarity.
The female disconnects of Trigger Wire A are plugged into the TDR-P on terminals 1 and 2.
One Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Positive terminal.
The same Power to TDR wire but female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P +12 terminal.
The other Power to TDR wire ring terminal connect to the battery's Negative terminal.
The Power to TDR wire female disconnect end plugs into the TDR-P Ground terminal, labelled G.
Trigger Wire B connects to the TDR-P Load terminal, labelled L.
Other end of Trigger Wire B connects to one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
The Trigger Wire C ring terminal end connects to the battery's Positive terminal.
The Trigger Wire C female disconnect end connect to the other one of the HID's Harness Trigger male disconnects.
After you have installed the TDR relay between your car's trigger wires and the harness' relay, it's time to test it. By default the time delay are set to 0 seconds so your headlights show turn on and off like normal.
If your headlights are not turning on and off normally, try flipping the little switch on the back of the TDR relay as shown on the manufacturer's website (http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php)
Now that you have the connections working properly, it's time to set the correct time delay for your own needs. This is more of a trial and error stage. When I was configuring the time delay, I think it was 1 turn = 1 seconds so you can use that as a guide line.
End of How-To