Q & A

Question:
Is it that important to be able to adjust the light sensitivity?
Ans:
You bet! If you own a vehicle with automatic headlamps, you find out real fast it is a real bother that you have to settle for the manufacturer's selection of turn on threshold. My wife drives around with a piece of paper on the dash so she can turn on the lights when it is raining, or in limited visibility. In her car, the lights do not come on with the windshield wipers, but it is required by NYS law to have the lights on when it is raining. The OEM's don't provide this, but we do.
Question:
How long will it take to install?
Ans:
Realistically, an entire afternoon. I always thought that the most awful place to have to work (on a vehicle) was under the dash, and that is exactly where all the action is to install this control. There is no getting around the fact that working on the ignition and lighting system under the dash is a real pain in the butt. But, you only have to do it once.
Question:
Is the module reliable?
Ans:
Yes! Once the control is in, you are done. I haven't had to switch on the headlamps of my old truck now for four years, and I don't have to think about shutting off the headlamps after parking in the rain. Just one less thing to deal with.
Question:
Can the detector cell be exposed?
Ans:
Yes. The photocell is sealed and it can be mounted outside, exposed to rain and snow. But, the leads are thin, so don't put in a place where you will be hitting it with an ice scraper.
Question:
Do I need the diode array for the light switch?
Ans:
No. But remember that you will want other circuits to come on, along with the headlamps. Panel, parking lamps. You lose the multi position function of the switch if you just wire the circuits together. The diode stack allows the headlamp feed to also power up three other circuits.
Question:
Why bother?
Ans:
Just leave the lights on once, in the daytime, and come back to a dead battery. It's worth the price of admission!
Question:
Can the 8 second turn-on delay be thwarted?
Ans:
Yes. If, after starting the engine, you want immediate lights on, just flip the wiper switch momentarily. Just the shortest pulse of positive at the w.w. input will turn the headlamps on for the minimum latch time, which is about 1 1/2 minutes. If it is dark, your lights will stay on.
Question:
How do you deal with modern wiper motors with multiple wires for "on".
Ans:
Make up a diode stack, like ours, but reversed. That way, any connection that has +12VDC present can activate the headlamp control. The single diode stack output will be connected to the control.