I would post this in the audio/security forum but face it, everybody hangs out here

Like the newer high class cars do, when you press unlock, the headlights come on. I don't want them to come on when I press unlock because it makes no sense during the day, so I figure is there any way to wire up one of my extra alarm buttons to activate the headlights?

I have a Viper alarm system if anyone cars.

 

Looks like you want people so see those Bling Hids .

 

As long as you have an extra channel, you can use that output. Wire it to a relay, and use the alarm output as the switched power. You can use the power from the battery as the power for the relay to power the headlights

 

How do you know you have an extra channel?

I have four buttons on my unit, 2 are in use.

Hrm, this is too technical for my taste, should I take it to an alarm shop and have them do it for me?

 

You have four buttons, two are in use, you have two extra channels. Figure out which output from the alarm brain uses one of those two, and you are set

 

im very interested also on how to do this...

 

I've thought about doing this, but personally I like to arm/disarm as quietly as possible. I hate attracting attention to myself...

 

Only problen is you should only really use the extra channel if it has a timed out put or else if it is just a short pulse, you light will ony stay on for a second or two. Also, then you would have to keep pushing you button to keep it on once it turns off to keep the light on longer which will make your bulbs burn out faster. I have a Clifford alrm with a programable timed output I use that way when I press my aux. button, my lights stay on for 1 min.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tweakmeister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've thought about doing this, but personally I like to arm/disarm as quietly as possible. I hate attracting attention to myself...</TD></TR></TABLE>
I have the dealer installed keyless entry system. I just hit the "unlock" and "lock" button on the remote and it arms/disarms silently.

 

It's easy to do, just get the technical/install manual for your alarm system.

 

So... from what you are saying the point of this would be to turn on your headlights when you arm the alarm... I think this would be kinda kool but.

1: I hate turning the HIDs on and off and on again rapidly. It looks like it hurst them? (is this true)

2: Somebody mentioned they dont like attracting attention to them sevles. This is very true. Especially with HIDs... (thief: look at that typer with HIDs, ohh wow he is leaving.)

 

Skafia, I have a channel expander if you need one. Yeah but you can use one of your extra channels and just wire it up. You are more than likely gonna have to program it and if you dont know how to do that then i would take it to a shop. Shouldnt cost very much and that way is something messes up then you have someone to blame and not a finger up your own.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TypeR 01 886 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So... from what you are saying the point of this would be to turn on your headlights when you arm the alarm... I think this would be kinda kool but.

1: I hate turning the HIDs on and off and on again rapidly. It looks like it hurst them? (is this true)

2: Somebody mentioned they dont like attracting attention to them sevles. This is very true. Especially with HIDs... (thief: look at that typer with HIDs, ohh wow he is leaving.)</TD></TR></TABLE>

I want to have an extra channel to turn the HID's on. So they don't turn on every time I disarm, only when I use the specific button.

If they don't see my HIDs before I get in the car, they'll certainly see them as I drive away and turn them on manually.

Thanks for all your input folks.

 

you wouldn't want to do this with HIDs. My alarm is setup this way (no when arm/disarm occurs but through a button sqeuence) and with the HIDs they only come on for a half second or so anyways (i noticed this the one time I've ever needed the feature )

 

look here is what you do you take a relay. the colors of the relay wires should be red, black, orange, yellow, and brown.. cut the orange. do not use the orange... then take yellow and hook it to your low beam wire 12v when you flip switch... then take the red and the brown and hook them to 12v constant or the red on the alarm brain... then take the black from the relay and hook it to red/white from the alarm brain .. and when you hit the aux button on your control pad they will come on now they might not stay on for long but they will come on.. now remember that you have to hold the aux button for about three seconds or they will not come on .. in sense the red/white wire is negative trigered and you put the relay on it to change the polarity from negative to positive, cause the lowbeams are positive triggered. and all these wire colors are for all dei/viper products... if you cant get it pm me and ill help as much as i can, i have been a certified installer for 5 years .. later......

 

red, black, orange, yellow, brown are DEI colors. (DEI relay base). You can use almost any relay with the correct amperage for your application(headlight).

86 and 85 are your relay coils
30 is the commong
87a is normally closed contact
87 is normally open contact

 

If you want the headlights only to come on when you lock, then you want to do a relay setup with the lock output wire from the brain of the alarm as the relay's trigger wire and the output of the relay going to the car's headlight wire in the steering column. Piece of cake...if you understand relays.

 

if you get it to work, make sure they stay on for ~minute unless you really want to kill those D2S bulbs.. I know you like the bling Skafia, but come on..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dawhiteboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you get it to work, make sure they stay on for ~minute unless you really want to kill those D2S bulbs.. I know you like the bling Skafia, but come on..</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would only activate them at night when getting in my car, they would stay on for as long as it takes me to press the button, get in the car, start the car, then turn on the switch manually.

Thanks for all the information folks!

 

So does haveing the HIDs on for a very short period of time damage them? Does "flickering" them on and off hurt them (not that id want to do it)...?

 

Flickering them on and off does decrease the life of the bulb. It is not recommended.