10 replies to this topic

[blackjack1986]

Hi I have bought this delay unit (photo attached) for the interior lights in the car, so when the door is shut, the light will stay on for 10 seconds rather than going off instantly. However, when I look at the wiring diagram on the delay, I am confused. They are saying that the red cable should go between the bulb and the door switch (in the minis case that is the earth cable as the door plunger creates earth when open) whilst the black cable supposedly goes to the chassis. I don't feel that this would work on the mini. Should the red cable be fitted into the purple and orange live feed to the bulb and the black cable into the purple and white feed that goes to the doors from the bulb? Would this work?

Edited by blackjack1986, 20 February 2015 - 11:42 PM.

[blackjack1986]

[RooBoonix]

Looks like one wire goes direct to ground (black wire, so no door switch involved here, just connect this wire to a ground point somewhere) and the other wire (red) goes to the negative/ground wire of the bulb itself (so the wire that goes from the bulb to the door switch at the moment).

 

So at the moment, when the door is shut the ground connection is disconnected so the bulb turns off right away. With that delay in place it lets the ground stay connected for an extra 10 seconds so when the door is closed the circuit is still complete until the delay cuts off.

 

Does that help?

Cam.

[blackjack1986]

Perfect, makes sense. I'll have a look tomorrow morning and let you know how it goes!

[Ethel]

The diagram looks fine, your box of tricks is a switch that sits in parallel to the original - When the door switch breaks the earth connection the gizmo will take over providing the earth until the timer cuts it out.

[splintercat]

Oooh l like that idea might make one myself........

[One step at a time]

Are you going to let us in on where you brought this box of tricks. I may have to install this myself.

[Dan]

They aren't uncommon, try any auto electrical supplier you can find on Google for similar things. Or Maplin. Better ones also sense the ignition and other things too.

[blackjack1986]

I got it from eBay, about £8. However, not having much luck with it... They dim right down shortly after closing the doors, but don't fully turn off- I think it may be due to having led lights rather than filament bulbs. I spliced the red wire into the purple/white cable to door switches from light and the black to the black earth wire that also comes from the light. If anyone could shed some light on this I'd really appreciate it.

[Dan]

It's because you are using LEDs and because this unit doesn't have its own power supply. There has to be constant power through the unit for it to be able to time and to switch, with a filament bulb the series circuit wouldn't allow enough current through the bulb to light it but LEDs use very little power and will light.

[Realminiman]

i tried one of these but couldn't get it too work either ..