Daytime Running Lamps (Canada)

Once the ignition is switched on, the daytime running lamps (dimmed low beam) must light up. In addition to the headlamp system, a daytime running lamp relay is installed.

Once the ignition is switched on, the following components are connected in series:

Daytime running lamps relay, left-hand low beam bulb, fuse for the left-hand low beam bulb, fuse for the right-hand low beam bulb, right-hand low beam bulb and ground.

By connecting the resistance in series, the voltage supply to the low beam bulbs is reduced which reduces the power of the low beam.

If the light switch is set to 'headlamps', the daytime running lamps relay is released and the low beam bulbs are extinguished.

If the headlamp flasher or the high beam is switched on, the daytime running lamps relay picks up and switches both high beam bulbs on once more in parallel. Voltage is supplied and the high beam bulbs shine at full power again.

The diodes for the daytime running lamps only allow the current to flow in one direction when the lamp switch is switched on. Otherwise a few contacts in the lamp switch which are not required for daytime running lamps would be bypassed.