Alpharex Nova LED Projector Headlights

[Taco Ji]

Just to clarify your issue, headlights don’t work at all? Even when switched on manually?

I removed the negative terminal on my battery. Waited 30 min and now the headlights turn on. The unlock activated sequence does not work anymore

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[Taco Ji]

Just to clarify your issue, headlights don’t work at all? Even when switched on manually?

To be more clear, I removed the negative terminal and waited 30 min then connected it. The light didn’t turn on. I waited about 10 to 15 and the lights worked. Maybe it needed a few moments for everything to clear. I waited another 10 to 15 minutes unlocked the truck and the light sequence worked again Locked the truck and unlocked immediately and the light sequence didn’t work.

 

[TX-BluStreak]

Sry I’m not able to comment regarding the headlights (since I kept my Pro headlights). I only switched out my tails for AlphaRex Blk/Red.

@Taco Ji, have you downloaded their app yet? I think you can customize the headlights to blink sequentially or one of its many different modes.

 

[Taco Ji]

Sry I’m not able to comment regarding the headlights (since I kept my Pro headlights). I only switched out my tails for AlphaRex Blk/Red.

@Taco Ji, have you downloaded their app yet? I think you can customize the headlights to blink sequentially or one of its many different modes.

I didn’t think their app was up and running yet. I just downloaded it and will explore. Thanks! But I don’t think it will work unless I installed the drl harness.

 

[rijc99]

I was told the app requires another module or board that wasn’t available yet. They said it would be after SEMA. Since SEMA happened I’m not sure if it’s been released.

Edit. Yeah. I definitely don’t have these buttons on my unit.

 

[emerica243]

Taco Ji, I think what's causing your frustration is you're expecting something to work that wasnt designed to. When you install these lights WITHOUT leveraging the DRL harness you should expect to lose the following capabilities.

1. Brighter DRL functionality when parking light or low beam circuit is not ON.
2. Dynamic animation on lock\unlock of vehicle.

Without the DRL harness you still have "DRL like" functionality, but it will be a dimmed down output, whether the parking light or low beam circuit is on or not. To be honest this is the main reason to leverage the DRL harness. So you actually have a usable, bright DRL during the day time. Otherwise, its no where near effective as a true DRL at the lowered brightness on an average sunny day.

You also will still retain the dynamic animation without using the DRL harness. However it will not occur on lock\unlock. It will only occur when the parking lights are triggered.

I should of wrote down more of my testing i did when i was bench testing the lights and the DRL harness, determining what the functions of most of the wires were. But to the best of my knowledge i believe it was something along the following.

If you recall on the headlamp assembly, theres an Alpharex connector that is a small singular tube connector that is connected to its self. If you dont leverage the DRL harness, you leave this connected to itsself in which IIRC it is whats powering the LEDs as the DRL. When you use the DRL harness, you actually disconnect that connection and connect the DRL harness to these connectors on both lights. This is responsible for being able to now perform a high power\brighter DRL power when the parking lights or low beam circuit isnt on, and dim down automatically when it is.

Lastly, there is a singular AMP style connector with a dummy plug in it. IIRC this is the turn signal trigger which you connect the DRL harness to as well(only need one of the lights). As its used to know the turn signal was triggered (truck unlocked\locked) in which you now gain the dynamic animation.

Long story short, if youre going to try to troubleshoot the inconsistent behavior you're experiencing, you should probably start with hooking it up as the circuitry was designed for and then go from there. I wouldnt expect Alpharex to support what youre seeing if youre not wiring it as expected to get that outcome. You're likely experiencing an anomaly, or unexpected behavior. Could be because its a hybrid? No idea. WHo knows what all models\trims\etc Alpharex tested an QA'd this product on.

 

[Taco Ji]

Yeah. It’s very inconsistent. Right now 80% of the time when unlocking I get the light sequence animation. White led lights up trailing the light bars back and forth and then it turns amber and the lights are steady. When I lock the truck the DRL amber lights blink and that’s it. The other 20% of the time I just get amber blinks for unlocking and locking.

 

[jsuber]

My stock headlights allow me to adjust up and down the headlights to keep from blinding people. If you also drive a Ford you have no idea why I would do that.

 

[Nvideon]

It's not necessary for the drl to turn on.

However, leveraging the drl harness gains the following.

1. They will be allot brighter for daytime use, until you turn on the running lights or low beams, in which they dim down. Without the harness they always will be dim all the time.

2. You'll gain the dynamic animation on lock/unlock with the harness.

Is it possible to keep the DRLs bright all the time even at night when the low beams are on?

 

[Nvideon]

Taco Ji, I think what's causing your frustration is you're expecting something to work that wasnt designed to. When you install these lights WITHOUT leveraging the DRL harness you should expect to lose the following capabilities.

1. Brighter DRL functionality when parking light or low beam circuit is not ON.
2. Dynamic animation on lock\unlock of vehicle.

Without the DRL harness you still have "DRL like" functionality, but it will be a dimmed down output, whether the parking light or low beam circuit is on or not. To be honest this is the main reason to leverage the DRL harness. So you actually have a usable, bright DRL during the day time. Otherwise, its no where near effective as a true DRL at the lowered brightness on an average sunny day.

You also will still retain the dynamic animation without using the DRL harness. However it will not occur on lock\unlock. It will only occur when the parking lights are triggered.

I should of wrote down more of my testing i did when i was bench testing the lights and the DRL harness, determining what the functions of most of the wires were. But to the best of my knowledge i believe it was something along the following.

If you recall on the headlamp assembly, theres an Alpharex connector that is a small singular tube connector that is connected to its self. If you dont leverage the DRL harness, you leave this connected to itsself in which IIRC it is whats powering the LEDs as the DRL. When you use the DRL harness, you actually disconnect that connection and connect the DRL harness to these connectors on both lights. This is responsible for being able to now perform a high power\brighter DRL power when the parking lights or low beam circuit isnt on, and dim down automatically when it is.

Lastly, there is a singular AMP style connector with a dummy plug in it. IIRC this is the turn signal trigger which you connect the DRL harness to as well(only need one of the lights). As its used to know the turn signal was triggered (truck unlocked\locked) in which you now gain the dynamic animation.

Long story short, if youre going to try to troubleshoot the inconsistent behavior you're experiencing, you should probably start with hooking it up as the circuitry was designed for and then go from there. I wouldnt expect Alpharex to support what youre seeing if youre not wiring it as expected to get that outcome. You're likely experiencing an anomaly, or unexpected behavior. Could be because its a hybrid? No idea. WHo knows what all models\trims\etc Alpharex tested an QA'd this product on.

Is it possible to keep the DRL bright all the time even when the low beams are on?

 

[emerica243]

Is it possible to keep the DRL bright all the time even when the low beams are on?

Not without modifying the circuitry and/or wiring. You wouldn't want to do that anyway. There's a reason why they're DAYTIME running light, not nighttime running lights. They're supposed to dim down on purpose because it's dusk/dawn/dark out.

They would be unnecessarily bright blinding everyone on the road.

 

[Nvideon]

Not without modifying the circuitry and/or wiring. You wouldn't want to do that anyway. There's a reason why they're DAYTIME running light, not nighttime running lights. They're supposed to dim down on purpose because it's dusk/dawn/dark out.

They would be unnecessarily bright blinding everyone on the road.

Thats true. Thanks!

 

[Taco Ji]

Taco Ji, I think what's causing your frustration is you're expecting something to work that wasnt designed to. When you install these lights WITHOUT leveraging the DRL harness you should expect to lose the following capabilities.

1. Brighter DRL functionality when parking light or low beam circuit is not ON.
2. Dynamic animation on lock\unlock of vehicle.

Without the DRL harness you still have "DRL like" functionality, but it will be a dimmed down output, whether the parking light or low beam circuit is on or not. To be honest this is the main reason to leverage the DRL harness. So you actually have a usable, bright DRL during the day time. Otherwise, its no where near effective as a true DRL at the lowered brightness on an average sunny day.

You also will still retain the dynamic animation without using the DRL harness. However it will not occur on lock\unlock. It will only occur when the parking lights are triggered.

I should of wrote down more of my testing i did when i was bench testing the lights and the DRL harness, determining what the functions of most of the wires were. But to the best of my knowledge i believe it was something along the following.

If you recall on the headlamp assembly, theres an Alpharex connector that is a small singular tube connector that is connected to its self. If you dont leverage the DRL harness, you leave this connected to itsself in which IIRC it is whats powering the LEDs as the DRL. When you use the DRL harness, you actually disconnect that connection and connect the DRL harness to these connectors on both lights. This is responsible for being able to now perform a high power\brighter DRL power when the parking lights or low beam circuit isnt on, and dim down automatically when it is.

Lastly, there is a singular AMP style connector with a dummy plug in it. IIRC this is the turn signal trigger which you connect the DRL harness to as well(only need one of the lights). As its used to know the turn signal was triggered (truck unlocked\locked) in which you now gain the dynamic animation.

Long story short, if youre going to try to troubleshoot the inconsistent behavior you're experiencing, you should probably start with hooking it up as the circuitry was designed for and then go from there. I wouldnt expect Alpharex to support what youre seeing if youre not wiring it as expected to get that outcome. You're likely experiencing an anomaly, or unexpected behavior. Could be because its a hybrid? No idea. WHo knows what all models\trims\etc Alpharex tested an QA'd this product on.

After chatting with number of Alpharex alpha black nova series owners and experimenting myself, here is what I’ve discovered.

The headlight DRL bars without the DRL harness installed still animate/activate sequence when unlocking only in low outside ambient lighting (sunset, night, early morning ) the unlock sequence does not activate during full sunlight. With the harness installed you get the unlocking and locking sequences during any ambient lighting conditions. DRL brightness is not changed or different from the harness installed and not installed. This still contradicts Alpharex’s statement


“Installing the DRL harness is optional the two things you gain from installing the harness is.”

• Brighter DRL.
• Activation sequence when you unlock / lock the vehicle.

I’ve sent a email to Alpharex tech support with my findings and awaiting feedback.

 

[emerica243]

DRL brightness is not changed or different from the harness installed and not installed. This still contradicts Alpharex’s statement


This is 100% false. And is one of the main functions the harness delivers.

It's easily tested by making sure "daytime running lights" option is enabled in the cars infotainment vehicle settings. Ensure the headlight stalk is set to DRL OFF. Start the vehicle, the drl(led strips) will be super bright. Turn the headlight stalk to parking lights or low beam on, they will dim.


Also, the reason the animation is triggering on unlock / lock with the ambient light sensor sensing night time is because you have your headlight stalk in AUTO mode. In which case the parking light circuit is getting turnt on automatically, therefore triggering it.

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