Hello. I have not been here in a while and I have a question for you all.

I'd like to know where I can buy a sunlight sensing switch that I can install on my dashboard to keep my parking lights off during the day and automatically switch them on when darkness falls.

The reason I want to do this is because I like having my HIDs on all the time as DRLs and consequently, I leave my headlights on ALL the time. I just don't want to have my parking lights on during the day because it's unneccessary. My honda accord is wired from the factory so that once the key is removed from the ignition it switches off the headlights/parking lights after 15 seconds (in case the lights are accidentally left on) as a convenience feature.

What I plan to do is splice into the parking light wire from the multifunction headlight switch under the dash and use the light-sensing switch to cut the power to the parking light relay during the day. This way I will never need to use my headlight switch unless I want to. Do you think this is the best way to accomplish this or perhaps there is a better way? What are your thoughts on this? Thanks.

Sorry, I wish I could help more, but I know some cars have this from the factory too, but it's the other way around - when it gets dark, my lights automatically turn on. I love that feature.

You could build your own:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/actrelay.htm

Turning off your parking lights during the day may not be such a good idea, since under certain DAY lighting conditions AND using your HIDs as DRLs, the parking lights MAY be the only thing that other vehicle drivers can see that indicate your vehicle's presence. Good Luck.

Here's another one that could give you an idea, look for the last one at the bottom of the page (Photo Electric Street Light).

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Bowden/page10.htm

With adjusting the potentiometer I believe you can turn them on under sunny conditions as well, avoiding what ekooke is warning you.

It's for 12 volts so I guess it could be easier to plug to the car battery.

- Mario

Checkout 1992-1995 Sable/Taurus with autolamps feature (the second sensor in dash). They should be avail at the wreckers for $10. Quality of that sensor is actually good, so I can recommend that little black box.

Thanks Herman I will try to find a sensor like the one you described.

Logically the sensor acts like a switch. The circuit will be broken when it senses sunlight and complete the circuit when it senses darkness which means it will do what I want. I think I should use the sensor to control a relay to avoid problems. I barely know anything about relays but I read up on them and hacked the diagram below to show you guys how i think it should be wired up. Is this the right way to go about it?

That would work, but it'd be easier just to bridge 30 & 85, with the sensor controlling the ground at 86. Also less current load on the sensor circuit.

"That would work, but it'd be easier just to bridge 30 & 85, with the sensor controlling the ground at 86. Also less current load on the sensor circuit."

I'm a serious novice and so I don't fully understand what you mean by bridge 30 & 85. I understand using the sensor to control ground but does bridge mean power from the wire connected to 30 only gets connected to 85 (parking light bulbs) when the sensor completes the circuit?

Bridge = jumper. Same power into 30 & 85 as you show in your drawing, but with less wire; 30 & 85 would be constantly hot when there's power to the parking light wires. Put the light sensor circuit "switch" in-line between 86 & ground.

Thank you kindly for your help ekooke. I appriciate it very much.