Diode Elite Backlight?

Hi all. Installing the Diode Elite fogs on my 2021 Tacoma Off-Road. I have halogen headlights, with the LED DRL's.

For the life of me - I can't figure out how to tap into the wiring to get the fog backlights to stay on all the time. Am I able to tap into the headlight DRL's, if so, what wire would that be?

Thanks!

 

Do you want them always on, or on with the DRL and parking lights?

 

Optimally, I'd like the backlight always on (which turns off once the actual fog lights get turned on)

 

If you want them always on, then the best thing is going to be grabbing an ignition controlled source. I’d recommend the one that everyone uses for raptor lights. You’ll need to get a wire up into the fuse box for that. If you want the backlights to come on with the parking lights, then Diode Dynamics sells a solution for that:
https://www.diodedynamics.com/plug-and-play-backlight-harness-for-2016-2023-toyota-tacoma-pair.html
And if you don’t like the fuse tapping idea, but would also like the backlights to be on with the DRL as well as the parking lights, then hit up @daveeasa and he should have a dioded tap option for that.
Hope that helps?

 

Oh, I should mention, no matter what option you go with, when you turn on the main beam, the backlights will automatically shut off. It’s built into the fogs themselves to do that, so no fancy external controls needed for that.

 

I think that DD harness is DRL + Park with diodes, a cheaper option than my stuff. At least it seems that way. I haven't bought one to confirm.

 

really appreciate your help with this, and i apologize in advance for my ignorance lol. how do i get a wire up to the fuse box as if were wiring them like i would for the raptor lights? is there a tap option i can use that goes into the Diode end?

 

I thought that as well, but according to DD’s description, “This harness allows you to power the backlight on your Elite Series or SS3 Fog Lights using the parking light signal.”. Maybe I should get one and check sometime

What does the tap to the backlights look like? I think they are like this (the one on the right)?

 

It's these, with t-taps to connect it. or do you mean the connection down below by the foglight itself?

 

Did this to the wifey’s 4R. T-tapped the DRL wire.

 

Tapped into the DRL, are the backlights on all the time?
If so, where/what is the DRL wire?

 

What's parking lights?

 

Sorry, meant down by the fog light itself.

The DRL wire is the green wire. But it will only be live when the DRL is on, full brightness. So if the DRL is turned off, or the low beams are on, that green wire is no longer live. That is why generally we use the DRL and the parking light circuit to drive the backlight. That way if your stalk switch is set to anything but "OFF", the backlights will be on.

Parking lights and running lights are the same thing. They are the dim lights in the taillights and the sidemarker lights in the headlights (amongst other lights, but those two are the easiest way to tell if your parking lights are on). They are the setting right before the low beams on the switch.