Vehicle auxiliary light control unit
A plug-in auxiliary headlight control unit (AHCU) repairs a damaged LCM and assures headlight performance. The plug-in AHCU contains an alternate lighting control circuitry, vehicle wiring harness connectors, LCM connectors, and a power relay, arranged on a chassis. The AHCU plugs into the failed LCM unit utilizing existing connectors for the vehicle's wiring harness. This arrangement places the AHCU in-line between the vehicle's wiring harness and the LCM.
1. An auxiliary headlight control unit (AHCU) that cooperates with a vehicle lighting module (LCM) to control the operation of the vehicle's headlights, the AHCU comprising:
first and second connectors configured to connect to a vehicle's LCM in place of the vehicle's wiring harness connectors;
third and fourth connectors configured to connect to a vehicle's wiring harness connectors; and,
a circuit that includes a power relay in electrical contact with the vehicle's wiring harness.
2. AHCU of claim 1 wherein the power relay is a headlight relay.
3. The AHCU of claim 1 wherein the power relay has a capacity of 35 A.
4. The AHCU claim 1 wherein the AHCU operates in parallel with the LCM.
5. The AHCU of claim 1 wherein the power relay creates redundancy in combination with the LCM.
6. The AHCU of claim 1 wherein the power relay replicates the functionality of the LCM.
7. A method for using an auxiliary headlight control unit (AHCU) that cooperates with a vehicle lighting module (LCM) to control the operation of the vehicle's headlights, the method comprising:
connecting first and second connectors to a vehicle's LCM in place of the vehicle's wiring harness connectors;
connecting third and fourth connectors to a vehicle's wiring harness connectors; and
electrically contacting a power relay with the vehicle's wiring harness.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the power relay is a headlight relay.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the power relay has a capacity of 35 A.
10. The method claim 7 wherein the AHCU operates in parallel with the LCM.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the power relay creates redundancy in combination with the LCM.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the power relay replicates the functionality of the LCM.
13. An auxiliary headlight control unit (AHCU) that is configured to connect with a vehicle's wiring harness and assume operational control of the vehicle's lights, the AHCU comprising:
a plurality of connectors that are configured to connect to a vehicle's light control module (LCM) as a replacement for the vehicle's existing wiring harness connectors;
a plurality of connectors that are configured to connect to a vehicle's existing light control module (LCM) wiring harness connectors; and,
a circuit that includes a power relay in electrical contact with the vehicle's existing wiring harness;
whereby the AHCU replaces the LCM in operation of the vehicle's lights.