Nighttime Driving: What Lighting Intensity do You Use for Your Instrument Panel?
11-19-2004, 12:32 AM
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Nighttime Driving: What Lighting Intensity do You Use for Your Instrument Panel?
Lately, I have been doing a lot of late night driving: I regularly commute between my hometown to Quebec City to look over my Grandpa who's in the final stages of lung cancer.
So driving back, it's always between 11:00PM and 1:00AM, highway 20 has very little traffic, and I get to enjoy the full performance of the TSX's excellent lighting system.
I actually noticed that since I have this car, my eye fatigue is pretty much reduced, because of the efficiency of the headlights. In order to reduce it as much as possible (and risk drowsyness), I also put the instrument panel lighting intensity at it's minimum settings. Since I always have a very good contact with my middle rearview mirror, I also lower both side mirrors to avoid the glare from it from flashing in my face, I rather see the reflection of oncoming headlight indirectly on the door panels.
If I'm driving in the city at night though, I will bring the lighting up to near-max, because all of a sudden the panel looks too dark for ease of driving.
How about you guys?
So driving back, it's always between 11:00PM and 1:00AM, highway 20 has very little traffic, and I get to enjoy the full performance of the TSX's excellent lighting system.
I actually noticed that since I have this car, my eye fatigue is pretty much reduced, because of the efficiency of the headlights. In order to reduce it as much as possible (and risk drowsyness), I also put the instrument panel lighting intensity at it's minimum settings. Since I always have a very good contact with my middle rearview mirror, I also lower both side mirrors to avoid the glare from it from flashing in my face, I rather see the reflection of oncoming headlight indirectly on the door panels.
If I'm driving in the city at night though, I will bring the lighting up to near-max, because all of a sudden the panel looks too dark for ease of driving.
How about you guys?
11-19-2004, 12:36 AM
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woah thats so weird!!! i do the same thing....or i did.....
at night when im driving home late at night and am a little tired i usually turn the cluster to the lowest setting and i turn the navi to the black screen.
i dunno what it is but it seems when im tired i only concentrate on how bright the cluster is instead of the cars in front of me.
and besides when i turn both off no one can see inside the car! i like that.
at night when im driving home late at night and am a little tired i usually turn the cluster to the lowest setting and i turn the navi to the black screen.
i dunno what it is but it seems when im tired i only concentrate on how bright the cluster is instead of the cars in front of me.
and besides when i turn both off no one can see inside the car! i like that.
11-19-2004, 01:22 AM
#5
Can't wait to drive
I drive a few clicks down from the second to the brightest "bar" (more like circles)
I'm really surprised at how fine I can adjust the settings goes when it comes to the bright lights.
Of course, if you have the navi, it can be a moot point if you don't adjust that also.. Problem is that the brightness setting applies to both "night" and "day" settings..I rather have individual settings for the LCD screen
I heard somewhere that red guages is the safest for night driving..dunno if that is true
I'm really surprised at how fine I can adjust the settings goes when it comes to the bright lights.
Of course, if you have the navi, it can be a moot point if you don't adjust that also.. Problem is that the brightness setting applies to both "night" and "day" settings..I rather have individual settings for the LCD screen
I heard somewhere that red guages is the safest for night driving..dunno if that is true
11-19-2004, 01:29 AM
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Sorry to hear that about your granddad. Everyone is somehow affected by cancer.
I commute to quebec city from montreal on highway 20 also. I study at U laval and go back home every weekend. It was terrible before I got my TSX due to the poor headlights I had on my last car (99 legacy GT). It was quite traumatic at night.
I too do the same with the lighting on the tach. But in the city I keep it at max.
All the best.
I commute to quebec city from montreal on highway 20 also. I study at U laval and go back home every weekend. It was terrible before I got my TSX due to the poor headlights I had on my last car (99 legacy GT). It was quite traumatic at night.
I too do the same with the lighting on the tach. But in the city I keep it at max.
All the best.
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11-19-2004, 01:34 AM
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Originally Posted by cruzingsilver
Sauceman, how is TSX winter driving? Have you been on the 20 when it was snowing?
Edit: thanks for the kind words...
11-19-2004, 05:52 AM
#11
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Sorry about your grandfather 
Full blast with the nav on daytime setting - Very bright, it wakes me up.
Full blast with the nav on daytime setting - Very bright, it wakes me up.
11-19-2004, 07:48 AM
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Sorry about your granddad, sauceman - but the kind of time you're spending with him is invaluable for him, I would guess, and for you.
Keep it on full except when driving late at night on roads with no ambient light. Then I have to turn it back a notch or two.
Think the headlamps are spectacular for night driving.
Keep it on full except when driving late at night on roads with no ambient light. Then I have to turn it back a notch or two.
Think the headlamps are spectacular for night driving.
and they looks sweet when they fade to each other! 
11-19-2004, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
daytime = full light
nighttime = one notch down
nighttime = one notch down
It's annoying when I turn the lights on during the day (during rain, commute with sun at back) because the big division between lights-on retina-scortch and the next level down is too big. I don't understand why it isn't more gradual like the lights-off adjustment
11-19-2004, 09:05 AM
#25
Go Giants
Sorta related, maybe but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.
but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.
11-19-2004, 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by wsklar
Sorta related, maybe but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.
but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.Right up there with forgetting that the car is turned on and restarting the engine........
(are these signs of aging?)
11-19-2004, 09:14 AM
#27
Go Giants
Originally Posted by ric
yep.
Right up there with forgetting that the car is turned on and restarting the engine........
(are these signs of aging?)
Right up there with forgetting that the car is turned on and restarting the engine........
(are these signs of aging?)
11-19-2004, 09:45 AM
#28
Team Owner
Retina burning? you need these 
I usually keep it 2 notches above the minimum. Even at night, driving around LA there is a lot of ambient light and minimum setting is a little too dark.
I usually keep it 2 notches above the minimum. Even at night, driving around LA there is a lot of ambient light and minimum setting is a little too dark.
11-19-2004, 09:49 AM
#29
Originally Posted by wsklar
Sorta related, maybe but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.
but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.
I did this once when I was leaving the beach one night. Got pulled over by a cop, who luckily, didn't feel like being a jerk and just asked me to turn on my headlights.
11-19-2004, 09:54 AM
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sauce, sorry to hear about your grandfather. best wishes for you and your family.
my panels are hardly lit, maybe 20-25% brightness. i've always liked subtle lighting. imo, the blue led courtesy lights have a cooler effect in a darker cabin. i think i'm one the few people who doesn't like bright gauges.
my panels are hardly lit, maybe 20-25% brightness. i've always liked subtle lighting. imo, the blue led courtesy lights have a cooler effect in a darker cabin.
i think i'm one the few people who doesn't like bright gauges.
11-19-2004, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by sleeper
sauce, sorry to hear about your grandfather. best wishes for you and your family.
my panels are hardly lit, maybe 20-25% brightness. i've always liked subtle lighting. imo, the blue led courtesy lights have a cooler effect in a darker cabin. i think i'm one the few people who doesn't like bright gauges.
my panels are hardly lit, maybe 20-25% brightness. i've always liked subtle lighting. imo, the blue led courtesy lights have a cooler effect in a darker cabin.
i think i'm one the few people who doesn't like bright gauges.And thanks for the kind words from you and all the others.
11-19-2004, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by wsklar
Sorta related, maybe but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.
but how many of you have forgot to turn on your headlights at night because the dash lights are lit when you get in? I have, this is the first car I had that does this.Probibly done that twice, once my friend yelled at me, the other time the I found out that the cop had been sitting there one foot on the brake other on the gas, waiting to pull me over before I caught myself....
And
Full Blast (day)
Notch and a half down (Night)
All the way down (Ghost Mode)
11-19-2004, 01:46 PM
#37
My Garage
imo, the blue led courtesy lights have a cooler effect in a darker cabin.
The blue ambient lights get darker with the console. So as you decrease gauge brightness, you decrease ambient lighting. I'm not sure, but i think the manual made a mistake in which knob is used to adjust the brightness of the ambient lighting. The manual says the "reset" knob adjust the brightness, while it is actually the dimming knob that controls is. Just a heads up...
The blue ambient lights get darker with the console. So as you decrease gauge brightness, you decrease ambient lighting. I'm not sure, but i think the manual made a mistake in which knob is used to adjust the brightness of the ambient lighting. The manual says the "reset" knob adjust the brightness, while it is actually the dimming knob that controls is. Just a heads up...
11-19-2004, 03:14 PM
#38
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Sorry about your grandfather, Saucerman.
I used to run with my dash lights very dim at night before I got the TSX but with the TSX dash I keep mine one notch down from full all the time. Since the dash dims when you turn your headlights on that setting works out just right for me.
I used to run with my dash lights very dim at night before I got the TSX but with the TSX dash I keep mine one notch down from full all the time. Since the dash dims when you turn your headlights on that setting works out just right for me.
11-19-2004, 03:17 PM
#39
UK Spec
i m always on the higest lumination... ever since i got the car...
so i can't turn it down, feels so weird...
Sorry about your grampa, best wishes to him and your family.
so i can't turn it down, feels so weird...
Sorry about your grampa, best wishes to him and your family.
11-19-2004, 03:51 PM
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headlights on 24/7
daytime = retina burner
nighttime = as low as it can go
it would be nice to adjust it, so when it's dark out, you can set it low, light out, full blast
daytime = retina burner
nighttime = as low as it can go
it would be nice to adjust it, so when it's dark out, you can set it low, light out, full blast