What Are Follow Me Home Headlamps? - Types & Benefits

Have you ever had trouble seeing your way to the door after parking your car in low-light conditions or at night? This is a very generic problem that many individuals face! But Indian car manufacturers have got this sorted for you by introducing the "Follow Me Home" headlamps feature in modern cars. But what are "Follow Me Home" headlamps? How does it work? The blog will answer all of these questions. Read on to find out! 

What Are Follow Me Home Headlamps?

Follow Me Home headlamps are car headlights that are designed to remain illuminated after the car ignition is turned off or when you lock your car with a key. 

Also known as Guide Me headlamps, these remain illuminated for typically 10-15 seconds and provide individuals with the required visibility to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. 

This feature majorly comes to the rescue to prevent mishappenings in parking conditions like potholes, mud, dark, etc.

Benefits of Follow Me Home Headlamps

Below are some of the major benefits of Follow Me Home headlamps. 

• Safety: No more tripping over unseen obstacles or struggling to find your way in the dark. With Guide Me headlamps, you can easily reach your destination and ensure safety at night or when the weather is bad. 
• Convenience: These headlights offer added convenience by providing occupants enough time to find their belongings. Also, the feature activates automatically when you lock your car (depending on the car model) and turns off after the set duration to preserve the car’s battery life. 
• Security: A well-lit area can deter thieves or potential threats from approaching your car, ensuring safety and peace of mind. 

Components of Follow Me Home Headlamps

Follow Me Home headlamps comprise several components to provide temporary illumination even after the engine is turned off. Passengers can find their path in poorly lit conditions after their car is turned off, with the help of follow me home headlamps.  It consists of a standby power supply system, a timer mechanism, an actuator or switch, sensors, connectors and a wiring system, facilitating a smoother dimming functionality. Here is how each component contributes to the system.

Standby Power Supply

A backup power supply is located under the car’s battery to illuminate it briefly when the engine is off. 

Time Function

This mechanism allows the driver to adjust the duration of the illumination.

Actuator/Switch

This switch allows the driver to switch to the ‘follow me home’ feature whenever required.

Sensors

There are two major types of sensors – ambient light sensors and door sensors.

1. Ambient Light Sensors adjust the brightness of the lamps based on the surrounding lighting.
2. Door sensors activate the interior lighting whenever the car’s doors are open.

Connectors & Wiring

Connectors and wiring are crucial to the functioning of the entire Follow Me Home mechanism. These facilitate smooth transitions and seamless communication between the various electronic and electrical components.

Dimming Function

This function synchronizes with the time and automatically turns off the headlights after the set duration.

How Do ‘Follow Me Home’ Headlamps Work?

Follow Me Home headlamps light up when the ambient light is less, once a car’s ignition is turned off, helping passengers navigate their pathways during darker hours of the day. The entire mechanism is electronically controlled. Here is how it works.

Trigger

The lighting system is activated when you turn the ignition off or unlock your car.

Sensor

A low light sensor detects a low ambient light, sending a signal to the electronic control unit (ECU) of the car. 

ECU (Electronic Control Unit)

As soon as it receives the signal from the light sensor, the ECU activates the headlamps to stay lit for a minimum of 10-30 seconds, or as per their programming instructions.

Duration of Illumination

The headlights remain on for a fixed duration, typically between 10 and 30 seconds, depending on the vehicle and their settings.

Deactivation

Once the preset time is over, the lights automatically turn off unless programmed to do so otherwise.

How To Activate The Follow Me Home Headlamp Feature

The process of activating the Follow Me Home Headlamp feature varies according to the car model and the technology used. 

However, some of the basic ways go like this:

• When you turn off the ignition, pull the high beam stalk towards you to activate the follow-me-home Headlamp feature.
• Alternatively, you might find an option in your car's infotainment system menu to activate this feature.

After a set time (usually a few seconds), the follow-me-home lights will automatically switch off.

Types of Follow Me Home Headlamps

Follow-me-home headlamps come in various types, each offering different functionalities and features. Below are some of the ones explained. 

1. Halogen Headlamps

These are the most common types of headlights that are a kind of incandescent light. As the name suggests, Halogen Headlamps are filled with halogen gas and can last up to 1000 hours in normal conditions.

Cons: The brightness of these headlights is poor, which makes it difficult to drive during the night. Also, they demand high energy consumption and maintenance. 

2. Xenon or High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps

HID headlamps are gas-discharge lights that create light through an electric arc between tungsten electrodes inside a clear or translucent tube, using xenon gas and an electrical charge. These are more energy-efficient, as HID headlights use 20-30% less energy than halogen bulbs. 

Cons: The most common con of xenon lamps is their high level of glare, which can be too bright for other drivers. In addition, the installation and repair of these headlights is pretty expensive. 

3. LED Headlamps

LEDs are known for their energy efficiency, whether it’s bulbs or headlamps. They light up when an electrical current passes through the microchip. 

Cons: Though LED Headlamps are highly energy-efficient, these can produce a harsh glare. 

4. Laser Headlamps

Laser headlights use three small blue lasers that shine onto mirrors in front of the headlight system. Then, the mirrors focus the laser light into a lens with yellow phosphorus. When the blue lasers hit the yellow phosphorus, it glows with a bright white light.

These headlamps have all the advantages of LEDs and perform better. The best part is that their energy consumption is half that of LEDs, and the light produced is 1,000 times stronger. 

Cons: Their adoption is not widespread due to higher costs and certain technical limitations. 

Top Five Category Of Follow Me Home Headlamps

The categories of Follow Me Home Headlamps vary according to their functionality, workings, and customizations. Here are the basic parameters of how they are classified. 

1. Basic 

These are the most common types of Headlamps that activate automatically when you turn off the car's engine. They typically have a preset illumination time with no customization options. 

2. Customizable

As the name implies, this category allows you to set the duration of how long the lights will stay on when the engine is turned off. PS: Some models also let you adjust the brightness. 

3. Integrated

These headlamps can be integrated with other systems of the car to provide additional features like puddle lamps under side mirrors and interior lights. The settings can be controlled through an app or the car's infotainment system.

4. Adaptive

This is the most advanced category of Guide Me headlamps that adjust their illumination based on the surrounding environment. For instance, staying on longer in darker or less safe areas. Additionally, these come with extensive customization and control options.

5. Connected

Last but not the least, connected headlamps can be connected to the internet or smart devices for remote operation. The best part? Settings can be modified remotely using a smartphone app or other connected devices. 

Popular Car Models with Follow Me Home Headlamps

Previously, the Follow Me Home headlamps feature was only found in high-end cars, but now manufacturers have also introduced them in affordable cars. 

Below is the list of popular car models with Follow Me Home headlamps, starting at Rs.7 Lakh. 

Maintenance of Follow Me Home Headlamps

Maintenance of Follow Me Home Headlamps becomes easier if you follow the below tips and tricks. 

• Dirt and dust can accumulate on the headlamp lenses. Use a soft cloth and mild cleaner to wipe the lenses regularly. 
• Regularly look at the headlamp bulbs for signs of wear or damage. If any issue is found, address it promptly. 
• Check for any software updates for the control module. Updated software can improve how the headlamp system works. 
• Make sure your car’s battery is in good shape, as it powers the headlamps. 

The Bottom Line 

Follow Me Home Headlamp is a must-have feature in any car as these illuminate your path in dark and unknown surroundings, preventing accidents. However, it’s true that these headlamps provide safety, but nobody has seen the future, car accidents can happen anytime. 

So, protect your vehicle with a car insurance policy from InsuranceDekho and ensure peace of mind while driving. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. What are Follow Me Home Headlamps? 

Follow Me Home headlamp is a feature in cars that keeps the headlights on for a short time (10 to 15 seconds) after you turn off the engine. It helps drivers and passengers to navigate dark areas. 

Q. How to activate Follow Me home headlamps?

The Follow Me home headlights can be activated by either pulling the headlight stalk or through the infotainment system. 

Q. Is it possible to adjust the duration of how long the Follow Me Home headlamps stay on? 

Yes! It’s possible to adjust the duration in many modern cars. However, you might not find the feature in the previous older car models.  

Q. Which car models have the Follow Me Home Headlamps feature?

Some of the car models that have the Follow Me Home Headlamps feature include Kia Seltos, Hyundai i20, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Creta, and Hyundai Venue.

Q. Do Follow Me Home headlamps automatically turn off and on? 

Follow Me Home headlamps automatically turn off after a predefined time frame. On the contrary, manual intervention is required to turn on the feature, excluding the car models that come with automatic activation options.