Fog Lights Switch

[MrB0462]

Has anyone rewired their foglights so they can be turned on independently of the main headlights?

If is really a nice feature when there is fog.

Dave

 

[CanukV6]

Haven't tried re-wiring, but I would think in fog you would want both headlights and foglights on. The Foglights help you see the road. The headlights help others see you!

 

[vega]

Without a schematic, all you can do is trace the wiring from the switch, the fuse, and points in between. On my previous vehicle I had to reroute the wiring at the fuse panel to a "hot" when the ignition was on.

 

[MrB0462]

Haven't tried re-wiring, but I would think in fog you would want both headlights and foglights on. The Foglights help you see the road. The headlights help others see you!

Fog lights are not designed as driving lights they are for use in fog type conditions. Utilizing them with headlights is not correct. Headlights in foggy conditions catch the fog and reflect thus creating poor visibility. Fog lamps because of their low location and design for a flat topped beam try to stay under the fog level. providing a better lighting option under the conditions I mentioned.

In Europe the fog lamps and headlights are independently wired. They also do not keep their fog lamps on unless its raining or fog.

Dave

 

[MrB0462]

Vega

Thanks I also have done that on previous vehicles. Just wondering if some one had access to the wiring and had done it.

Thank you,

Dave

 

[CanukV6]

Fog lights are not designed as driving lights they are for use in fog type conditions. Utilizing them with headlights is not correct. Headlights in foggy conditions catch the fog and reflect thus creating poor visibility. Fog lamps because of their low location and design for a flat topped beam try to stay under the fog level. providing a better lighting option under the conditions I mentioned.

In Europe the fog lamps and headlights are independently wired. They also do not keep their fog lamps on unless its raining or fog.

Dave

I don't disagree with your explanation, but because fog lights have a low position and a wide flat beam they also have very limited range. That is why it is still a good idea to keep your low-beam headlights on in foggy conditions. While there is some reflection it is not so bad and makes your car visible to oncoming drivers. When I lived in England back in the seventies, fog lights were usually wired as accessories and few cars had them from the factory. I think today they are integrated with the main lighting system just like here. They also have mandatory rear fog lights so you can be seen from behind as well.

 

[vega]

If you decide to rewire the fog lights, be sure to use a power source that is active with the ignition on only, otherwise you could leave the fog lights on when the car is not running, and run down your battery.

 

[MrB0462]

If you decide to rewire the fog lights, be sure to use a power source that is active with the ignition on only, otherwise you could leave the fog lights on when the car is not running, and run down your battery.

Vega

Understood

Dave

 

[MrB0462]

I don't disagree with your explanation, but because fog lights have a low position and a wide flat beam they also have very limited range. That is why it is still a good idea to keep your low-beam headlights on in foggy conditions. While there is some reflection it is not so bad and makes your car visible to oncoming drivers. When I lived in England back in the seventies, fog lights were usually wired as accessories and few cars had them from the factory. I think today they are integrated with the main lighting system just like here. They also have mandatory rear fog lights so you can be seen from behind as well.

In the UK they operate independently from the main beams. Also as you said there are rear fog light(s) but they only go on if the front fog lamps are illuminated.

Also many powerful fog lamps are just about as bright as low beams. I have had several cars where the fogs can be used, if wired idependently from the low beams with little or no lose of illumination.

Dave

 

[ctrcbob]

I also wanted to rewire the FogLamps independent from the Headlights, however I did not want to cut any wires. What I wanted to do was to buy two plugs that accept the
FogLamp H8 bulbs, then wire them into a seperate circuit, leaving the stock wiring and plugs hanging (and protected) in the FogLamp housing. This way, I could just convert back to stock by unplugging from one circuit back to the OEM circuit. Great idea, EXCEPT, I could not find any plugs in any Auto Supply Stores that fit the H8 bulbs.

Like I said, I am not going to cut wires to rewire using the OEM plugs, so that shot that idea down.

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