aftermarket foglights

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Lights, Neon, LEDs, HIDs
Forum Discription: Under Car Lighting, Strobe Lights, Fog Lights, Headlights, HIDs, DRL, Tail Lights, Brake Lights, Dashboard Lights, WigWag, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=1576
Printed Date: July 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM

Topic: aftermarket foglights

Posted By: RoundtheBend
Subject: aftermarket foglights
Date Posted: June 28, 2002 at 10:21 PM

Hopefully this makes sense. I'm curious as to what the best solution would be for adding aftermarket fogs to either a Focus or a Legacy since both have clearance lights that double as blinkers. The desired end result is foglights that can be on whenever the parking lights are on.

Should I just tap into the parking light positive or will that (depending on where I tap in) cause the fogs to flash with the blinker?

Any help you could give me I would greatly appreciate!

Thanks in advance

-Erik

Replies:

Posted By: mobiletoys2002
Date Posted: June 28, 2002 at 10:41 PM

if the parking lights flash when the blinkers are on then the fogs will flash as well.but if you tap into the wire from the switch bypassing the factory relays and flasher circuit they will not flash and your fogs wont either. just find the triger wire off the switch that does not change in voltage if it stays at 12 volts you can use that to triger your fog relays and you will be on your way posted_image

Posted By: RoundtheBend
Date Posted: June 28, 2002 at 11:43 PM

Thanks for the reply! That helps a lot.

It also brings up another question that I forgot to ask in my original post. The aftermarket fogs that we have didn't come with a relay. I take it that you are saying it would be a wise idea to use a relay instead of trying to run the fogs directly?

-Erik posted_image

Posted By: GlassWolf
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 12:23 AM

for legality with driving lights, they should be on when your low beams are on.
for this, I tap the +12V right off the low beam wire of the lights. use chassis ground, and run the accessory wire from lights to switch. also be sure the lamps mounting bolts are grounded to chassis as well.

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-GlassWolf
Pioneer Stage-4, Orion, DynAudio, Fi

Posted By: RoundtheBend
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 12:32 AM

mobiletoys2002, Thanks again!

GlassWolf,

In terms of legality, are foglights and driving lights identified differently? Since the lights on my Legacy are white, I would consider those driving lights. That said, yellowish beams I would consider foglights. Is there really any distinction anymore? posted_image

Also, if it will be a legality issue, couldn't the argument be made that Explorers get away with parking lights and driving lights with no low beams? posted_image

Thanks for the warning.

-Erik

Posted By: RoundtheBend
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 12:47 AM

In searching the vehicle code here in WA, I have come to no clear conclusion regarding legality but it doesn't explicitly say that I can or can't have the fogs illuminated without headlights. posted_image

Silly laws anyway.

Thanks again for your help guys!

Posted By: mobiletoys2002
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 12:54 AM

in most states you cannot have fogs on without headlight but its up to you what you want to do .

Posted By: RoundtheBend
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 1:15 AM

I need sleep. Thank you for your patience in helping a new guy!

Posted By: GlassWolf
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 10:29 AM

sorry to have been unclear.
in regards to legality, you cannot have high beams on at the same time as clear lens driving lights. therefore they are usually wired into the low-beam feed, so they turn off when you hit the high beams.
difference:
driving lights. clear lens. beam projection is long and narrow. used to increase distance vision of things like road obstructions.
foglamps: amber lens, beam projection is short, but very wide, and light does not reflect off of snow and rain in the air, thus improving vision at close range in hazardous weather conditions.
hope that helped a bit as far as conventional terminology. I realize people aren't always clear, or don't always use the right terms.
Having degrees in EE and English both though, I tend to be overly picky about my choices of words LOL
Anyway driving or fog lamps with no headlights isn't a problem of which I'm aware. Only high beams with driving lights, as this can be overly-blinding to other on-coming drivers.
When I wire my own, unless they are special-purpose, like amber foglamps (PIAA 520 ion-crystal round amber lamps for fog/rain/snow for example) I tend to just wire the +12V feed straight off the low-beam feed so I don't have to give it another thought later. An example of clear-lens driving lights are the Hella 550 lamps.
(good ones, too. owned a couple pair)

-------------
-GlassWolf
Pioneer Stage-4, Orion, DynAudio, Fi

Posted By: RoundtheBend
Date Posted: June 29, 2002 at 12:46 PM

Thanks. I had a shop do the install on my last vehicle and the fogs were on whenever the parking lights were on regardless of the highbeams. Evidently the shop didn't care about legality but then I never got hassled about it. I think I'll just use the low beam feed on the focus I'm going to be working on.

-Erik