2016 Rear Fog Light
- Thread starter Salvo Jimmy
- Start date
RysiuM
New member
I'm with you on it. From personal experience with JDM Astar bulbs I think they are 100% suitable for the purpose.
in my Tacoma I have 1156 white (AX-2835 Chipsets) for reverse, 1156 red (AX-2835 Chipsets) for rear fog, 1156 orange (5730 Chipsets) for signal and 1157 red (AX-2835 Chipsets) for marker/stop. I really compared every one of them with original incandescent bulbs for functionality and all JDM Astar's (except reverse light) look exactly like original bulbs. White LED is of course "whiter" (not necessary brighter) but serves the purpose same as the original "very warm" incandescent bulb. The only complain I had was the current leak in dual function bulbs. Other than that I was happy. I can recommend JDM Astar bulbs - I have them for almost 2 years now.
The main reason (besides converting one reverse bulb to rear fog light) I changed this truck to LED was the current drawn. For example emergency lights (four blinkers) take now 20W (1.7A) instead of original 100W (8.4A). This is 21 years old truck and the last thing I need in it is electrical fire.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Anyone have experience with Sylvania ZEVO LED replacements???
I'm contemplating using their 1157R (R=Red) for the jury rig rear fog.
They are readily available in my area. Three different named auto parts stores carry only them and they are available at WalMart as well. Can't find any JDMs except on line.
I'm contemplating using their 1157R (R=Red) for the jury rig rear fog.
They are readily available in my area. Three different named auto parts stores carry only them and they are available at WalMart as well. Can't find any JDMs except on line.
barryhiram
New member
I saw somewhere here on the forum a guy added LED backup light in his rear bumper cover. This might work for you if you use red LEDs instead of white. They looked very decent with OEM look (not standing out screaming "I am aftermarket" :yo.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ht-mod-%96-sr5-factory-bumper-rigid-sr-q.html
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Forget the "Super Bright" Sylvanias. Saw a pair on sale at a good price so I said what the heck, giv'em a try. Maybe at best half as bright as the incandescent.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Seems the best economical solution might be a "rewired" 4 pin trailer light extension cord. I had to get a 4 pin extension to get power to the short lead on the Bully CR-007A.
If an extension were wired so that when plugged into the trailer connector and Bully, the Bully bulb brake light function were on when the tail lights are on, that would give the desired brightness. And the brake light wire(s) on the extension not powered when braking. Then just use the brightest red LED 1157 I can find to reduce current/heat from the incandescent brake light. LED might be necessary with the brake light on continuously with tail lights.
This would also allow the "cheap" Bully to be periodically replaced when needed with no further mods.
So any ideas on the rewire??
If an extension were wired so that when plugged into the trailer connector and Bully, the Bully bulb brake light function were on when the tail lights are on, that would give the desired brightness. And the brake light wire(s) on the extension not powered when braking. Then just use the brightest red LED 1157 I can find to reduce current/heat from the incandescent brake light. LED might be necessary with the brake light on continuously with tail lights.
This would also allow the "cheap" Bully to be periodically replaced when needed with no further mods.
So any ideas on the rewire??
RysiuM
New member
Two things I can add here:
1. Tail light power on trailer is socket is supplied from 30A fuse via dedicated towing tail relay (separate from the truck's tail lights). There is plenty of power here.
2. You still have to have some mean of turning off your Bully light when tail lights are on. Rear fog lights must be on only in low visibility condition.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Depends on the state. As I said in my previous post no such requirement exists in NC or VA that I could find in lighting laws.
RysiuM
New member
What I meant was using it in Europe as rear fog light. Using very bright tail lights (I mean with brightness as brake lights) is very dangerous for you, as you will blind the car directly behind you. This is the reason why the rear fog light can (and must) be used only at the poor visibility condition. Tail marker lights are not visible from the distance in dense fog, but while rear fog light is visible it is not blinding.
The blinding factor (very bright tail marker lights) applies to US driving too. I'm sure there is a DOT paragraph somewhere about that.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
I lived in the UK for 3 yrs and am familiar with Euro requirement. Personally don't think a brake light is blinding, even at night. Maybe the Euro fog light which is brighter than a brake light.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
BTW I searched the USDOT site many different ways, including the commercial vehicle portion, and could find nothing on rear fogs, only front fogs. Interestingly I did find where they had recommended that states allow use of emergency flashers on moving vehicles during reduced visibility. Many states now do but many don't. VA still only allows use on stopped vehicles or one going less than 30 mph. NC is silent on use for private passenger vehicles.
Not trying to rain (or fog!) on your parade but have you thought about how useful will this actually be in practice? I understand the point of the rear fog light and I agree they have merit, but part of their usefulness comes from the general driving population understanding their purpose too. Places in Europe where a rear fog light is a standard feature on a vehicle are also places where people understand the point of a rear fog. Here in North America I'd hazard a guess that less than 10% of the population would recognize your rear fog light for what it is and react accordingly. The majority of drivers who see it will likely think that you have some weird brake light or a wiring malfunction and not give it a second thought. Or worse, they'll think "great, this guy has a nice bright light on the back of his truck, let's follow him closely through the fog". The exact opposite of the desired reaction.
Again, I'm not trying to discourage you from trying this but I wanted to bring up that point for consideration.
Again, I'm not trying to discourage you from trying this but I wanted to bring up that point for consideration.
TravelWest01
New member
Another option
Since the purpose of the rear light here is to avoid getting rear ended in bad fog/snow/rain/dust the goal is here is a reasonably bright rear light. My solution was to buy red lens covers for my Dually LED lights that I have on the roof rack. The lights have the diffuse lens, for area lighting when camping, but with the red covers they make a bright, but not blinding red light. I have used them in snowstorms in the Sierra, they make my truck much more visible from behind. they are 6 feet high, so don't meet the Euro spec, but since I am 5,500 miles from Europe not too worried.
Since the purpose of the rear light here is to avoid getting rear ended in bad fog/snow/rain/dust the goal is here is a reasonably bright rear light. My solution was to buy red lens covers for my Dually LED lights that I have on the roof rack. The lights have the diffuse lens, for area lighting when camping, but with the red covers they make a bright, but not blinding red light. I have used them in snowstorms in the Sierra, they make my truck much more visible from behind. they are 6 feet high, so don't meet the Euro spec, but since I am 5,500 miles from Europe not too worried.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Unfortunately a requirement in one of the states I frequent does not allow add on lights that are lighted while driving that are above required lights
Salvo Jimmy
Member
I may just give up on this and do what I've always done. Use the emergency flashers regardless of the law.
Always figured it better to go to court than the hospital/morgue.
Always figured it better to go to court than the hospital/morgue.
RysiuM
New member
Actually I would think quite opposite. In dense fog car with standard tail light (5W each) will not be visible at all from the close distance, so the driver would not have enough time to brake when the stop light suddenly appear. If car is equipped with rear fog lights (21W each) these lights have better chance to be visible giving more time the driver behind to step on brakes when three additional lamps (three stop lights) appear in his vision.
Car's visibility with standard tail light in fog is equivalent to the visibility when driving with only position lights on the front (no headlights). If you see them, its way to late do do anything except saying "F..."
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Finally got around to the rewire and it works fine. Just using an 1157 incandescent for the time being.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
BTW saw some reviews where LEDs don't take water too well, saying unless your fixture is water tight the LEDs fail quickly. Obviously the Bully is no where near water tight so I think I'll just stick with incadescents.
RysiuM
New member
Led bulbs I used are not water tight (as submersible) but I used enough sealant to make them as such. So far one wet winter (el ninio) and no single failure. Because they are connected to stop lights in trailer socket they are used more than few minutes every day. So far so good. Keep my fingers crossed.
TravelWest01
New member
I just put two Rigid Dually diffuse lens on the back of my roof rack, added their snap on red lenses, and there is an awesome rear safety light! I use this in snowstorms in the Sierra, and could use more n fog. With the diffuse lens and the red cover it is very visible, but not blinding.
