Using driving lights with stock fog light switch

[jsmithjr732]

I was installing my IPF 968s tonight and wanted to use the stock fog light switch on the left stalk. I opened up the stock fog lights on the stock bumper and saw that they use H3 55w bulbs--same as the IPF lights.

I cut the connector off my stock fog lights, soldered it to the IPF's harness, and plugged the lights in. Instant success. No relay to install or lines to splice. I assume that if you do the high beam mod with your fog lights, it'll carry over for this as well.

Thought I'd share.

 

[Singtoe]

Are you running 4 foglights on one circuit? If you are, you should use another relay.

If you are using an additional set of lights in addition to the fog lights, you should use a separate switch used in one of the switch blanks on the left side of the dashboard. It will give you more control and lets you govern when and what lights come on.

 

[animal]

Sounds like he just cut the stock connector off and wired up the new connector in its place. No splicing or running a second set of fog lights.

 

[jsmithjr732]

I installed an ARB bumper, so my old bumper and fog lights were sitting on the floor. I just cut the fog light connectors and soldered them to the new driving lights. If I get more lights, I'd need to have a separate relay and switch as I'd be concerned about the amount of power going through the stock wires.

I need to get rid of my old bumper now!

 

[Hepar]

You wouldn't happen to know if you can wire in 85w lights to the existing stock fogs, do you?

 

[xskydivingdudex]

Dude i did the same thing when i got my hella 500FFs on my ARB... i didnt want more switches that werent necessary and the main benefit was that it would turn off with the engine.

I had done the fog light mod so they will stay on with my high beams also but instead of soldering the wires like u did i just used crimps which has held up so far. I did this a couple of months ago and havent had any problem with it at all.

 

[jsmithjr732]

Dude i did the same thing when i got my hella 500FFs on my ARB... i didnt want more switches that werent necessary and the main benefit was that it would turn off with the engine.

I had done the fog light mod so they will stay on with my high beams also but instead of soldering the wires like u did i just used crimps which has held up so far. I did this a couple of months ago and havent had any problem with it at all.

Nice! I still owe you a picture of my mud flap!

On the 85w question, someone else was running 110w without issues. I would think the fuse for te fogs would blow before any damage occurred. YMMV.

 

[driffter33]

Nice! I still owe you a picture of my mud flap!

On the 85w question, someone else was running 110w without issues. I would think the fuse for te fogs would blow before any damage occurred. YMMV.

I agree as log as you don't go to a larger fuse you should avoid damage. Factory fuse on mine was 15 amp. I just did this same mod last night . My LEDS came with harness with a 5 amp fuse so that is what I am using.

 

[Elton H]

id just use the fog light wire to trigger a relay

 

[drdolittlerwc]

I just got a 20" LED light bar that has 40 - 3w Cree lamps. Does anyone have any thoughts about whether this would be ok on the fog light circuit? I'm trying to figure out the amp draw but not finding much help online, maybe I'm just not looking in the right place...:shrug:

I am going to be changing my bumper next week and I don't have any spots for the fog lights, but this light bar would be a nice replacement for the circuit. Otherwise, I have to use a switch, which are already there, but would like to use existing wiring and have access to it on the left stalk...

Thanks

 

[Socco]

id just use the fog light wire to trigger a relay

Yep. 85w / 12.6v = 6.7 Amps (x2 Lamps? = 13.4 Amps Total) Sure, its under the 15A fuse and will work, but the wire gauge IIRC for the factory fogs is tiny. Like 18 or 16 ga. To keep the voltage drop at a minimum (i.e: Make lights bright) You'd need at least 14 ga wire feeding the lights.