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Electrical PIAA's as fog lights?

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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 10:02 AM
  #1  
bpetzold's Avatar
bpetzold
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PIAA's as fog lights?

I want to drop my PIAA 540 driving lights closer to the ground to act as fog lights. Can I splice them into the fog lights so they come on when I switch on the fogs? I assume I use the little splice thingy just like I did on the highbeams. Has anyone done this is it even possible without any othe work on the circuit?
Thanks for your help
Bob
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 11:14 AM
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Driving lights are NOT fog lights, and should not be used as such. The fog beams are thin and wide. Driving lights are meant to shine as much light ahead as possible, with no concern for oncoming traffic and blinding said traffic. If you want more fogs, buy another set of fogs.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Eric_Rowland
Driving lights are NOT fog lights, and should not be used as such. The fog beams are thin and wide. Driving lights are meant to shine as much light ahead as possible, with no concern for oncoming traffic and blinding said traffic. If you want more fogs, buy another set of fogs.
+1, i have to agree with this. Fog lights are completely different than normal driving lights.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 12:04 PM
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I agree with the above two posts. Fog lights are wide and low. Driving lights will hurt, not help, fog performance. As for your question about wiring, yes, you can tap your fog wire just like you did your high beam. That's what I did when I installed my FF200 foglight kit.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 12:29 PM
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From: Dirty Jersey
You can use them as fogs. However, keep in mind, fog patterns are low and wide. Driving lights are high and narrow.

Since there is no real vertical cut-off with driving lights, you will need to aim them down low, even lower than you normally would with fogs. (typically for fogs, @ 25 feet, 3 inches lower than level-- so aim them 5 to 6 inches lower with driving lights).

I would recommend buying a set of fog lights instead, say hella 500 (fog) or hella FF200 (fog) or PIAA 540 fogs (which are amber)

You can just tap into your fog existing fog wiring.

I have used driving lights (PIAA 1305-- back on my old car), aimed low as fog lights. It wasn't too detrimental to performance, and even in heavy dense fog, where I was forced to turn off my low beams, I can still see using the driving lights).
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 01:36 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by One-D
You can use them as fogs. However, keep in mind, fog patterns are low and wide. Driving lights are high and narrow.
Not true at all. You cannot use them as fogs ... they will look nothing like a fog pattern at all. All you will get is a very low beam with a 15 degree spread with NO cutoff.:impatient

If you want to use your PIAAs as fogs ... just google for piaa part #35401 ... those are the correct lense. Popoff the driving beam lens, insert the fog lense (and it would be wise to change the bulbs to yellow) ... and you get fogs.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 02:16 PM
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From: Dirty Jersey
Did you read the basic description describing the difference between a typical fog pattern & a driving pattern?

...and my anecdotal story of when I used driving lights as fog in extremely thick fog?

Did you also noticed I recommended getting real fog lights?
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by One-D
Did you read the basic description describing the difference between a typical fog pattern & a driving pattern?

...and my anecdotal story of when I used driving lights as fog in extremely thick fog?

Did you also noticed I recommended getting real fog lights?
Yes, you did say to buy fogs. However, my issue is with telling me they can use driving lights, in general, for a purpose clearly not intended. Ancedetol information is constantly thrown out as being Gospel which its not.

Its like saying ... Oh yeah, I never threw a code in a MINI ... therefore you won't too ... not true. Aiming driving lights low in to the ground in front of you is going to get you two spot beam with no width at all.

I didn't meant to come across strong, only to point out to use the right tool for the job
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 03:45 PM
  #9  
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Thanks. I will look into changing the lens and bulbs.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by bpetzold
Thanks. I will look into changing the lens and bulbs.
Be sure to pick up the PIAA yellow bulbs. If you leave in the white bulbs, the color will look blue and you won't be able to see much of anything and the cops won't be too happy with you

This way, you can switch back and forth anytime you want!
 
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