Fog light wiring

[NWMontanaMan]

Hey all,New guy here. Just got the truck in my sig from my dad. One thing it doesn't have is fog lights. I looked around a little behind the bumper but didn't see harness endings where the lights would be. Should they be there? Also, will the plugs for a headlight switch with fog controls be behind the switch? We get lots of fog during the winter in this valley and there are more deer than people, so I'd like to add a little light on my dark commute! Thanks guys!

[flagmanruss]

I have the OEM fog lights & in my opinion, they are worthless. Just decoration. They're too low power, not practically aimable, garbage optically. The bulbs aren't cheap... since I don't have DRL I ran them instead until the bulbs burned out & had to replace them. If I was unsatisified with my lights, I'd add a relay on the headlights first which gives better power. You could upgrade to the Sport headlights which add a second bulb to the houseing. I'd run Aux lights either on or under the bumper with some quality optics & higher rated bulbs.

[NWMontanaMan]

Good to know. Thanks for the input! Sounds like aux lights are the way to go. Any suggestions on some good ones?

[Rogan]

Depends on the size you want and money you want to spend..Hella 500s are really good for the money. They're fairly pencil-beamed, and usually around $50-70/pr.

[Haggar]

Rogan,How did you mount the 500s? Did you use the original dodge mounts or make a new one?I too am looking to add fogs, thanks for your input. I was just going to add stocks back in, but now you have me thinking.....Hag

[Rogan]

The Hella 500s wont fit in OE locations; they're about 6.5" diameter, and about 2.5-2.75" thick.a creative bracket mount will fit them behind the grill with ample lighting shining through.Just use the bumper lip or something to secure the bracket and not the grill.. They'll be shaky on the grill..

[Mopar1973Man]

Or... Like myself I've got 100w aircraft landing lights...

Here is how I'm wired I don't use any of the factory wiring...

So I got control of hi/lo fog lamps with my normal dimmer switch, fog light are on with the parking light automatically. Also the fog light are forced low beam mode when in parking light position of the head lights. The extra switch in the diagram is to force the fog light off with head light on.

[Rogan]

how do you not tear them off, or at least fold them under, in snow and/or off-road excursions?

[Mopar1973Man]

Set tight enough not swing in the wind. But loose enough that if hit with a object they fold under. Work just like the 96...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TfquTPNX8

[Rogan]

A good Hella link for a rough idea how the lights are..

http://www.hella.com/MicroSite/eliver_US-Version/index.html

- - - Updated - - -

Set tight enough not swing in the wind. But loose enough that if hit with a object they fold under.

Work just like the 96...

Are the '96 ones mounted "to" the grill? Are they the same style you have under your '02s bumper?

[NWMontanaMan]

Are the '96 ones mounted "to" the grill? Are they the same style you have under your '02s bumper?

Thanks for the replies, guys! I like that setup, Mike. Do you notice much performance difference being higher up in the grill vs. down low under the bumper? Also, where would a fellow find some of those landing lights?

[Mopar1973Man]

Local NAPA store...

[Rogan]

So snap me a pic of the m73m bracketry :)Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Mopar1973Man]

Remember this is a 1996 Dodge 1500 5.9L Gasser... Not a diesel. All it built on is a piece of re-bar. Welded tabs to the rebar to mount the light to the re-bar. The hacked up a old extension cord for the wiring. I know this is very redneck looking but it works awesome.

[Rogan]

Is all good, mike! I'm a man of function over form.. Thanks!

[NWMontanaMan]

I know this is very redneck looking but it works awesome.

I don't know what you're talking about.... In my neck of the woods we'd call that pretty darn slick!

[Mopar1973Man]

That idea was snagged from over at RamForum.Com. There some guys over there that are producing this bar that you just bolt on. So I figure with a bit of shop time and junk steel I could do the same. But I will mention by placing the fog lamp in the grill and putting the air dam back on the front I gained about 2 MPG on that little 5.9L gasser. It was a well worth it mod. :thumbup2:Just need to buy a bulb for the one side... :banghead:Now that wiring idea will work with any fog or driving light you want to use. The only reason I switch to these is the fact that in the winter time the highway are heavily graveled and I end up breaking at least 1 fog light a winter. So after spending huge money on KC's or other name brand lights to break a lens I finally switch over to the seal beam bulbs because no biggy if it broke smash it with a hammer and vacuum the glass out. Hook up the wires and snap back in the rubber bucket. simple...

[overthehill]

MikeUnless I am missing something (besides my mind), four 100 watt lights on the same time at 14 volts are going to take about 28 amps of current (400/14 = 28) and yet you have only a 20 amp fuse feeding the lights.

[Wild and Free]

I am going to be installing a set of new 6 bulb LED lights "can't remember what brand right off" on my 2010 in the near future, we started getting them at work and they are very small and come in either High beams or flood light patterns. These things are flat out amazing at how much light they put out. They run on 12-36 volts systems with no changes needed. We get them for $180 each which is a steel for LED tchnology.

[Mopar1973Man]

Mike Unless I am missing something (besides my mind), four 100 watt lights on the same time at 14 volts are going to take about 28 amps of current (400/14 = 28) and yet you have only a 20 amp fuse feeding the lights.

I'm only burning 2 bulbs at a time not 4... 2 lo beams ans 2 hi beams... 200 / 14.5 = 13.7 amps