Foglight Wiring

[Bill Judson]

Does anyone happen to have a wiring schematic or diagram for setting up fog lights with it's own on/off switch where if switch is left on the lights come on anytime the truck is running and they go off when the truck is shut off?

I'm thinking of using fog lights as daytime running lights along with having the switch to be able to manually be able to turn them off if I wanted to.

This would also come in handy at night where the fog lights would remain on when using the high beams. (shouldn't be an issue for oncoming traffic since fog lights are low)

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I use a relay on all of mine. I get something like this, normally with Hella Relay's. Relay kit with wires

Mine are triggered by the parking lights (86) and I put the ground wire (85) through firewall to the switch, most of my switches have no indicator lights, I know when they are on or not. They come on with parking lights and stay on with low or high beams. I can also run with just parking lights for when really foggy/snow.

Depends what you get for fogs also. Above is good for Halogen/HID conversions. LED ones don't need that large wiring. My son has Diode Dynamics LED fogs. We ran the harness to a relay anyway but according to them not needed. It only has a 15A fuse in it. You could trigger that from any "key on" circuit then if you wanted to. https://www.diodedynamics.com/light-duty-dual-output-offroad-wiring-harness.html

 

[64bawagon]

You could run an ignition hot circuit to the switch (giving you an indicator light) and then run the hot from the switch to the 86 on the relay. This would make it ignition dependent and give you an indicator on the switch that they were on. Or you could use a non lighted switch and accomplish the same thing without an indicator.

 

[fsdork]

I don't imagine it's likely to be focused on by enforcement or inspection, but do keep in mind fog lights are tied to low beams per regulation in some places, if not all.

 

[Bill Judson]

keep in mind fog lights are tied to low beams per regulation in some places

That's alright... if one of the local LEOs pull me over
for this... I'll give him a "tip" to make it all go away

 

[64bawagon]

Some states allow only 4 headlamps on at a time and thats why the fogs drop off with the highs. I dont know whats states specifically but its for sure not all. Since Ford built some of their HD trucks with four headlamps on during low beams I have considered it a non issue. I suppose theres some enterprising LEO somewhere on I-40 that would have latched on to this if it were widely known.

Then theres this
While there isn't a specific list of states explicitly stating it, virtually all stateswould consider it illegal to drive with high beams and fog lights simultaneously as it creates excessive glare and is considered unsafe driving practice; meaning no state would allow this combination.


Key points to remember:

• Fog lights are designed to be used with low beams:
  When visibility is low due to fog, you should always use low beams with your fog lights, never high beams.
  
  
  
• High beams cause glare:
  Using high beams in foggy conditions can reflect off the fog, making it harder to see.
  
  
  
• Check your state's vehicle code:
  If you have any specific questions about headlight usage in your state, always consult your local vehicle code.

 

[Bill Judson]

virtually all stateswould consider it illegal to drive with high beams and fog lights simultaneously as it creates excessive glare

Well, what I'll do is when I see an oncoming car... I'll simply go from high beams down to low beams so the oncoming driver does not experience any excessive glare.

The way my truck is setup now, when I go from high beams down to low beams, the fog lights come back on and nobody is flashing their lights at me when I have low beams and fog lights on so nothing will change when I get the fog lights wired to a manual switch.

So, the only time I'll have low and high beams on along with the fog lights (6 lights total) is when there are no oncoming cars

The Ford pickups you have mentioned are too bright once those vehicle owners upgrade to LED bulbs and are pretty much too bright with the OE factory bulbs as well.

Once done, my truck will be easier for oncoming traffic than those Ford turd trucks.

 

[64bawagon]

The glare mentioned was supposedly for the driver of the truck with the fogs on. I have never had an issue with it and I have run the fogs on with high for well over 20 yrs. I read somewhere that having the light pattern right in front like the fogs do can affect focus since your looking down range further with the high beams on. Personally I never had that issue but supposedly its a thing.