Mount fogs high or low?

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Originally Posted By: moto94536
my car came with factory installed fog light. I use the fog light when I am driving at night. it help alot.


So do my high beams!
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Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit

Interesting. I do much of my driving, especially this time of year, in the dark on 2 lane rural roads. I've never had an issue with being "blinded" by a properly aimed set of fog/driving lights from oncoming traffic. Have you considered getting a good eye exam?

And as far as your comment about where the driver should be looking-I've always understood that the driver should look both near and far, not limiting themselves to only "farther up the road". I can't imagine not knowing what's going on close to my vehicle, as well as far away. Especially when determining if the road is slick at night; I'm not sure I'd want to try to make that judgement while limiting myself to looking "far up the road".




I'm with you. Unless someone is carrying something in the back of their vehicle causing the light beams to run high, or someone has mis-aligned their aftermarket lights too high, I see no problems using fog lights in addition to low-beam headlights. People driving around with their brights on, even during the day are what peeve me.
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Originally Posted By: mshu7
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit

Interesting. I do much of my driving, especially this time of year, in the dark on 2 lane rural roads. I've never had an issue with being "blinded" by a properly aimed set of fog/driving lights from oncoming traffic. Have you considered getting a good eye exam?

And as far as your comment about where the driver should be looking-I've always understood that the driver should look both near and far, not limiting themselves to only "farther up the road". I can't imagine not knowing what's going on close to my vehicle, as well as far away. Especially when determining if the road is slick at night; I'm not sure I'd want to try to make that judgement while limiting myself to looking "far up the road".




I'm with you. Unless someone is carrying something in the back of their vehicle causing the light beams to run high, or someone has mis-aligned their aftermarket lights too high, I see no problems using fog lights in addition to low-beam headlights. People driving around with their brights on, even during the day are what peeve me.
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The point that he was trying to make is that when you are going 55 to 75 mph having light up close really isnt much relavance. I dont care to much for what is 50 feet in front of me because at that speed you will not be able to react quick enough to do anything anyways.

Also the problem that I see is that so many people are putting really bright lights in and aiming to so high that they are twice as bright as their low beams, maybe some of you can help me understand why you need to have that much light at everyone else's expense. When I am being blinded by someone like that I leave my highs on so I can see, its all about my safety then.

And seriously if you need that much light to see why should I take the eye exam, I can see very well at night with good well aimed headlights. Well over a million accident free miles but what the H do I know.
 
Originally Posted By: countryboy9799
Originally Posted By: mshu7
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit

Interesting. I do much of my driving, especially this time of year, in the dark on 2 lane rural roads. I've never had an issue with being "blinded" by a properly aimed set of fog/driving lights from oncoming traffic. Have you considered getting a good eye exam?

And as far as your comment about where the driver should be looking-I've always understood that the driver should look both near and far, not limiting themselves to only "farther up the road". I can't imagine not knowing what's going on close to my vehicle, as well as far away. Especially when determining if the road is slick at night; I'm not sure I'd want to try to make that judgement while limiting myself to looking "far up the road".




I'm with you. Unless someone is carrying something in the back of their vehicle causing the light beams to run high, or someone has mis-aligned their aftermarket lights too high, I see no problems using fog lights in addition to low-beam headlights. People driving around with their brights on, even during the day are what peeve me.
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The point that he was trying to make is that when you are going 55 to 75 mph having light up close really isnt much relavance. I dont care to much for what is 50 feet in front of me because at that speed you will not be able to react quick enough to do anything anyways.

Also the problem that I see is that so many people are putting really bright lights in and aiming to so high that they are twice as bright as their low beams, maybe some of you can help me understand why you need to have that much light at everyone else's expense. When I am being blinded by someone like that I leave my highs on so I can see, its all about my safety then.

And seriously if you need that much light to see why should I take the eye exam, I can see very well at night with good well aimed headlights. Well over a million accident free miles but what the H do I know.


I agree that when you're going highway speeds, you should be looking farther down the road. But for me personally, I don't do much highway driving. Rather, my driving is around town and country roads where there's not much lighting and I'm not driving fast.

I am not arguing about vehicles with improper aim. Yes, improperly aligned lights are annoying. But even then, I look at the right edge of my lane in those instances so I'm not looking right at their lights. My point is that if everything is aligned as it should be, give me all the light I can get. Why have only good lighting when I can have great lighting?

Another example. For vehicles that have separate low and high beams, I like the low beams to stay on when I flip on the high-beams (and even the fogs for that matter). Why? Because if I have my brights on it means no one is coming towards me and I want to light up the road. High-beams are great for long distance vision, but they reduce the short distance vision, unless the lows stay on as well. If both high & low are on at the same time, it makes for very easy-to-see driving conditions.

And remember, not all headlights are created equal. Some cars have great low and/or high-beam systems, and others aren't so fortunate. I always want the most light possible, but properly aligned of course.
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Being that the factory headlights on my Jeep aren't very good, and I haven't had the money to get a set of the ($250/pair) ECE spec headlights for it yet, I mounted a set of 100w long range driving lights to the front license plate frame. However, I wired them so that they can only be turned on if the high beams are on, as they're painfully bright even in broad daylight. Plus, then I only have 1 switch to hit for oncoming cars, and it kills those and the high beams.

The factory fogs get turned on only in very heavy snow, rain or fog, where they actually help. Being a true fog beam, they do nothing of benefit in good weather.

Unlike most idiots who never turn their high beams on, the go [censored] their headlights aren't good enough, or worse yet, decide "my headlights aren't very bright, they can't blind anybody, I'll just leave the brights on", I make a point to use high beams whenever possible, but am very careful about blasting other cars with them.
 
I am sure that factory installed fog light on the pilot doesn't affect oncoming drivers during night time. They are mounted low.

but yea driving with fog light during night, rain, snow helps alot.
 
Fogs are more useful mounted lower to the ground. They are mainly used to go under the fog not through it, helping you to see the lines on the sides of the road. If they went further ahead of the vehicle they would blind other drivers like lights with a driving or long range beam do.

I use my fogs more frequently during the morning or afternoon hours. When turned on with my parking lights I have noticed that not as many people pull out in front of me.
 
agree that yellow fogs down low are very, very helpful in snow. the 3D contrast is helpful, and the reduced glare from yellow is hugely appreciated. I prefer yellow in the rain as well-- would actually like ti find/make driving beam patterns (flat cutoff, not conical) with amber tint. I find the glare to be less fatiguing with amber.
 
I drive a rural two lane road every day, there are a ton of deer out here that like to stand on the side of the road, especially at dusk. I use my fog lamps because they light up the shoulder of the road, increases my chance of seeing the [censored] deer before I hit it, when it decides to wander out in the road. By the way, I haven't had anyone flash yet for glare.
 
People also need to take a look at what the laws are in their locale, regarding the legal use of fog lamps. Many are risking a citation for violating the vehicle code. Here are just a few examples...

http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/NEWSRL/news/02_16_2009_odot_fog_lights.shtml

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/30344-Written-warning-for-fog-lights-in-MA

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?65290-headlight-fog-light-law

http://www.letstalkdriving.co.uk/USE OF FOG LIGHTS.htm

Remember, as any officer will tell you, ignorance of the law is no excuse...
 
I purchased a set of tiny 1100 series PIAA fogs because they fit in my Mazda MX5's opening, not because they were PIAA brand. Obviously, they were low. It was a pleasant surprise that they worked as well as they did (at least when new).

Here in S. Florida, we only get fog a few times a year, but when we get it, it's very dangerous, thick fog.

I'd have to admit that it was a pleasant surprise that the low mounted fogs were very effective.
 
Kinda old thread, but I'm dealing with this myself.

found a pair of pilot 360C 4" dia lamps with the bulb shield. Pilot usually has nice casings and crummy optics, but these are actually a nice find. the pattern is an evenly-distributed horizontal line with a cutoff, upper and lower, comparable or better than my oem headlamp.

I have tried another similar pilot lamp that has a similar pattern but less defined, and no bulb shield. I had to shield the bulb myself, and the cutoff isn't as clean, so I have to aim them down further, good only for nearfield lighting.

Mounted higher, the lamp can be angled down more, which is a big plus for beam control, using more of the light, and being kind to oncoming traffic.

Lower mount requires the light to be aimed higher to have *any* forward vision, but is more glaring to others. Personally, I think it'd be better to get them middle-height where they can be pointed down, considering that aftermarket lamps have hit-and-miss optics.
 
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