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How to wire fog lights so they come on with highbeams?

3K views 21 replies 14 participants last post by  ezrider327 
#1 ·
does anyone know if you can wire your lights so that when you turn on your highbeams the foglights stay on. usually when you press and turn on your highbeams, your foglights will turn off and then if you press again and hold your foglights stay on with your highbeams - - wish there was a way for them to stay caause its annoying having to hold the button while driving
 
#2 ·
Yes, you can wire them with the running lights and they will be on when ever the lights are on, low or high. But if your Fog/Driving lights are adjusted correctly you should not need to drive with your High beams. Actually your should never drive with High Beam, especially in Fog or Rain. The only time I use my High beam is to search for addresses and to flash in the eyes of people, driving with theirs on.
 
#7 ·
My stock lights must be fog then, because they don't light up any further down the road than the low beams do, they just create a wider pattern.

Oh, and Shelbyzz. I would highly recommend getting a good set of Daylighters. I had a set on my Chevy truck when I lived in Thief River Falls area. I can't tell you the number of times they saved me from a deer strike. Especially with hunting season coming in a couple months. You know how the deer are all over the place prior to hunting season, then disappear during season, then magically seem to have expanded in numbers afterwards!!
 
#8 ·
I don't use the highs much because I don't like the extra glare they through off, they get used off road and as a signal mostly.
I have My Fog and Driving lights spliced onto my runing circut with a ABC switch. This way I can run Driving, Fog or Driving+Fog, with either Low or High beam. I have them adjusted so that I can see well down the road (Drivers) and get extra lighting to the sides (Fogs).
 
#9 ·
I use my KC 4x 135watt Light bar on the top of the jeep daily specially when u live in the sticks people out here like to drive with high beams so i turn on the retina burners :D plus there good for deer and other stuff specially if ur friend has a broke car in middle of no where gg lights
 
#11 ·
Just hook them to a toggle switch and turn them on or off when you like.
 
#12 ·
There are two kinds of lights. Fog and driving.
Fog lights are mounted down low and project a low glare (usually yellow or amber) beam which should be adjusted to point to the center line and fog line close to the front of the vehicle. These lights are designed to aid the driver in staying centered on the road in poor visibility conditions. They are used exclusively with the low beams simply because highs produce too much glare form the offending fog bank.
Driving lights are mounted higher (usually on top of the bumper or a roof rack) and are designed to either illuminate the sides of the road (Short oval pattern) or reach waaaaaay out there in front to extend visibility (Pencil beam). They're lenses are always clear and they are used in conjunction with the high beams.
Either set can be wired to the corresponding vehicle lighting system using a relay. Simply connect the highs or lows through a switch to the relay power post. Or wire them directly from a main power source the same way.
Most fog lights can be the "El chepo" models and will work just fine. When buying driving lights be sure to check which pattern they throw so you get the one you want. Larger more expensive ones usually last longer and have better support, however, if you use them rarely, the cheaper ones will do just fine. My daughter drives from Oregon to Utah and back for college. This forces her to drive long stretches of both timber and desert. Worrying about critters along the side of the road, I grabbed a cheap set of pencil beams, adjusted them to illuminate just off the centerline on either side and was very happy with the result.
Decide which set you need and mount/adjust them accordingly.
 
#13 ·
My roof rack is set 1 light looks to the left 1 2center 1 to the right 4x135 looks like daylight out when i turn them on but i do get about 1/2 mile visibility with em and deer stand no chance of getting me :2thumbsup: with a toggle switch green for life red for eye death
 
#15 ·
A relay is usually the best way to wire lights (or other high end draw accessories) because it eliminates long runs with your power leads as well as easing the strain on the switch. Simply mount it on the inside of the front bulkhead near the battery. A toggle switch is still used to control the relay.
 
#16 ·
http://photos.imageevent.com/denviks/clubstuff/websize/spot wiring.JPG

The supply wants to come from the live wire on the headlights when full beam is on. With a multimeter of indicator lamp have someone flash the headlamps and work out which wire it is, take this as a feed to trigger the relay.

DON'T just piggyback off the headlight wiring, if you overload it it will catch fire. 3mm (sorry don't know imperial for that) wire is a good starting point for running off the relays.

1 12v 35amp relay is good enough for 420W of lights.
 
#18 ·
If you're in foggy weather and turn the fogs, the beam is directed to the ground just under the fog, lighting the foreground and increasing visibility; if you were to turn your high beams, the beam will hit the fog and reflect back in your eyes blinding you and decreasing visibility. That is the reason why they are set to not run at the same time.

I know you asked how to wire them, but this may help if your looking to run fogs and highs for short periods of time, just how I do it if running late in the trail. I'm going to give you my 2 cents.....well, actually my 1 cent. :shhh:

For the TJ guys, you can bend a leg on the fog relay to allow them to run with the highs. This does not work on our grands (WJ), I already tried. What I do:

All it takes its a penny, If you have your lows and fogs on, and you flash your highs, you will notice if you hold the lever before it "clicks", the high beam will come on and the fogs are still lit; if you place a penny at the base of the lever, it will hold it in that spot allowing you to have all three on at the same time; now it's that el cheapo mod or what? :laugh:

As I said, I do this ONLY while offroad, do this at your own risk, do not place other drivers in danger by shining all this light on the freeway.
 
#19 ·
i dont use my high beams during foggy condidtions becasue of the glare...the only time i really use it is when im going home and highbeams help me see much easier since there arent too many street lights in the area. I have had a couple close encounters with our local deers and i want to make sure that i dont hit them because they jump out last minute.... i have two lights mounted to my bumper in adition to the stock fog lights but since i got a ticket for driving with those on, i wanted to see what a better alternative would be.
 
#20 ·
Oh, no, don't get me wrong, I did not mean to say you did, that is just a general statement.

I have to drive 150 mi to and back from my favorite wheeling spot and on the way back, on a dark sunday night I drive with my fogs on on this farm roads and when I get a chance will turn the highs, that is why I learned this trick. A simple flick on the lever and your back to low beams again.
 
#21 ·
so by putting a coin in between the lever and the space that is there, it will hold itself and i can let go of the lever? is that what u mean? i mean if its that simple then forget fooling around with the wiring. This sounds like a cool idea because i only use it for a short period of time anyway...thanks for tip...i will try it next time i drive:cheers2:
 
#22 · (Edited)
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