One of natural phenomena The thing that causes the greatest discomfort to a car enthusiast behind the wheel is fog. In this case, the only salvation may be fog lights, which allow you to better navigate in bad weather. Below we will talk about how to install fog lights on any car yourself.
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Requirements for installing PTF
To correctly install fog lights in the bumper with your own hands, you must not only buy a universal set of mounting fasteners in advance, but also take into account all the installation rules. Of course, any PTF must be installed correctly, taking into account all requirements and rules. As stated in the traffic regulations, no more than two fog lights can be installed in the bumper of one vehicle.
Their installation is carried out in accordance with the requirements:
- PTF should be placed at a distance of no more than 40 cm from the side vehicle, which is determined by the outer surface of the lantern.
- To do everything correctly, the devices must be installed at a distance of at least 25 cm from the ground, that is, along the bottom of the lantern.
- PTF light lamps must be installed below the upper part of the light-transmitting opening of the low beam lamps.
- As for visibility angles, they should not be cluttered. The vertical visibility angle should be about 15 degrees, horizontally - around 45 degrees (video author - Romanautoreview).
It would be wrong if the PTFs are included along with the dimensions. Accordingly, when installing in the bumper and connecting the connectors, they must be placed in such a way that they are not connected to the dimensions. It's no secret that all modern vehicles are equipped with a special connector for mounting PTF, so the installation of fog lights is carried out strictly in them. And even if there are no lights themselves, there must be appropriate plugs into which the mounting brackets and the lights themselves are installed.
In the event that your car does not have plugs and seats, where fog lights are installed, then you will have to do these places yourself. If this is the case, then when installing a set of headlights in the bumper, you can and even need to be guided by the installation and connection requirements, otherwise you may have problems when undergoing scheduled maintenance. Only taking into account the requirements can you ensure that the devices are effectively used to their full capacity. As for the adjustment, it is carried out after installing the PTF in the bumper instead of the plugs. As you remember, during installation you need to think about how to properly mount the lantern so that its luminous flux angle is correct.
Connection methods
So, if the installation of fog lights is carried out at home, then in order to do everything correctly, put the kit in the bumper instead of plugs and connect it to the wiring, you can use one of two connection options. As we remember, PTFs are not turned on by side lights in any case; this must be remembered before installing the kit in the bumper and connecting all connectors. There may be several options for installing devices. One of the easiest in terms of installation and reliability is to connect to vehicle wires that are already wired and designed for fog lights.
In this case, everything can be made simpler. The factory wiring is already equipped with all the necessary components, in particular, the wires and connectors that are needed for connection. The wiring contains all the relays and fuses, as well as a switch that can be used to control the devices. In fact, all you have to do is remove the plugs from the bumper and install the PTF kit, connecting it to all connectors. This option is not relevant for all vehicles, but only for cars equipped with plugs or cars where it is necessary to change faulty fog lights (the author of the video is Andrey Kuvshinov).
When purchasing a PTF kit, you need to make sure that this model can be installed on your car. Not only the connectors must match, but also the installation parameters. If the vehicle is not equipped with wiring for installing fog lights, you will need to do it yourself. In order for the fog lamp connection diagram to be correct, additional wires should be purchased along with the kit; they must be copper and insulated. In addition, you also need to purchase a fog light switch, a fuse and a relay; sometimes these components are included with the PTF.
Remember that under no circumstances should fog lights be turned on along with the dimensions. Standard wiring, as well as the switch, are not designed for the level of current that these optics draw. It should be noted that the electrical circuit must in any case be equipped with a fuse, this is very important. Only a fuse will save your vehicle from fire if a short circuit accidentally occurs in the circuit. The fuse itself must be powerful enough - the power level is calculated in accordance with the power of the optics itself.
For example, if the optics are designed for 60 watts, then when purchasing a fuse, you must calculate its power in advance in accordance with the formula:
60 W * 2 / 12 V = 10 A
That is, the device itself must be selected taking into account a small margin. The best option would be to purchase a 15 amp fuse.
Connection diagrams
Now let's move on to the diagrams, according to which the set of fog lights must be connected to all connectors. One of the most simple options- this is a connection from battery, for this purpose, a button for turning on the fog lights is additionally installed in the circuit. Each fog lamp is equipped with two power contacts. One of these contacts on both components of the kit is connected by a cable into one circuit and connected to the vehicle body, that is, ground. Mounting to ground must be carried out using a rigid clamp or fastening.
As you know, the car body is initially connected to the negative side of the battery. Therefore, in order to prevent possible malfunctions in the future, the best option would be to connect the wire directly to the negative terminal of the battery. If in the future rust begins to form on the body or fastening element, this will contribute to the loss of contact and, accordingly, the signal. The second contacts must be connected to the battery positive, they are connected to each other, after which the cable is routed to contact number 87 in accordance with the diagram.
After these steps, the remaining relay contacts are connected to the connectors:
- number 30 - connects to the positive terminal of the battery through a fuse;
- number 86 - to the negative terminal of the battery or to the car body, as stated above;
- number 85 - to the positive terminal of the battery; a switch is additionally used for connection, as well as a fuse used in the wiring of contact number 30.
As for the optics activation button, it is mounted in the vehicle interior, where it is convenient for the driver, usually in the area of the dashboard. The relay itself should be mounted on the fuse block; usually this device is equipped with relay connectors that can be used when connecting additional equipment. If necessary, you can try connecting to a relay that is already installed in the unit.
You can use a more complex connection scheme to the positive output of the battery through the ignition switch. In other words, from the optics power button, the wiring is laid and connected not to the battery, but to any cable where there is voltage that appears as a result of turning on the ignition. Since the optics in this case will only turn on with the ignition on, in the future this will avoid possible battery discharge if the driver forgets to turn off the fog lights. The circuits described above will make it possible to connect optics in accordance with the requirements of traffic regulations and the current legislation of the Russian Federation; for this, the fog lamp switch must be connected to the external lighting switch of the car.
Video “Installation of fog optics on Lada Granta”
Using the Lada Granta as an example, you can familiarize yourself with the installation procedure for a PTF (the author of the video is NapoziTiV).
Sorry, there are no surveys available at this time.There are two types of fog lights on a car: front PTF and rear PTF. As for the PTF located at the rear, according to the law they must be present in all cars, so we will not touch on them in this article. Almost all modern cars have front PTFs or places for their installation. With the development of the automobile market, at first glance, such a “penny” option should be in the basic configuration of the car, but it is this element that often indicates a higher level of equipment of the car, which automobile marketers make excellent use of by adding additional options to the standard fog lights that increase the cost of the car and make it higher class. As for cars that are not equipped with PTF from the factory, in this case you can install them yourself. This article will tell you how to install front PTFs with minimal skills of a car mechanic and electrician, as well as installation rules and what lamps to use.
Fog lights at night in fog
Fog lights are designed to illuminate the road in conditions of limited visibility.
From the name it follows that such an element is designed to illuminate the road with limited visibility in fog, i.e. it is used outside the city, however, in practice, PTFs are complemented by headlights, illuminating the space in the lower part in front of the car, as well as additionally illuminating the side of the road.
When the car moves in a straight line, the area from the ground to the headlight is unlit, so the light beam from the headlights falls unevenly on the road surface, i.e. its lower part is quite blurred, which strains the eyesight. If you turn on the fog lights, the light border becomes bright and clear, which makes driving easier. In addition, when the headlight is illuminated, there is the concept of the main focus, and if the focus is combined from two headlights, then this only increases the brightness of the light. You can order the option of connecting fog lights from the official dealer who sold the car, but the cost of a kit for installing fog lights will be very significant: about 2 - 5% of the cost of the car.
The driver should decide which lamps he wants to install in the headlights, because in addition to the standard ones, there are more modern types of lighting systems:
- You can install “xenon” in fog lights - the brightness of the light is 10 - 15% more effective than halogen;
- You can install LED lamps - 10% more efficient than xenon;
- Installing lenses in foglights - has a clearer and more concentrated light boundary, because the light beam is refracted and “collected” at a certain angle;
- Installing yellow lamps in foglights greatly facilitates movement in heavy rain or fog. The lamp body is coated with a layer of heat-resistant yellow varnish.
The process of connecting foglights with your own hands
Do-it-yourself foglight installation
There is a difference in the preparatory work for installing PTF in European and Japanese cars, because the Japanese usually lay all the necessary wiring with connectors to the bumper, and you only need to buy headlights and a shift knob, but many Europeans lay wiring only if fog lights are installed at the factory .
The cost of installing fog lights depends on the car model and the kit that will be installed. Judging by the market offers for the cost of elements, the price starts from 5,000 rubles. for the simplest system.
What you need to install fog lights:
The cost of installing fog lights depends on the car model and the kit that will be installed.
- Screwdrivers “+” and “-”;
- Wires together with corrugated braiding;
- Connectors (chips) for connecting fog lights;
- Relay;
- Set of fog lamp fuses;
- Switch button or switch fork for fog lights.
Wiring diagram for fog lights
The installation sequence of fog lights consists of the following steps:
IMPORTANT: Here is a general sequence of actions without unification for certain brands of cars and the owner’s wishes (where to get the power for the headlights, where to install the button for turning on the fog lights, etc.), so you should search the Internet for electrical connection diagrams for your car.
It is worth searching the Internet for foglight connection diagrams for your car model.
- It is necessary to remove the bumper from the car and remove the fog lamp plugs. They are usually fastened with a couple of screws or mounted on latches. Check that the fog lamp housings are properly seated in the standard sockets.
- It is necessary to extend the wiring from the fog lights into the engine compartment. And before that, place the wires in the corrugation and figure out where the wire will go so that it does not touch other wiring elements. On many cars, to carry out wiring, it is necessary to remove the windshield wipers, plastic frill, and possibly the trapezoid. Typically, the wiring is routed on the driver's side, because in the passenger compartment the fuse box and electrical relays are located in a niche, which is located below the left side of the steering wheel. Some cars have a diagnostic connector there, and the unit is located under the hood.
- It is necessary to decide how the fog lights will be turned on (where they will be powered), and for this it is necessary to select elements that work constantly when the ignition is turned on, or take the “plus” directly from the battery.
- When connecting the PTF via a relay (at least 30A), it is necessary to secure it to any wiring harness or to any convenient place. Next, connect the previously selected “plus” to it and install a fuse of at least 15 A into the wire gap.
- The next step is to install the button to turn on the fog light relay, and for this they need to be connected with a power wire.
- Next, you need to insert the fog lamp sockets into the regular places in the headlight housings and secure them. Connect the connectors and install the bumper in place.
- Each fog light has an adjustment screw that allows you to adjust the main focus of the lamp. Sufficient time must be given to this process so as not to blind oncoming drivers when driving.
- It is worth noting that some drivers, in good and clear weather, cover the PTF windows with plugs so that they are not damaged by stones, but this is not very convenient. Good decision It would be better to choose fog lights that are made of plexiglass, especially since such material is not afraid of heating from the lamp and is quite durable and rigid.
How to connect xenon to fog lights
Fog light kit for installation
When installing xenon in fog lights, it is necessary to additionally install an ignition unit.
The use of this type of lighting certainly improves visibility at night. The connection diagram does not differ from that described above, only between the xenon lamps and the fog lamp switching relay is installed, which is responsible for heating such a lamp. Of course, the cost of installing such a kit is higher than a regular one.
Connecting LED lamps
Currently, the efficiency of diode light has been tested in practice by many car enthusiasts and is becoming increasingly widespread compared to factory lamps. Although, many car manufacturers have also started using LED bulbs in headlights along with LED fog lights. This light is more uniform and clear, and these lamps also have lower energy consumption and it is possible to choose a different color palette of lamps. They are installed in standard places in the fog lamp housing.
Rules for installing fog lights
Rules for installing PTF
It is important to remember that the fog lights must be turned on together with the low beam headlights. Separate inclusion of PTF is not allowed.
If the car does not have space in the front bumper to accommodate fog lights, this does not mean that they cannot be installed, only for this you need to know the installation rules. According to the traffic rules (traffic rules) and GOST R41.48-2004 (clause 6.3), fog lights can be installed in the amount of two pieces. And the rules are as follows:
Fog lamps must be turned on together with the headlights or low beam headlights. Separate inclusion of PTF is not allowed.
- The distance from the outside of the bumper to the beginning of the fog lamp housing is no more than 400 mm;
- No more than 250 mm from the road surface and the bottom of the fog lamp;
- Headlights should be located above the fog lights;
- The lighting angles must be sufficient for visibility by other traffic participants and in the vertical plane must be +15°…–10°, and in the horizontal plane +45°…–10°.
Similar rules apply to the installation of daytime running lights:
- The distance from the road surface to the lower edge of the fog lamp is at least 250 mm;
- The distance from the road surface to the top edge of the fog lamp is no more than 1500 mm;
- The distance between the fog lights is at least 600 mm;
- The distance from the outer edge of the fog lamp to the outer edge of the bumper is no more than 400 mm.
Today I want to tell you how to fix the fog light on your car.
So, let's take the broken headlight:
We remove the remains of the old glass and, if possible, the old sealant.
Next, measure the diameter of the headlight and select a glass jar or bottle of suitable diameter. Almost perfect for me
An ordinary three-liter jar fit. I don’t think that problems can arise at this point - store shelves are replete with containers
any volumes, shapes and colors!
Now take a glass cutter and mark a line near the bottom of the jar
Of course, glass cannot be broken off along the drawn line, especially if you draw it with such a shitty glass cutter as I had.
Therefore, we do 2 things at the same time: put the kettle on to boil and place the jar in the refrigerator
(to make it cool faster, I filled it with water from the well)
Let's take it cold jar, hot kettle and pour boiling water into the jar
Immediately we hear the cracking of glass. The result is the bottom of the jar falling off
As I already said, my glass cutter was shit, so the bottom didn’t break off along a straight line,
but it doesn’t matter - we remove the excess protrusions using the same glass cutter and pliers (unfortunately the process was not filmed).
Inserting glass
We also apply sealant on the outside
And level it evenly
This is what we got! Leave to dry
When the sealant dries, install the finished fog in place. Guess which side is the non-original glass?
Nowadays, everyone knows about LEDs, since they are used in almost every area of human activity. Mobile phones, lighting sources, televisions - the list can be endless. It seems that such technology appeared recently, but its history goes back just over a century, but more on that later. Now even the automotive industry has begun to introduce LEDs into foglights of modern models, to the delight of many owners.
PTF functionality
Any experienced car enthusiast, as well as an inexperienced one, is well aware of the role that standard head lighting plays in the conditions of a white curtain does not cope with its task of ensuring good visibility on the road, and all due to the fact that fog is a suspension of water drops that standard optics cannot penetrate. In addition, almost all of the light from such lanterns is reflected from the curtain. Thus, you get a whole white wall, which significantly complicates the view.
Anti-fog optics have their own emission spectrum that can penetrate such a wall. In addition, the luminous flux spreads horizontally and is directed downwards, which allows for good illumination of the road. Is it possible to install LEDs in fog lights? Interesting question, requiring attention.
The main mistake of many drivers
With regard to PTF, most drivers make a grave mistake - using optics for purposes other than their intended purpose. In addition, things can simply reach the point of madness: drivers equip their vehicles with such optics in large quantities. It is not uncommon to find sedans with such lights (4 pieces or more) on their roofs at any time.
Meanwhile, the traffic rules clearly state that turning on the PTF is allowed only during the dark period of the day and in conditions (fog, smoke). Some drivers turn them on instead of low beams, which is also a gross violation of traffic rules.
Therefore, we should not forget that PTF is just additional optics, although some owners manage to convert fog lights to LEDs. Of course, it is impossible to completely abandon them, since under some circumstances they are very helpful. Their main advantage from a design point of view is their special reflector and diffuser. There is nothing like this in any other optics yet.
Paradoxically, it is the fog lamps that consume the most energy, producing a powerful luminous flux that is significantly brighter than low beams. Modern traffic regulations do not contain any instructions regarding the color range of the PTF luminous flux. Because of this, various manufacturers are conducting their own experiments.
A little history
Returning to the topic of installing H11 LEDs in foglights, it’s worth rewinding a few decades ago and finding out where it all began. 1907 A laboratory in which its working hours carried out by one of the famous radio engineers - It was he who noticed the glow effect of semiconductors, which was later called electroluminescence. Almost immediately in one of scientific journals There was a note on this topic, but it went unnoticed.
On the territory of the USSR, 20 years later, another scientist, Oleg Vladimirovich Losev, also discovered something similar. He conducted research on a silicon carbide crystal that glowed when current was passed through it. Subsequently, the effect received the name of a genius - Losev's glow, and its author acquired a patent. However, the very nature of this glow was never discovered by the discoverer.
The answers came later
Long before drivers began installing H11 LEDs in the fog lights of their cars, almost by the middle of the 20th century, a theory was created p-n junction in relation to semiconductors. Based on this, in 1947 the first transistor was invented, which to this day has remained an unchanged element of radio engineering. The glow occurred when charged particles crossed a boundary consisting of two different semiconductor elements. And it is precisely the place where these two crystals come into contact that glows, which ultimately forms a kind of sandwich.
The whole difficulty lay in the production of semiconductors of the required structure. And this is an obstacle for a long time could not be overcome. Only since 1955 have research been successful. The first diode was produced by General Electric, although not everything is so simple here, since in different countries similar developments were also carried out around the world. But these are not yet the same H11 LEDs in the foglights of modern cars that are common today.
A revolutionary breakthrough was made by Nichia in 1995, demonstrating an ultra-bright LED, which was a full-fledged light source. From that time on, the development of semiconductor lighting devices began. And as many experts note, new light sources may completely replace traditional analogues in the near future.
Features of lamp selection
The first samples of LEDs were expensive - the price of one such copy in 1968 was $200! The cost decreased gradually, and for some time no one could even imagine that such light sources would become the main competitor to incandescent lamps. And there was no talk about cars at all. Now, many car enthusiasts are faced with a difficult choice of which LED fog lights to purchase for their car.
On the market you can find a wide range of automotive optics using diodes that differ in a number of parameters:
- form;
- dimensions;
- material of manufacture;
- shade of light flux.
There are also many manufacturers, but preference should be given only to trusted companies. As for the shape, on the modern market PTFs are presented in the form of a circle, rectangle, oval, square.
There is no useful function here other than aesthetics. Therefore, the choice depends only on the requirements and tastes of car enthusiasts.
Another important point
As mentioned above, the luminous flux can be of different shades:
- white;
- blue;
- red;
- yellow.
Here you should think not only about personal preferences, but also about other road users. For example, H3 LEDs in blue and blue fog lights white They will blind oncoming drivers, which is not good for anyone, since not only personal safety depends on it. Therefore, it is better to purchase optics with a yellow tint.
Undeniable popularity
Despite the variety of PTFs, which are represented by LED, halogen, xenon products, the first one is at the peak of popularity. And all due to some undeniable advantages. And the main advantage is that LEDs emit much more light per watt when compared to standard incandescent bulbs. In addition, there is virtually no heating.
This allows you to consume less energy, and accordingly, the service life is noticeably increased. There is an opinion that when using fog lights with LEDs, you can save on fuel, even if not as significantly as you would like. In addition, the maximum luminous flux is generated very quickly, since there is no need for ignition, which some lamps lack. And if we compare it with a xenon analogue, then LEDs cannot blind drivers of oncoming cars.
Another important plus
It is worth highlighting one more important advantage, which strongly distinguishes LEDs and brings them to the fore. Since they do not contain a filament, they are very resistant to various types of vibrations, which simply cannot be avoided when the car is moving.
Due to the wide color gamut, LEDs are great option to give the car an original appearance. A kind of tuning without significant outside intervention.
The LEDs themselves in foglights are characterized by their small size, which allows them to adapt to the design of any vehicle. But, unfortunately, there is one drawback, which will be discussed below.
Disadvantages of LEDs
Main disadvantage LED lighting- this is a high cost. Another drawback is the insufficient brightness - only 700 lm, while the minimum indicator for lamps should be 1000 lm. Only in this case can the necessary visibility of the road surface be ensured in conditions of poor visibility. And as you can see, LED lamps do not satisfy the required condition, and therefore xenon is still in a leading position among other analogues. But overly bright light is not always good for the cause. And it is no coincidence that the use of such lamps is allowed with some reservations from the law.
You should be aware of these disadvantages before deciding to install LEDs in your foglights yourself.
Installation of PTF
There are no fundamental differences regarding the installation of PTF. You can only notice that it is easiest to install LEDs in standard round-shaped optics. If the headlights have an excellent shape, then you will need a lot of patience to find a suitable option that eliminates major alterations.
You can, of course, purchase ready-made options and not bother yourself with unnecessary work. However, it all depends on the family budget, since the cost of LED fog lights starts at about 5 thousand rubles. Therefore, for some drivers, DIY is the best option.
Public opinion
If anyone has doubts about the use of LEDs in PTFs, you can visit several forums on automotive topics.
By studying numerous reviews about LEDs in foglights, you can find out, for example, which lighting sources are best to purchase, since the market is flooded with various fakes that fail almost the next day.
At the same time, as often happens, there are supporters of a good alternative in the form of LEDs and their opponents. Many drivers note that the luminous flux is no worse than from xenon lamps. Others, on the contrary, do not see the difference, since, in their opinion, diodes do not shine much better than the same halogen bulbs.
But this happens all the time: someone remains disappointed, while others see all the benefits. Perhaps it’s all about some subtleties of the headlight design or other factors. In any case, most drivers have already appreciated all the delights of LED lighting in foggy conditions. And many car enthusiasts were satisfied.
Do-it-yourself protection of foglights (PTF) and headlights
How to make protection for foglights (PTF) and headlights with your own hands
Due to the fact that the fog lights are located close to the ground, stones from the road often break the fragile glass of the headlights. Apart from this, almost everyone is familiar with the quality of Russian fog lamps, which after a while, due to the ingress of water, become like an aquarium. Let's try to protect the PTF from gravel and water.
How to protect your fog lights yourself:
- Protection of headlights from stones
- Protecting headlights from water
- Protection of fog lamps from stones
The first method is to protect the fog lamp with armored film. A popular method of protecting headlights, bodywork and bumpers.
Advantages - the film on the headlight is not noticeable, but disadvantages - cost and protection only from small stones.
The second method is to protect the foglight with transparent plastic or plexiglass.
In the first case, we use PET (which is used to produce removable tinting).
The technology is usual: we cut out a fog light stencil from paper, and then we cut out PET using it.
Now we need to figure out how to secure the purchased templates.
Advantages - serious protection of fog lights from stones, and disadvantages - due to poor fit to the headlight, dirt may collect between the film and the headlight, or even worse, the headlight light will be distorted.
In the case of plexiglass, which can be taken from Gazelle headlights, the situation is similar.
Using a cardboard template for the fog lights, we cut out the plexiglass with a hacksaw; it is possible to leave the antennae for fastening beforehand. If you need to slightly change the shape of the sheet, this can be done using a technical hair dryer.
All that remains is to secure our protection in front of the foglights to the antennae with tape, or better yet, with small screws.
All advantages and disadvantages are similar with PET.
3rd method - protecting the foglight with an iron mesh.
You can use any mesh, even the one used on top of the state. numbers.
It is possible to attach the mesh to a strip of brass or tin, which must take the shape of the contour of the fog lamp.
Place the mesh on the base and secure the edges with solder or glue. We cut off the excess mesh and process the edges.
You can fix it using any convenient method, but with the possibility quick removal so that when washing the headlight, the mesh can be easily removed.
Advantages - affordable and excellent headlight protection, in which the headlight light is not distorted. Cons - they look like an amateur.
Protecting fog lamps from water
The weak point of all fog lights of the Auto VAZ 2110 is the rubber cover on the back. At some point it moves and water gets into the headlight. Because of water, fog lights become unusable and you have to repair them or buy new ones.
Measures to protect fog lights from water come down to two points:
Treating the edges and joints of the fog lamp with sealant.
Make visors to prevent water from getting into the fog lamps
I think everything is clear about the first point, but the second point is more detailed:
You will need 2 tin cans with a capacity of 1 liter. You just need to pay attention to the fact that on one side you need to bend it so that the piece of iron does not come out of the fog.
Now water will no longer get into the PTF!
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