fog lights on with high beams?

[Oscar_Lives]

Can anyone tell me how to modify my '07 Outback so that the foglights stay
on with the high beams?

 

[Uncle Ben]

Can anyone tell me how to modify my '07 Outback so that the foglights stay
on with the high beams?

Don't know the answer, but to see in foggy weather, you don't want the
high beams on, because when they are, the reflection back off the water
droplets is worse than when the light beams are at a lower level. So
why do you want to do this?

 

[Mark T.B. Carroll]

Don't know the answer, but to see in foggy weather, you don't want the
high beams on, because when they are, the reflection back off the water
droplets is worse than when the light beams are at a lower level.

(snip)

Annoyingly, with proper fog lights, you don't even want the regular
headlamps on either, but many American car designs and jurisdictions
seem to disallow that. (Many seem to be white instead of yellow, too.)
Frankly, I get the impression that they're there for reasons other than
actually performing well in fog. Here in Ohio we're full of idiots who
like to drive around in regular visibility with their fog lights on. ):

-- Mark

 

[strchild]

Got the same problem here too, Mark. You dim your lights, and the oncoming
truck or similar SUV dims theirs also, only to have a plethora of small
driving lights come on. I'm not sure that is any better than just staring
down two bright lights! And yup, always in the regular visibility!

~Brian

 

[Ja]

Got the same problem here too, Mark. You dim your lights, and the oncoming
truck or similar SUV dims theirs also, only to have a plethora of small
driving lights come on. I'm not sure that is any better than just staring
down two bright lights! And yup, always in the regular visibility!

~Brian

The electrical draw of the fog lights and high beams will exceed the
rated amperage capacity of the lighting circuit. Such a mod would
require beefing up wiring sizes and fuses, in addition to reworking the
switching.
I've found that here in upstate NY, where we're overrun with whitetail
deer that pose a constant threat to motorists, the foglights project a
short wide beam that illuminates the sides of the road better than
high or low beams alone, enabling a split second more reaction time to
avoid the deer or other critters that linger along the side of the road
just before they jump out in front of you...not really what the fog
lites were designed for, but it helps. That's the only reason I've run
with them on during conditions of normal visibility.

Ja

 

[Oscar_Lives]

Figgered it out! Just cut one leg of the relay and Viola!

\

 

[Chicobiker]

The electrical draw of the fog lights and high beams will exceed the
rated amperage capacity of the lighting circuit. Such a mod would
require beefing up wiring sizes and fuses, in addition to reworking the
switching.

I'm not so sure about that. If I remember correctly, low beam bulbs
draw about 45 watts while high beam bulbs are about 55 watts. Since
the low beam setup is to run the low beams and the fog lights -
probably in the order of 100 watts, i'd be surprised if it required
such an upgrade to run an extra 10 watts.

Chicobiker

 

[Ja]

I'm not so sure about that. If I remember correctly, low beam bulbs
draw about 45 watts while high beam bulbs are about 55 watts. Since
the low beam setup is to run the low beams and the fog lights -
probably in the order of 100 watts, i'd be surprised if it required
such an upgrade to run an extra 10 watts.

Chicobiker

Adds about 2 amps to what is normally a 10 or 15 amp circuit...a
significant load increase.

 

[Oscar_Lives]

Adds about 2 amps to what is normally a 10 or 15 amp circuit...a
significant load increase.

THEY ARE ON SEPARATE CIRCUITS!

MAKE THE CHANGE AT THE RELAY. NO ADDED ELECTRICAL DRAW ON ANY CIRCUIT,
OTHER THAN WHAT WAS DESIGNED AT THE FACTORY.

 

[David Buchner]

The electrical draw of the fog lights and high beams will exceed the
rated amperage capacity of the lighting circuit. Such a mod would
require beefing up wiring sizes and fuses, in addition to reworking the
switching.
I've found that here in upstate NY, where we're overrun with whitetail
deer that pose a constant threat to motorists, the foglights project a
short wide beam that illuminates the sides of the road better than
high or low beams alone, enabling a split second more reaction time to
avoid the deer or other critters that linger along the side of the road
just before they jump out in front of you...not really what the fog
lites were designed for, but it helps. That's the only reason I've run
with them on during conditions of normal visibility.

Exactly.

I've often wanted this too -- not for fog at all (I try to just *stay
home* if it's foggy), but just for improved illumination of the universe
when driving on dark narrow forest roads and watching out for dark
narrow forest creatures.

More seeing is good. I actually wouldn't mind one of those crazy racks
of rally lights on the roof...

 

[ejcookso]

Well, he didn't say he wanted to use his high beams in the fog, he
said he wanted to use his fog lights w/ his high beams. I can think
of several instances, especially driving at night on the dirt roads
around here (Nat'l Forest land) that more light would be good.

 

[bc]

Can anyone tell me how to modify my '07 Outback so that the foglights stay
on with the high beams?

I suspect that your car will no longer pass inspection if you do this -
at least in NY. I don't think the manufacturers put the extra relays and
logic in place to dim the fog lights when the high beams are on just for
fun. Years ago, I added a set of after market fog lights to a car and
had problems because they were not interconnected with the high beams
properly had to remove them to pass inspection.

 

[David Buchner]

.... Years ago, I added a set of after market fog lights to a car and
had problems because they were not interconnected with the high beams
properly had to remove them to pass inspection.

Yer problem is, you live someplace where you have to let them inspect
your car.

 

[isquat]

Exactly.

I've often wanted this too -- not for fog at all (I try to just *stay
home* if it's foggy), but just for improved illumination of the universe
when driving on dark narrow forest roads and watching out for dark
narrow forest creatures.

More seeing is good. I actually wouldn't mind one of those crazy racks
of rally lights on the roof...

http://www.grmotorsports.com/news/2005/12/page/3/

http://www.xtremewhite.com/LSY-Lighting~System-PIAA-1-PIAA~1200-1-1-1-1.cfm

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/FAQ/?cat=LK

 

[Owlyn]

(snip)

Annoyingly, with proper fog lights, you don't even want the regular
headlamps on either, but many American car designs and jurisdictions
seem to disallow that. (Many seem to be white instead of yellow, too.)
Frankly, I get the impression that they're there for reasons other than
actually performing well in fog. Here in Ohio we're full of idiots who
like to drive around in regular visibility with their fog lights on. ):

-- Mark

I call them Deer Lights. I need to use the fog lights to provide enough
light to see deer on the side of the road. Not real useful in fog, as it
turns out.

 

[Mark T.B. Carroll]

I call them Deer Lights. I need to use the fog lights to provide enough
light to see deer on the side of the road. Not real useful in fog, as it
turns out.

Mmmmm, I can see that use on deserted rural routes or whatever. It's
more on the freeway in rush-hour traffic it annoys me. (-:

-- Mark

 

[David Buchner]

Mmmmm, I can see that use on deserted rural routes or whatever. It's
more on the freeway in rush-hour traffic it annoys me. (-:

-- Mark

Hey, if you choose to be on the freeway in rush-hour traffic, that's
your own problem! Blech. ;-)