Jump to content

Rewiring The Fog Lights To Work With The High Beam


Recommended Posts

Guest Scootre
  • Guests

The XR fog lights as we know have a dash switch that makes them come on with the parkers or headlights.

I was wondering if it was legal to have them - or rather use them - wired through the high beam circuit? That is, keep the same functionality so they work as foggies with the parkers or headlights that you can turn off when not needed, but also have them come on automatically when the high beam is on.

I know it's illegal to drive with them on because the law says they can dazzle other drivers, but wired to the high beam, they'd never cause that problem (if used like high beams) in that you'd dip them for oncoming traffic.

I know there was a thread about this a while back but there was no mention about the legal side of it which is my interest.

  • still kicking around
  • Member
  • Member For: 22y 1m 19d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Mackay

it is illegal to have them on while driving around town but it is ok out of town on open roads

  • The Bionic Man - half man-half titanium
  • Member
  • Member For: 22y 1m 2d
  • Location: Dodge Scat Pack

No.

A fog light ( a light which is lower than the centre of the low beam) must have an independent switch to turn them on and off.

They cannot be linked to the high beam.

Guest Scootre
  • Guests
  plonky said:
No.

A fog light ( a light which is lower than the centre of the low beam) must have an independent switch to turn them on and off.

They cannot be linked to the high beam.

Thanks Plonky. I thought that might have been the case.

You've also answered my question as to what defines a fog light - considering these like other new cars don't have tinted ones like those of years gone by.

  • Upstanding Member
  • Member
  • Member For: 21y 8m 7d
  • Location: Canberra - ACT

You could (and this is slightly dodgey) create a latchingcircut that turns them on automagically with the high beams, but also lets them function independantly (as required by law) and have that circut enable /disable the auto-on with highbeam depending on how highbeam is activated. or for how long it's activated ;)

Sure not quite legal in the strictest sense but within the spirit of the law and no different to you turning them on and off manually when you run with high beam.

However a proactical downside is that running the fogs while running the highbeam will probably reduce your distance vision slightly becuase of the large amount of light directly in front of you reducing your eyes ability to see in the 'dark' further away.

A.

  • Lifetime Members
  • Member For: 22y 1m 8d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: sydney
  wicksy said:
it is illegal to have them on while driving around town but it is ok out of town on open roads

Not in NSW, it's not legal to have them on anywhere except in adverse weather conditions

  • Member
  • Member For: 22y 5m 12d
  • Location: Sydney Australia
  ducatijb said:
  wicksy said:
it is illegal to have them on while driving around town but it is ok out of town on open roads

Not in NSW, it's not legal to have them on anywhere except in adverse weather conditions

I can confirm this I got pulled over on the F3 awile back for having my Fog lights on, I was told I was going to get a fine in the mail along with some other fines(that's another story). But thank the man up stairs that they never arrived.Phew!!

  • potty trained
  • Lifetime Members
  • Member For: 22y 16d
  • Gender: Male

under the rules .. I think the foggies actually should go off when the high beam is on ... so maybe the rules are being stretched as they are now

my stangers headlights had to be upgraded to meet current ADRs ... so FoMoCo added a pair of seperate highbeam lights ... but they wired it to turn the foggies off when on high beam :smilielol:

  • Award Winning Photo guy
  • Donating Members
  • Member For: 21y 4m 5d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Burleigh Waters

I've researched this to death (having come from a wrx)

according to the RTA, a fog light is like you said about, not directional etc etc, but a fog light is a considered a yellow light to be classed as a fog light, these are not allowed to be on EXCEPT in fog/adverse weather conditions

the lights that most cars have mounted in thier front bar are considered 'DRIVING' lights, and these are only to be used at any time where visibility is less then legal limits (which in QLD is where you can't see 200metres in front of you) so at dusk, night, heavy rain it is all ok to have these lights on.

there is then SPOT lights which is a different kettle of fish altogether! :)

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Matt

Guest cul08r
  • Guests

As far as the standard light goes that is fitted to the XR range, it depends on what Ford call it. If it is a driving light then it is completely legal to have it wired to the high beam WITH an independant switch so that high bean can be on without the lights on. This is the way that any 4WD or truck is setup by aftermarket accessory fitters like ARB etc. A driving light cannot lecgally be operated without the high beam being on as well. The ADRs and the NSW RTA web sites list all the options for this.

Andrew

Just checked. Ford call them (in the manual) a FRONT FOG LIGHT.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
  • Create New...
'