Replace OE fog lights with super bright spotlights?

Customizing the new minivan here, I guess. I fell in love with the rally lightbar mounted on the last van when we took it on a road trip. My wife is not a fan of mounting ANYTHING on the new van though (perhaps making that other thread about the roof box moot), so I'm wondering about replacing the 2017 Grand Caravan's OE fog lights with some super bright spotlights for when we're in the middle of nowhere. I don't know anything about electrical though like if it will draw too much, or really where to start. Any ideas here?

As I write this I get the feeling John, that I should go read your build thread carefully  because you've probably done this already...

Explain spotlights? Like some baja designs squadron pros/sports?

I see too many off-road intended light bars lit up on the highway, thanx, didn't need that night vision stuff anyway.

How about a brighter fog in lieu of the OEMs?  Low to the ground is better.

If you stick to 55 watt, or less ,lights the circuit should handle them fine. BUT, there's always a "BUT", I'll bet your fog lights will only come on when your headlights are on low beam and shut off as soon as you  flip to high beam. That means you need to wire in a circuit that works with the high beams if you want additional lighting while driving on high. That's what I've had to do to add driving lights to my vehicles in the past. You really should have any additional lights controlled by your hi-lo switch.

Yeah like bright LEDs in the fog lamp housing, if possible 

I discovered in the early 80' that factory installed driving lights (never had factory fog lights) only came on if low beams are on. I've been given several reasons why they can't  be on if high beams are on, but none of them made any sense at all to me. 

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Good call, I checked and you were right. I got some crazy high beams instead. 60W for sure too much for high beams tho?

Lights

Brighter fogs is my choice.

In reply to dxman92 :

The brightest I could find were 5200 lumens, which I am going to order, too, in case these hi beams blow a fuse.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S9GXWZH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I would really just prefer my lightbar. Oh it's SO relaxing in deer country when you can see like daylight 

In reply to P3PPY :

Question from curiosity... I assume the light bar was on a separate switch. If so, did you only use the daylight with no oncoming traffic? And never forget to turn them off, for said cars?

I drive more in the night, it seems, than in the daylight, and have been blinded by those lights before. 'Course, since I occasionally forget to turn my high beam switch off, I can't fuss to much!

Yeah it was a separate switch. I didn't even bother with the "brights", just kept my hand on the toggle switch for whenever the horizon lit up from oncoming. Is the question/hint about if I'm considerate with them? I try to be. I only use them on long trips or out in the country because they are so crazy. My favorite part was when I'd pass someone going the same way. As soon as I got in front of them --BAM-- it's daylight in front of us :)

or as soon as someone passed me going the same way I'd switch them off and suddenly it's like we're all plunged into darkness.

So, a question: if I use 60W will it just blow a fuse at worst or melt wires?

In reply to P3PPY :

Your high beam bulbs are most likely 55w already. I wouldn't be worried about the 60w replacements being too much. I will be curious to see if you get any further sight distance from them, or if you just get whiter light. I've been considering adding driving lights to my MINI for the same reason as you, as I age my night vision is getting worse and there are so many deer in this state. The lighting on my Miata is pretty pathetic, too.

I have four of these in the garage......

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Nice timing. I'll take comparison pics and post them

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

mount them low, and beware brushed automatic car washes

Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:

beware brushed automatic car washes

I mean, that's just good advice in general.

obsolete said:

Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:

beware brushed automatic car washes

I mean, that's just good advice in general.

Unless you drive total appliances. Like the mazda pictured. Paints already junk....

P3PPY said:

Yeah it was a separate switch. I didn't even bother with the "brights", just kept my hand on the toggle switch for whenever the horizon lit up from oncoming. Is the question/hint about if I'm considerate with them? I try to be. I only use them on long trips or out in the country because they are so crazy. My favorite part was when I'd pass someone going the same way. As soon as I got in front of them --BAM-- it's daylight in front of us :)

No hint or personal judgment to you meant at all. I was sincerely just curious. I'm not great at remembering the high beam switch, 'specially since the moved 'em up to a hand switch, instead of the floor where I learned on! I doubt I would do good with a aftermarket switch. Course having landing strip brightness is prolly a good reminder!

You should consider all your options...

Trade the wife for a lightbar. 

Laws vary a LOT by state, but auxiliary lights on the road are effectively illegal in most states. Here's a breakdown:

Auxiliary lights and light bars

It's not just a courtesy thing. It's safety. If you ever forget to turn them off and shine  oncoming traffic (for example, coming over the crest of a hill, or around a blind corner), you could temporarily blind an oncoming driver. This could cause a head-on collision, which is WAAY worse than hitting a deer. 
 

As I also live in deer country, and as the stock headlights on the above 900 are crap, I rigged up the auxiliary lights as you see them - driving lights on top, fogs on the bottom. They're all on 55w bulbs, but totally different beam patterns of course; the fogs are useless for spotting anything more than ~100ft ahead because of the position and beam, not the wattage.

Anyway, the point is not the lights so much as the wiring. I set mine up with a three-position aux lighting switch: driving - off - fog. This switch provides ground to the relays for the aux lights, while the aux light relays are energized by the high (driving) or low (fog) headlights. This puts all the control on the dimmer stalk once you select your aux lights. Normally I keep it on the driving light position, which means when I turn on the high beams, the driving lights come on with them, and flip off when I drop to the low beams. It's much easier than any of the other setups I tried. If you use the existing wiring for the fogs there's probably a fairly easy way to make the relay trip with the high beams rather than the lows.

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

"Michigan- No more than four forward facing lights".............Bwahahaha!!! You oughta see some of the lighting on the local brodozers and I've yet to hear of anyone getting ticketed for them. I certainly do agree with being careful in how you use them and that starts with having them wired through the dimmer switch.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Agreed. But that's the law! Haha!

I'm totally not onboard with the "keep my hand on the toggle switch" approach... that's not cool. 

03Panther said:

P3PPY said:

Yeah it was a separate switch. I didn't even bother with the "brights", just kept my hand on the toggle switch for whenever the horizon lit up from oncoming. Is the question/hint about if I'm considerate with them? I try to be. I only use them on long trips or out in the country because they are so crazy. My favorite part was when I'd pass someone going the same way. As soon as I got in front of them --BAM-- it's daylight in front of us :)

No hint or personal judgment to you meant at all. I was sincerely just curious. I'm not great at remembering the high beam switch, 'specially since the moved 'em up to a hand switch, instead of the floor where I learned on! I doubt I would do good with a aftermarket switch. Course having landing strip brightness is prolly a good reminder!

Gotcha. For better or for worse I have the kind of personality that's always aware of that sort of thing that would be bothersome to others, so it's not an issue. Now my wife, on the other hand... 

Regarding the toggle switch for the external light bar, wiring to the dimmer is fine for permanent mounting, but I live in the city and only use these a few times a year so on they go and off they come. SVreX, I don't follow what you mean about "that's not okay" 

In reply to P3PPY :

I just don't think it is a good idea to have overpowered lighting that has the potential to impair other drivers tied to a completely manual switch that's not linked to the high beams, etc. 
 

When you encounter oncoming traffic, there should ONLY be one switch required to kill both the high beams AND any alternative lighting. 
 

I understand electric is not your thing, but that's what everyone is describing here when they mention relays, etc. Everything works from 1 switch. 
 

The setup you are describing with a 2nd auxiliary switch means a driver has to do 2 things to not blind others, instead of just one. And that driver may not always be you. 
 

You are talking about lighting that is MUCH brighter than standard high beams, and illegal on the road. As a driver on the road who could potentially meet you oncoming on a dark night, I would appreciate it if you would consider doing the switching properly as a minimum. 
 

The light bar should operate with the high beam switch.  Even better would be to use a photo cell and have it dim automatically when it senses oncoming headlights, with NO input from the driver. 

Yeah, in general that makes sense, but I guess you didn't see my post that I don't bother with high beams, if you're talking to me in particular.