I'm pretty sure auxiliary driving lights have to be wired off the dimmer switch to be legal and it's not hard to wire them to work that way, even when you want them easily removable.
I'm pretty sure auxiliary driving lights have to be wired off the dimmer switch to be legal and it's not hard to wire them to work that way, even when you want them easily removable.
DeadSkunk (Warren) said:I'm pretty sure auxiliary driving lights have to be wired off the dimmer switch to be legal and it's not hard to wire them to work that way, even when you want them easily removable.
Unfortunately, it seems they have to be wired to the dimmer switch... to only come on with the low beams! I have no earthly idea WHY the factory is required (I was told years ago, by law, but from a stealership so...) to do that. Several explanations have made so little sense that I don't even recal what they were.
low
oe high
new high
this is a terrible angle, I'm facing downhill here but I'd say there's a big difference. These suckers come with a fan on them. Nuts
i locked in my white balance and brightness on the low beam first for each shot
03Panther said:DeadSkunk (Warren) said:I'm pretty sure auxiliary driving lights have to be wired off the dimmer switch to be legal and it's not hard to wire them to work that way, even when you want them easily removable.
Unfortunately, it seems they have to be wired to the dimmer switch... to only come on with the low beams! I have no earthly idea WHY the factory is required (I was told years ago, by law, but from a stealership so...) to do that. Several explanations have made so little sense that I don't even recal what they were.
Fog lights come on with low beams so the light pattern stays under the fog, and driving lights come on with high beams to illuminate a further distance down the road. Driving and fog lamps utilize very different lens fluting to create very different light distribution patterns. Fogs on with low beams is the normal and legal operation. Same for driving lamps on with high beams.
Edit: I can't think of a single OEM auxiliary driving light application, they're all fog lamps as far as I know.
Edit 2: I take that back...MINI had/has optional bumper mounted driving lights....I think.
They're good.
I prefer the lightbar's wide spread so I can see the shoulders and nearby hills, but for what it is and for the cost, I'm very pleased. I just remembered that there's a way to turn the lights on their base to get a different effect, I may play with that and see if I can detect any difference.
P3PPY said: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.
I saw it.
Still not cool to wire it that way.
You are assuming you are the only one who may ever use it, and that you will never make a mistake.
I like the concept of everyone being issued a small pickaxe that can be planted in the light bars and led lights that blind oncoming traffic.
To clarify on the state laws, iirc, the CA vehicle code considers anything above the level of the headlights to be off-road lights (must be covered and wired to an amber switch). There's another code for number of forward facing hi/low fog or driving. I never clarified if a light bar is 1 light, or 20 lights, but I'm sure there is a definition for light somewhere. May seem like nobody ever gets pulled over for it, but it's pc for a stop.
I used to have a 30 mile commute where I wouldn't see another driver for 25 of those miles, and deer strike was more likely. My current 30 mile commute, I can only go 2 miles before I have to dim brights for oncoming or a flatlander unable to maintain the speed limit on anything that isn't interstate straight (and then tries to make up their lost time in the passing lanes). And deer strike is even more likely depending on elevation.
Just saying I think it's important to remember everyone's driving experience is different, and the need for additional lighting in deer country really varies.
In reply to thashane :
True.
I drive about 1000 miles per week. All of it is on deer infested 2 lane roads in GA and SC.
I don't feel the need for a light bar, but have no problem if someone wants one. I think anyone who does it should be aware of the laws in the states they drive, and wire them in a way that creates the best opportunity possible to protect other drivers.
It's too easy to wire them in a proper manner. A second manual switch just isn't the best option.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
I agree. I prefer relayed off the normal dimmer, just because I have the muscle memory, and it's typically easily accessed. A 3-way with one hot relayed to high beams, and another to constant is my preference. Even better would be one of those solid state controllers, but not for $1k.
My last auxiliary lighting project on a sidexside, every light got its own switch, which is annoying when I have to make 3 inputs to get back to low beams. I doubt I'll ever add the additional input and change the switches to 3-ways.
DeadSkunk (Warren) said:03Panther said:DeadSkunk (Warren) said:I'm pretty sure auxiliary driving lights have to be wired off the dimmer switch to be legal and it's not hard to wire them to work that way, even when you want them easily removable.
Unfortunately, it seems they have to be wired to the dimmer switch... to only come on with the low beams! I have no earthly idea WHY the factory is required (I was told years ago, by law, but from a stealership so...) to do that. Several explanations have made so little sense that I don't even recal what they were.
Fog lights come on with low beams so the light pattern stays under the fog, and driving lights come on with high beams to illuminate a further distance down the road. Driving and fog lamps utilize very different lens fluting to create very different light distribution patterns. Fogs on with low beams is the normal and legal operation. Same for driving lamps on with high beams.
Edit: I can't think of a single OEM auxiliary driving light application, they're all fog lamps as far as I know.
Edit 2: I take that back...MINI had/has optional bumper mounted driving lights....I think.
I don't recall the first car I had that had factory driving lights, but it was in early / mid 80's. Yes we understand why fog lights are designed to be used low. Not part of the discussion. Driving lights are wired from the factory to only come on with the low beams. I was told because of law
What someone wires in themselves I can not control. But if I was not lied to at the stealership (highly unlikely as that is) there MAY be a legal reason not to have driving lights on with high beams. Stupid? Yes. But many laws are.
If there is a law that aftermarket driving have to be wired to the factory dimmer switch (I'd be surprised if there was) it would contradict the other (if it exists, although I doubt that, too) but factory wiring will only allow driving lights on with low beams, in any vehicle that comes with factory driving lights. And several cars I've rented over the years had them.
In reply to 03Panther :
You and I agree that the factory lights, mounted in the bumpers of many vehicles are to be wired to function only on low beam. Where we're "disagreeing" is you say they're driving lights and I'm saying they're fog lights. They are wide pattern, short range, low cutoff lamps, which to me is used in limited sight situations like fog, rain or snow in conjunction with the low beam headlights. I went searching to see if I could find any Michigan laws that clearly state what I can or can't do. Of course there's ambiguity! One section seems to say that any auxiliary lights are not to be used on public roads, are to be turned off and covered with opaque covers. Another area says you can have a maximum of four forward facing headlights ( that's certainly not enforced around here). So, it would appear that my idea of adding a couple of Hella driving lamps to my MINI might be illegal unless they're off and covered. Kinda defeats my intent. There's also another part that states that no light is to exceed 3770 lumens. Regardless, IF I put the lamps on the car they'll be wired to only go on with the high beams and will shut off when I hit the dimmer stalk.
In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :
Alas, you have been assuming I do not know the difference between a fog light and a driving light. I do. I had a car in the 80's sometime with driving lights. Not fog lights. If you chose not to believe that I do know the difference, you have that choice. However, you would be wrong. I never looked past a stealership telling me it was law, and it does not affect my life at all. Merely offered my experience to the o p.
From a that's interesting perspective, I do apreaciate you looking some of the official info up. I always doubted there was a law, and also doubt there is a law requiring aftermarket driving (or fog) lights have to be wired into factory dimmer switch.
In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :
Oh, and I completely agree with wireing them into the high beam circuit. I would consider anything else silly!
In reply to 03Panther :
If I left the impression that I think you can't tell the difference I do apologize.
I guess I won't be making anyone happy with my "silly" decisions, but in case it eases your mind, we are not talking about rural Georgia backcountry here we are talking about divided interstates.
In reply to P3PPY :
All I think I've seen you do is substitute LED bulbs for the halogens that were likely in the car. I'm fine with that and wouldn't call it silly.
Well, only because my wife didn't want me to mount the light bar on her "new" van, I accept no passes ;)
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