What lamps are better to put in fog lights
Headlights are often insufficient in bad weather conditions. Their light is scattered and reduces contrast in bad weather. Because of this, the driver stops distinguishing objects until they come close at all. Fog lights create a clear cut-off line and penetrate the fog without scattering.
The quality and durability of the PTF completely depends on what kind of lamp they have.
What base is used in the fog lamp
In PTF, specialized plinths resistant to moisture and vibrations are installed. Between themselves, they differ in power and connectors.
If you install a lamp of a different type, more powerful than the base standard, you can cause the fuses to blow.
The following plinths are more common on the market:
- H3 - designed for a power of 55 W;
- H8 - 35 W (H11 lamps are suitable for it, but they are designed for high power);
- H11 - at 65 W;
- H27 - at 27 watts.
Related article: Types and marking of car lamp bases
Types of light bulbs used
There are three types of fog lamps with different characteristics. In order to understand whether this or that light bulb is suitable for PTF, you need to look at the manufacturer's marking on the case or in the documents. If installed incorrectly, the headlight may give the wrong beam of light.
Halogen
These light bulbs are the most popular on the market due to their efficiency and ease of installation and replacement. It is them that manufacturers put if they equip models of their machines with PTF. Halogen lamps have a warm light beam that perfectly penetrates rain and fog. The brightness of their light does not decrease over time.
The main disadvantages of halogen lamps can be called: sensitivity to vibrations and voltage drops.
For brighter light, some manufacturers add xenon to halogen lamps, which affects the cost.
The service life of halogen lamps is quite short., completely dependent on compliance with operating standards and the number of on / off.
Halogen bulbs are marked with the letter "H". Headlights for them are marked with the letter "B" and are not designed for any other lamps.
Xenon
Discharge or xenon bulbs are the brightest and most expensive. The characteristics of the light spectrum, as well as the duration of operation, are better for such lamps than for halogen ones. Xenon lamps are resistant to voltage drops and require much less power than halogen ones.
The installation of such bulbs is complicated by those included in the kit: an ignition unit, a tilt angle corrector and a washer. That is why the installation of xenon lamps on machines that are not equipped for this by the manufacturer is prohibited by law. Also a significant disadvantage is the fall in brightness over time, which occurs unnoticed by the driver, making it difficult to know when it is necessary to replace the light bulb.
The service life of xenon lamps is quite long. They very rarely burn out and fail due to external problems such as vibration and too much voltage.
Xenon bulbs are marked "D" and are placed in those headlights that are equipped with a special automatic adjustment - these are marked on the body "F3". If xenon lamps are installed in the wrong headlight, the light can blind oncoming drivers, so their use is strictly regulated by law.
LED
LED or LED light bulbs are characterized by low power consumption and vibration resistance at a reasonable price. You can choose from stores with lamps with light of different temperature shades, and diodes with different colors of light can be bundled together for dual-mode operation. With a cooling system installed, they do not overheat during long-term operation, and the headlights do not burst from cold liquids on them, which sometimes happens with the use of halogen lamps.
Due to the fact that, in addition to the cooling system, LED lamps require a special lens to work properly, they are not suitable for all PTFs. Incorrect installation of LED lamps can lead to blinding oncoming drivers.
Recommended: What is better to choose - xenon or ice
A significant disadvantage of LED lamps is the cooler in active cooling systems. It can become clogged or broken, causing the bulb to overheat.A passive cooling system solves this problem.
LED bulbs have the longest lifespan, which, according to manufacturers, may exceed the automobile.
LED lamps are marked as "LED" or "LED" (Russian equivalent). On the case of foglights suitable for them, there is a marking "F3". Before installation, it is necessary to check whether the cooling system can fit inside the headlight.
Is it legal to install xenon and LED lamps
As of October 2021, xenon lamps are allowed to be installed in fog lights only if the headlights of the car are provided for their use by the manufacturer - this is indicated in the car documents with the letters: “D”, “DC”, “DCR”. It is also necessary to always have a certificate of conformity or instructions for the machine with you. Unauthorized installation of xenon is prohibited and punishable by the law of the Russian Federation with a fine and possible deprivation of rights for a period of one year.
According to the law, it is forbidden to use in PTF lamps with a luminous flux of any color except: white, yellow and orange. In addition to the fact that the light of other shades does not penetrate the fog, it can blind.
LED bulbs are also allowed to be used in fog lights, subject to the rules. The headlight must have the necessary markings, and the lamp must comply with the requirements. Headlights marked "B" are not suitable for LED bulbs.
The law prohibits the use of lamps with a luminous flux of more than 2000 lumens without an auto-corrector. This applies to both xenon and LED.
Which ones are better to install in PTF
Each type of light bulb has its pros and cons.Halogens are the easiest to operate, but compared to others, they have to be changed too often. Xenon - bright and do not burn out for a long time, but not everyone can put them on the car due to legal restrictions and the complexity of installation. LED - are the best option in terms of quality and service life, but also not available for installation to everyone.
The table below shows the main characteristics of the lamps for comparison.
| Average service life | Minimum price for 1 pc. | Maximum price for 1 pc. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen | 200 to 1000 hours | 100 rubles | 2300 rubles |
| Xenon | 2000 to 4000 hours | 500 rubles | 13000 rubles |
| LED | 3000 to 10000 hours | 200 rubles | 6500 rubles |
Popular Models
| Bulb type | Model | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Halogen | Philips LongLife EcoVision H11 | Designed for a long service life (minimum 2000 hours), has a bright yellowish light and is resistant to temperature changes. |
| KOITO WHITEBEAM III H8 | It has a white-yellow shade of light and an enhanced luminous flux close to xenon. | |
| Xenon | Optima Premium Ceramic H27 | Resistant to physical impact due to the additional ceramic ring, lights up in 0.3 seconds and has a very budget price. |
| MTF H11 6000K | It starts quickly in a cold state, is protected from the on-board network short circuit and, according to the manufacturer, has a service life of 7000 hours. | |
| LED | Xenite H8-18SMD | One of the cheapest and highest quality models on the market, it has a wide glow angle, consumes only 1.5 W and can operate at temperatures from -40 to +85 ° C. |
| SHO-ME 12V H27W/1 | Also an inexpensive model, characterized by a consumption of 2.6 W, the color of the glow is similar to daytime. |
Video tests of LED lamps.
Selection Tips
When choosing bulbs for fog lights, you need to be guided primarily by those that were supposed to be installed on the car by the manufacturer, since the law on xenon and LED lamps in PTF is constantly being tightened.
If you do not look at the law, then the next parameter is finance. Cheap lamps exist in all varieties, but when halogen lamps for a hundred rubles work tolerably, the same cannot be said about xenon and LED ones. Also read tips for PTF adjustment.