fog lights are supposed to be scattered light it is not meant for directional light. When there is fog, the light reflects back to you if the light is directional like your headlight and makes you blind that's why the law requires you to put on low beam when fog is present because it would not help much if you put on high beam it will even reflect back to you more, but with fog light it is scattered so the light will not reflect back to the driver and can see better ahead thats why it is called fog light.
Reading the comments, I think there is another variable besides the lumens and the aim. The led's come with different chip placement. The higher lumens have a cutoff that the 3030 doesn't. It seems to me that some of the light distribution pattern difference is due to that, and nothing else. So possibly a lower lumen bulb w/ the layout of the higher lumen light would be the way to go for his lights. Low and wide make all the difference on the back roads. I'm not sure the lower lumen bulb isn't going to have more reflection back at the driver. Fog lights are problematic, especially the blue ones, especially for older drivers, and in the city. My .02 Back in the day, I ran ecode lenses for the headlights, upped the wattage, and had auxiliary fog and driving lights, and I also ran a similar set up on my motorcycle. If you have a decent cutoff, it makes ALL the difference for oncoming traffic.
great comparison. I actually got the 3030 (current gen) a week ago after much research... Only issue is I have yet to see them at nite, given my work sched. LOL I'm still not sold on led headlights yet on my reflector-lens Tacoma. but these help loads.
I have Led low beams & high beams and HID fogs in a reflector housing and mine still do not light up street signs. I guess my low beams are just too bright to be washed out by the 3500k fogs...
@Bill, I've actually been doing research on this topic for years (the topic fascinates me - I do a bit of off road and racing and I'm always looking for the best options for everything, especially my daily driver and the lighting I use on it) the vast majority of studies tend to conclude that selective yellow light is indeed better for poor weather visibility than "white" light produced by LEDs and HIDs. This is because this "white"-er light contains more of a blue component that is higher energy and naturally is more reflective (i.e. wavelengths of light closer to white reflect more "visible" light than those of singular/selective or lesser energy light). This has a physiological impact on the human optical system, you'll find that most eyewear designed specifically for those that work on computers most of the day (i.e those more likely to be subjected to large amounts of "white" light) tend of have blue light filtration or selective yellow lenses which reduces the amount of blue light being absorbed into the eyes resulting in reduced eye strain and more comfort for the user. The same goes with headlights, and lighting. It seems that your claim about 'white light being more effective' is dubious and unsubstantiated. To elaborate, there is a reason why photographers and film makers prefer "golden hour" shots that result in more natural, warmer lighting. Not only does it "look" better, but it is comprised of light that our eyes are naturally designed to see. This is why colors are more vibrant during the golden hour, and why such photography appears more serene and relaxed. Our eyes are far more sensitive to yellow and green wavelengths of light than bluer wavelengths. On the road, bluer light results in poorer contrasting, which means your brain and eyes are working harder to discern objects and facets of the road. In the rain, or in poor conditions (i.e. fog) this multiplies the difficulty your eyes have in being able to process the limited information produced by "whiter" (i.e. bluer) light (also greatly increasing the amount of road glare). Not only does selective yellow light reduce the eye strain a driver must endure during already difficult vision conditions, it greatly reduces the amount of glare perceived (read: perceived; the glare is still there but it does not impact vision as greatly due to the lower energy wavelengths and how our eyes utilize the light) by oncoming drivers. Frankly, this has more to do with our brains and eyes and how we process certain wavelengths of light as opposed to 'yellow light glaring off of fog less' as aforementioned by another commenter. Matter of fact, the majority of it is just human physiology. While there are more studies concluding selective yellow light is inherently better for some reasons (modern research has been inconclusive because the requirements for selective yellow light utilization have long since been out of utilization for years resulting in minimal interest into the study of selective yellow light. however, the recent foray into HID and LED technology has resulted in a large amount of information regarding "white" (bluer) light and its impact on human physiology), there has been at least one study [Schreuder, D. A. (1976). White or yellow light for vehicle head-lamps? . ] I've seen that has refuted the claims that both "white" light and selective yellow light are superior in either way; limited by the lack of modern HID/LED technology, but this is a digression from the point that while you may feel that you "See better" with "white" (i.e. bluer) light, you're actually simply over-stimulating your eyes and subjecting yourself to greater amounts of fatigue especially when faced with inclement road conditions. More neutral, whiter (around 4300-5500K) light may be at times beneficial during clear driving or at times while offroad, but there is a distinct reason as to why off-road desert drivers prefer amber or selective yellow (
Question. If fog lights are meant to project a low angle (like for fog), having them light up over-head highway signs, seems to counter fog lights primary function. Why not fix/change your headlights instead? Fog lights turn off when (modern) highbeams are turned on, because of various laws and saturation of lights. I would want a fog light that projects a low angled beam so I can see in fog. These lights do not fit that task. Do led lights light up reflective signs better than standard halogens?
Scott W yeah, I was wondering about that..fog lights that light up signs and overhead signs will definitely blind oncoming cars. When he did the garage door test you can see there is much more scatter than the focused headlights...
I know your comment is 2 years old but I recently drove from New York to California and back to Michigan and YES they light up street signs and realtors wayyy better! I would have signs starting to reflect my fog lights before my headlights would even touch them.
I have yet to find an led bulb with a beam pattern like my stock bulbs. Mine are just like my projectors with a sharp cut off on top. They are stock bulbs and on the yellow side of color. I was looking for the same bulb with a whiter light and bought some LEDs. Switching back to my old ones because the LEDs scatter the light. I like to see the road not signs!
Hi Chris, The best way to get at that fuse to swap in the LED (non-hyper flash) module, is to use a dash removal tool which are found on Crutchfield and other car stereo web sites. These are plastic tools that don't scratch.
Thanks For sharing.. I believe that because you drive on the right the light is projected in different ways... "you want to see more on the side that you are driving and less/lower on the incoming traffic" that's why the difference I suppose.. try to swap left and right and vice versa. Kind regards Chris
not ballast brotha they are drivers the internals are very different and work in different ways hids have ballast cause the light is an arc like welding arks
To me they look more like driving lights than fog lights. At least they are acting more like it. Fog lights need to have a low cut off of light on top of beam to prevent exactly what your getting.The lens has no type of focal ribs in it at all so IMHO its just a driving light not fog. I also agree a yellow light would sever better in fog than that led light. Do other drivers a favor and keep them off unless your on back country roads some where.
One plus for LEDs some vehicle charging systems suck such as early VW me I'm running a manix type dune buggy with a Porsche 914 engine so I already have to use a oil cooler with a fan an a electric fuel pump so I made sure All my lights where LEDs even the dash headlights the only thing left are the old pilot driving light there small not sure if I can find one
I’m surprised you can see anything with 3500 lumen headlights. I used to have 4000 lumen lights and bought some 8000 lumen lights to replace them. Now on my current car I will be running 16000 lumen headlights (8000 per bulb) and 5700 lumen fog lights. Never had anyone flash me because of my 8000 lumen lights.
just don't use aftermarket LEDs or HIDs if your car has reflector type housing.. they are meant to be used with projector type.. doesn't matter if the LED bulb itself comes with little projector, it will still spread lights everywhere
The unfortunate thing is that majority of the public drivers are installing high LED lights, which definitely causes major blindness onto oncoming traffic. The logic of the major consensus amazes me; versus flicking the high beams instead. With that being said, if you can't beat 'em......
@@jacktran960 their mounted lower not aimed lower, u cant aim fog lights. if somebody got mad bright fogs theyll blind u.. try driving a car thats low af, everything blinds u, even shitty halogen low beams lol
@@jacktran960 well ye trucks u can usually do that lol.. really ur tsx u can aim then like head lights? Ik fogs can come with a certain projection area or whatever but I’ve never seen oem adjustable fog light mounts on a car
I just put fog lights on my Elantra, the stock ones with the 881 halogen bulbs, were in my opinion, useless. I have already upgraded to BeamTech led headlights which show road signs much better, but do not blind oncoming traffic like those truck HID headlights. I have some Astar switchback front signals on the way, and I am thinking that these may add some more illumination.
When properly installed and adjusted, fog lights should NOT illuminate road signs and if they do you are blinding oncoming drivers. Fog lights are supposed to cast “scattered” light down on the roadway just in front of the vehicle and to the sides NOT way out in front like headlights. It is pointless to have both headlights and fog lights casting into the same area. You can have focused fog light but again they are supposed to cast down onto the road so the you can see the roadway in heavy fog and snow otherwise the light just gets reflected by the fog and snow back into your eyes. Ever wonder why high beams make visibility worse in heavy snow and fog?
Lmao some guy on that highway is probably getting pissed at you flashing your lights. Plus any cop that saw you might pull you over for flashing your lights. Thats illegal. Also the "less bright" one is multiple leds sharing power and spreading the pattern wider. The "brighter" one is only 2 or 3 (i think) and aimed to reflect rather than throw forward but the reflector in the housing aims the light straighter forward with less "scatter". But honestly i would go with the 3030 as your headlights should handle road driving and (once aimed correctly) the 3030s will light up the road in front of you rather than projecting a mile down the highway.
When are you all going to understand that fog lights are supposed to aim low not as high as your freaking high beams. All those leds are crap, they just throw the light everywhere instead of sending a focused beam like what car lights are supposed to do
Word of warning to anyone trying to do this to a Chrysler/Jeep vehicle with OEM fogs you need to go with a light with a heat sink. Even with the LED you will melt the plastic housing.
Trust me, get some Morimotos. Direct fit to your car with a built in projector unit. I have a video up to show the perfect output and comparison to halogen.
I dont understand why he is constantly referring to those lights as "fog" lights? They would be worse than useless in fog. Apart from pointing upwards (as in the last clip on the garage door) so as to bounce the light right in his face, they are white - the worst colour to use in fog (which is also white). Now a lesson: Most road surfaces are black and dense. On a foggy day the warmest area around your car is the road surface. So fog wont settle right down to the ground. True FOG lights are designed to shine under the fog, along the area where the fog is thinnest. That's why they are always mounted as low as possible on the front of the car. They are also designed to throw some light out to the sides to pick up the outside white line, and the edges of the road. Also as has been said below, they are better off being yellow in colour as this is reflected less off fog. Some drivers leave their fog lights on as well as their headlights because they think the fog lights light up better close to the front of the car, and they are right: they do. But there's a gotcha here. Your eyes adjust to the brighter area just in the front of the car and hence are less effective where the low beam is shining, ie your middle and long distance night vision is REDUCED by having a well-lit area just in front of the car. And if you think your car looks good with all that scattered light dazzling oncoming drivers, just think what they are doing to avoid being temporarily blinded by your lights... (Closing their eyes comes to mind!)
It has been 3 years since this video came out. I just bought a new truck, and was looking to upgrade the lighting. Videos made yesterday are no less confusing than those made 3 years ago.
Totally missed the point here friend! The beam patter of a decent fog light is supposed to be wide and UNDER the beam pattern of your headlights. Like everyone else has said in these comments: "if they light up the road signs, you did it wrong!" Thanks for sharing, now I know what not to buy!
Fog lights are not supposed to be left on with oncoming traffic. People flash their lights because they should be turned off, just like your high-beams...They are FOG lights...
Depends. Some fog lights do scatter light but others have a nice sharp cut off like the regular headlight. Honestly I find fog lights useless in my area. They are better served as secondary lights that light up the left and right portions of your view that your normal headlights can't reach.
My crazy brother had 4 Hellas on his old Jeep Cherokee - bright like daylight. People would flash all the time, even though they were mounted above bumper. So for proper fog light there should be reflector inside the light or inside the bulb/LED to direct the light downward the way Low beams do. Or, just pointed down.
most new cars have fog lights. stupidly the bulbs are white. in fog this just worsens your visability. fog lights need to be yellow. alot less glare. car companies used to know this, I don't know why they changed.
Too many idiots driving with fog lights on when there is no fog. There is a reason and only one reason to use them. When there is fog out there in front of you. Otherwise you are endangering the drivers ahead (both driving in your same direction and those opposing direction). I am pretty sure this kind of use outside of NEED is not only questionable but in many municipalities forbidden and for sure if you drive in federal roads like that you are probably breaking more than one federal highway rule. Ride at your own risk. (USA)
The only thing that makes me happy about seeing people with terrible, glare producing led bulbs is that the cheap fan on the bulb will burn out soon, taking the ebay led with it.
I see all the times stupid normal yellow bulb from China that spread light everywhere... Led installed if controlled by a garage/specialist are more than good.. The position is the key.. If too powerful is a problem when is raining as the reflection from the road is a problem.. Land rover, bmw, Audi, etc have a good amount of light and when the road is wet is a nightmare...
Wow i never heard anyone crying there lights are too bright , i mean thats why you bought them and upgraded for the normal stock builds right ,brighter is always better i dont get this dude , dont worry about other drivers fuck them worry about yourself
Traffic law in most places is that you use driving lights like high beams, in other words, you turn them off for oncoming traffic. So if you drive all the time with them, you're already being a rude ass. However, like most traffic laws, there is very little/no enforcement.
Adjust your fog lights after installing the LEDs. 4 inches lower @ 25 ft. I have Hikari 9005s on mine and have not been flashed on yet. I make it a habit to check /adjust after installing a new set of headlight/fog bulb.
I get flashed by Mercedes with brighter low beams then the sun. Fuck all luxury car headlights. But Yea I've found my fogs just work on the highway otherwise there just Glary af
Yea thats why you get switchback LED’s that go from pure white to a really golden yellow. Also a fog light housing is meant to have no projector or reflector. A headlight, sure. But they such as actual fog lights when using them as projectors. They need to be open and pointed correctly.
This is so fucking stupid, you dont put led lights inside a reflektor housing. The housing is designed for a halogen bulb. The many leds projekt the light differently from the halogen bulb and scatters a bunch of light were it should not be (as you can see in the video the top of the houses and the signs illuminates) and on top of that in the end you showed us clearly that the fogs are tilted way too far upwards. In heavy fog or snowfall, you actually see less cus you blind yourself if the fogs are pointed so far up. The main purpose of the fogs is to cast a low and wide pattern so that you see the edges of the road so that you dont drive into the ditch.
