An other stupid question!

[donkey boy]

Help please!

OK guys, I'm sitting here with greasy fingers b/c I just tried to hook up my Wal*Mart fog lights to the original Ford fog light loom. Nice as Ford is, both cables are black! Now, which one is the hot one? Before I just try, because I don't have any of these measuring things, I would like to ask you for advise:

What happens if I just try and hook accidentaly the earth of the lamp to the hot wire?
a) nothing, the light won't come on, I can just switch the cable and everything will work as it should.
b) some sparks and I need to find the blown fuse
c) nothing or some sparks, but some cables get so hot that I should get out the marsh mellows and roast them on the fire that once was my Explorer

If you are from Florida, please just reply if you know the correct answer and if you know the difference beetween a), b) or c) :-D

 

[donkey boy]

I think I skip the first part of your explanation and move directly to the second part. Actually, now that you remembered me, I knew this one. Geeee, could this already be Altzheimer?

Thanks Gimp

[Edited by donkey boy on 11-16-2000 at 07:38 PM]

 

[Alec]

donkey boy,

I'm sure you've already seen this on other threads, but I'll say it anyway: I wouldn't hook up aftermarket lights to the factory wiring if I were you. I think that's just asking for trouble. You could fry the wiring, the switch, and you're lamps will be underpowered.

 

[donkey boy]

Thanks for the warning, Alec. I'm just using 55 watt lights, and the general opinion on this board was, that the Explorer stock equippment should be strong enough to handle 55 watts. I don't know if you have a different experience.

 

[leebo]

Donkey Boy.... I'm with Alac...don't do it. With that said. I'd check the fuses first. I'd also check if the lights work at all. When I first get a new set I always check to see if they work. I just hook up a wire to the + on the battery and quickly touch the ground to the frame. Do this just to see if they work. As for the harness from ford....I don't know. I don't see a problem with QUICKLY touching the wires to a hot wire to see if they work. I've done this a few times with no problem. Corse I've also almost melted half my truck before working on lights so I'm not sure if I'd listen to me.

 

[donkey boy]

Let's check it over...

Anybody knows the wattage of the original Ford fog lights???

 

[leebo]

I could be wrong on this one....but I don't think so. The fog lights you've got now are a 55watt bulb. They are wired so that ford only needs to use the correct wires. No bigger. Where you're ones from Wal-Mart may be cheap, I'm sure they're better than fords. The wires SHOULD be able to hold the power, but the only way to make sure is to use the wiring the company sends to you. I have two sets of lights, both 55watts on the front of my truck right now. One is a cheapo and the other is hella. Even though I hate them...the Hella is much brighter. The bulb is built to burn brighter as well as the lense. The same would go for yours. I'm sure you'd have no problem with the stock wires....but if it were me I wouldn't push it.

 

[donkey boy]

Thanks for the posts leebo and Gimp.

Pictures will be coming one day, but I can't garantee for the quality. I'm taking them with a disposable camera for the moment. Mine got stolen on my last trip to Mexico -- at the airport in Houston, TX!!!

 

[Bill Kemp]

Stock Ford fog lights are 35 watt bulbs.
I ran 90 watt Pilot fog off the stack wiring with no problems to the wiring, switches, fuses ect.
The only problem is that the stock wiring sucks the volts out of the wires and your lights arn't as bright as they would be using the aftermarket harness.
Probably ought to invest in a light w/clip and ice pick end tester thingy. Makes life much easier.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Hay Gimp....."Test Light...Test Light"
Ya thats the words I was trying to think of.
I bet you know the correct term for a whatchamacallit.
Thanks...

 

[donkey boy]

Originally posted by Gimp
... With my screwed up hands it's difficult for me to type and impossible for me to do my own vehicle work any more. You guys just don't know how much I envy your being able to go out there and tackle projects like these lights. I sure wish I could be in there doing it, too.

Thanks for all your imput? What happened to your hands, if you don't mind me asking?

BTW, don't tell me about misspellings and, English not being my first language (wasn't the second either) I probably will never notice LOL I think the Swiss German translation for "thingamajig" simply is "Dingsbums"

 

[leebo]

I'm wrong then. I could of swore that the stock was 55. So sue me. With that small of a wire I wouldn't push the holding power of the wires. To hook up the light you would only need to run about 3 wires at the most. This will get you the max performance and safety.

Hey Gimp....Bring your truck on out here and I'll even give you some of mine. I'm going to get some more powerful ones soon as well as a custom switch box on the headliner so I can hook you up with some.

 

[leebo]

God bless you sir. My next door neighbor has about the same pains you do. She fell at work at tore up her spine really good. She ended up with several tore disks and pinched a muscle. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger ball of fire. She's out on the town at night and up in the morning. She's done her daughters weddings from head to toe. On top of that she's the first one knocking on our door when we may need help. On top of that she used to drive a hog. How great is that. It just shows you that you make what you want.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Hay Gimp... Just read your post and found it insperational. Hope I can remember how to act/feel when faced with adversity.
Thanks sincerely.....

 

[Chav]

Gimp I have to say that I have an enormous amount of respect for you. I can only hope that I will be able to live my life with your perspective on life.

-Chav

 

[donkey boy]

Gimp,

Sorry I did not post a reply earlier, but I was mainly on the road last week. What a great attitude towards life, Gimp! I hope your sickness is so far under control that you still can tipe for centuries your great input on this board.

With me you have the living proof that full mobility in your body, but specially in your fingers does not guarantees being a good mechanic and that you don't make tiping msstks LOL

On a serious note: with your attitude you probably get more out of life than lot's of people with a perfectly well working body. Thanks for your input. For the next some days, until I'm back to the normal routine again, I will think twice prior to complaining about some minor bothering details that might cross my way.

BTW, my cheap 55 Watt driving lights are working well with the stock Ford wires.