fog light wattage question

[LiKuiD]

alright heres the deal. i decided to keep my hella 550 fogs and fix them rather then ditch them. so this is my question. it says use 55w bulbs but ive been using 100w for the past year with no problems. since they are really bright and are mounted on my bumper right below the grill, do you think 100w is too bright and i should use the 55w? is there really a big difference btw 55w and 100w? figure in i run them day/night. whats the best choice? thanks alot

 

[jimbo74]

well, the differnce between a 100w and a 55w is about 45w
the 100 gets a lot hotter and puts more strain on electrical pathways....
if you have never had a problem, dont change them.... but as a general note-35 or 55 is normally the highest and safest to be run in a foglight application.... 100w just isnt neccesary....the lower wattage will actually pierce through the fog better than a 100w like the hibeams as the higher power reflects back in inclement weather

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by jimabena74
well, the differnce between a 100w and a 55w is about 45w
the 100 gets a lot hotter and puts more strain on electrical pathways....
if you have never had a problem, dont change them.... but as a general note-35 or 55 is normally the highest and safest to be run in a foglight application.... 100w just isnt neccesary....the lower wattage will actually pierce through the fog better than a 100w like the hibeams as the higher power reflects back in inclement weather

I would stay with the 100 w bulbs since you have had no difficulties with them.

High beams reflect bacl more because they are aimed higher.

 

[xlt-sport]

LikUid

another thought would be try something in between.

you might have to look harder for them, but i think 70 watt or 85 watt are fairly readily available in h3

i agree with aldive, higher = more light. the lower the light, the better for fog.

peter

 

[mattadams]

I believe the hellas are designed so you can use either 55w or 100w... if you haven't noticed problems by now, you probably won't.
Brighter is better.

 

[LiKuiD]

alright so ill go back to my 100w. do you think 100w is too bright to drive all the time? like it wont blind drivers infront of me? b/c ive never really found out if they blind people. hmmm

 

[mattadams]

I think 100watts is too much for regular driving, you will tend to blind oncoming drivers, plus those hellas (just like every other aftermarket light) isn't "technically" street legal, you typically won't get in trouble if you just have them mounted on the vehicle but blind a cop, you'll be paying for it.

 

[Fischer]

On and off the subject. Funny...

...blind a cop, you'll be paying for it.

A long time ago (when I was 16) we had a spotlight... Well one night driving towards town back from Daniels Park (before it was suburbia) we were looking for some friends.

Well my buddy is manning the light and a car comes towards us, and right as this car is passing us I say "Hit IT!" and blam he turns on the light and the car lit up like the ol' Christmas tree, reflectors galore on the side.

Well it was a cop, and he about pissed himself when we blinded him. We thought about running but I just pulled over, and he was pretty cool about "warning" us of the dangers associated with blinding people.

Luckily he let us go with a warning. LOL Thought I'd share that with ya..

 

[Brian's98XLT]

I have 120 watts in my fogs. They are to bright for using all the time. The only thing I had to do was run 12 gauge wire to the lights.