off road lights

[OffRoadXplora]

ok, i have two off road lights that i am mouting on my brush guard. In the instructions on how to wire them it shows that all you have to do is wire the lights to the battery to the switch, but i talked to a mechanic that i know and he said that i needed to wire them into the lowbeams. I am confused on what to do. I dont want to waste time wiring into the lowbeams cause i am no master electrician. I want them to be legal tho. SO, in Virginia, do they HAVE to be wired into the lowbeams? If they are not can i use them when i am on the road at night? I already know they dont have to be covered since they are below the headlights. Can anybody that is a little more familiar with Va state law help me out ASAP...

 

[ExplorerSportNu]

No you don't have to wire them into the low beams I have mine wired exactly like you originally stated with them going to battery then to switch with no problems

 

[BigDave!!!]

i followed the directions and wired mine to the low beams but that just lets you turn them on and off only when your lights are on, i wish i hadnt wired mine like that but im getting some new ones anyway pretty soon

 

[timmac06]

They want you to do that for state law. Atleast in jersey that is. Mine are not wired that way and have never been bothered. The lights are supposed to go off with the highbeams.

 

[Blee1099]

If the bulbs are 55W or less, you can use them on the road. If they are any stronger, you cannot wire them to your headlights. They must be run off an different circuit cause they probably aren't DOT approved. Not to mention in VA they need to be covered up.

 

[BigDave!!!]

here in CA you can recieve a fix-it ticket for having uncovered off road lights, mine are uncovered though and i have never had problems

 

[Bill Kemp]

I think in most states they want you to have the lights wired so that they only can be turned on when the cars lighting system is on. So the fogs could be spliced into the parking lights & be OK. Or you could tell them that they are your DRL.

 

[OffRoadXplora]

well i went ahead and wired my lights up, not into the lowbeams or anything just straight up...i dont think i am gonna bother covering them up tho...if i get stopped ill just say ill fix it, thanx for the advice fellas

 

[Bill Kemp]

I like to use my driving lights whenever I can. (Thats why I got them) I have found that I can only use them on the road when no other vehs. are present. Just like the brights. When a car comes over the hill its a PIA to hit the dims AND turn off the driving lights. So, my driving lights switch is spliced to the high beams. Now when I dim the lights the driving lights go out also.
The fog lights can be on all the time so they are just spliced to an ignition activated hot wire.

 

[OffRoadXplora]

ok, my off road lights are, i think, 50w and they are attached to my brush guard. In Va, is it legal to use them on the road with lowbeams or highbeams?

 

[93FoRdExPlOrEr]

no idea.....i want some off road lights =(

 

[Bill Kemp]

If they are FOG lights you can use them w/low beam if they are aimed correctly. http://www.piaa.com/Lamps/LightAimingGuide.html
DRIVING lights are used only w/high beams.
This is true for all states.