Old Fog Lights , Replace

[Badspell68]

97 AWD 5.0 4 Door

Just removed my old fog lights, keeping the electronics and cabling. The lamps are stamped 40watts. Can I go up to 55watts on the existing equipment ,anyone know a good on-line store to pick up fog lamps?

 

[Buffalosports]

I did. Working fine so far.

http://explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213567

 

[Badspell68]

Added new fog lamps...was a little odd as it did not seem to matter how I connected the wires up???
Connecting the positive and negative to specific wires did not seem to matter?

 

[Buffalosports]

Yea, lights are wierd like that. In some, as long as it is getting power (and a ground) they light up, it depends how the maker wires them inside. It is just the power flows through reverse.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Check out the lights FRICKEA86 used. KC makes a very good light. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199585

You can just use the OEM wiring directly to the new lights but I would not suggest it. It really isnt hard to use the OEM wires to activate the relay on the aftermarket lights harness. Better for your cars wiring and it will produce more light. Win - win situation.

 

[redneck21]

^^Good point. I been running a set of 55watt cheap ones from autozone better then the stock ones but not the best and been using the OE wires to power them soon it will be add a relay and power it from the battery for them to be brighter.

 

[Badspell68]

What about the fuse, shouldn't it take care of any overload? Mine seem to me working all ok.

 

[Bill Kemp]

What about the fuse, shouldn't it take care of any overload? Mine seem to me working all ok.

Yes, the fuse will probably pop before any damage to the wires is done due to a short.

"working OK" is not the same as working as they were intended. Using a relay and getting power directly from the battery produces 13.5+ volts to the lights. This is the best way. Not doing so produces 12 volts or less. Big difference in the amount of light produced by the bulbs.
Bulbs are rated at 13.5 volts. Your OEM wires dont give you 13.5 volts. So your 55 watt bulbs are probably putting out about the same light as a 40/45 watt bulb.
If your happy with "OK" than dont worry about "best".