Yellow Fog Lights?

[storlied]

post some pics, did the yellow film do anything for ya?

 

[storlied]

Say you got some nice lights with plenty of output, would the yellow color of them do anything for cutting through fog? Every single fog light setup at walmart and shucks, are yellow. That's why I'm asking. Why make them yellow for no reason?

After reading the links... Hm.. I don't know what to say now.. Would it Hurt to put yellow film over them? I don't know.. blah..

I'm most likely just going to get a new set completely sooner or later.

 

[Flandry]

It's still the subject of much debate and there are a lot of drivers who insist yellow is better in their experience. I have seen it argued that white light causes the human eye to contract more than yellow and therefore we have an increased sensitivity to yellow. As a result, there is a smaller decrease in the available light when using yellow due to the iris not contracting as much. There could be merit in this argument.

However, most people who claim yellow is more effective than white say it's because yellow light does not produce the "backscatter" due to rain or fog that white light does. Near as I can tell, this argument appears to be proven false scientifically.

 

[storlied]

So this is just one of those things, kind of like the tornado for better gas mileage? lol...
Some people swear it works, others call BS. hahahaha

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

zblackbeast do u got hids on ur headlights and fogs

 

[storlied]

Are those hids?.. damn..

 

[Sandy]

Yellow is the color !

I can't explain it but this site has some good reading on the topic.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html

 

[storlied]

There was already a link to this, I read it and it's got me a bit confused now.

 

[Flandry]

Here's Daniel Stern discussing fog lights in the sci.engr.lighting newsgroup forum - link.

 

[muzzymaniac]

It's still the subject of much debate and there are a lot of drivers who insist yellow is better in their experience. I have seen it argued that white light causes the human eye to contract more than yellow and therefore we have an increased sensitivity to yellow. As a result, there is a smaller decrease in the available light when using yellow due to the iris not contracting as much. There could be merit in this argument.

However, most people who claim yellow is more effective than white say it's because yellow light does not produce the "backscatter" due to rain or fog that white light does. Near as I can tell, this argument appears to be proven false scientifically.

Science is only as good as the information you feed it. I suggest if you're curious what works then go out and try it. Never done it but a yellow lensed flashlight in a snowstorm my be a cheap way to test it.

 

[storlied]

I wonder if there are any forum members who have tested it on their own explorers?

 

[Donner]

I was there...

I wonder if there are any forum members who have tested it on their own explorers?

There's an area around Sacramento near Old Arco Area and the Coca-Cola bottling plant that was nicknamed the soup bowl because the fog was so thick you had to keep your window down to listen for other vehicles... I used both colors, and the difference was the intensity... the aftermarkets, attached outside of the stock area are your best bet... I have pics of yellows and whites in the stock area, I'll attach them later along side a pic of my current lights - I'll just edit this post in about 1/2 hour.

 

[Donner]

These are both older shots...

This shows the yellows in the stock area and the whites... but the exterior fogs are there...

 

[storlied]

Was either better for fog?

Did white kinda blind you compared to yellow?

 

[Flandry]

Science is only as good as the information you feed it. I suggest if you're curious what works then go out and try it. Never done it but a yellow lensed flashlight in a snowstorm my be a cheap way to test it.

Agreed. I have the feeling that, like the audiophile world, it's subjective - everyone has different eyes so they see things a bit differently. I merely point out what I've found as I've tried to satisfy my own curiosity. Which seems to be:

• Blue fog lights are worthless.
• Cheap yellow fog lights don't work as well white.
• Selective Yellow lights may work better than white.
• There may be no difference between good white and good yellow fog lights.
• Fog lights should be mounted as low as possible to work at their best.

I've never had white fog lights, so I can't provide any personal opinion on which is best.

 

[Donner]

This fog is not as dense as the No CA fog...

The yellows weren't really used here, but the Piaas work... they are completely diff from the stocks, but the stocks being white do help to keep the road directly in front of you well lighted. The Piaas extend your view... (they are up on the bull bar now, but they work fine)

Years ago I had a guy attach a set under the 96... whites. They made the yellows seem useless. I guess IMO, adding lights gives you more options... leaving the factory stock is good, but adding a set of aftermarkets lets you control the lighting... (not limited to 45w)

 

[Donner]

Blues

Agreed. I have the feeling that, like the audiophile world, it's subjective - everyone has different eyes so they see things a bit differently. I merely point out what I've found as I've tried to satisfy my own curiosity. Which seems to be:

• Blue fog lights are worthless.
• Cheap yellow fog lights don't work as well white.
• Selective Yellow lights may work better than white.
• There may be no difference between good white and good yellow fog lights.
• Fog lights should be mounted as low as possible to work at their best.

I've never had white fog lights, so I can't provide any personal opinion on which is best.

Agreed on the blues... :thumbdwn: They do look nice on the speed demons and the bikes, but as fog lights, pass.

 

[storlied]

So yellow film over stock fogs is a no? Oh well, it was worth asking.

Wait, would it help as far as lighting the road yellow? Like for example.. snow storm with lots of fog.. yellow is lighting the road under the fog... and my headlights.... oh screw it.. idk what im talkin about.........

 

[muzzymaniac]

Remember folks; We're not talking about lighting up the road like a set of white lights in good weather - that's just not going to happen. I think the goal is to make the road more visible and safer. Yellow is indeed less intense and maybe the key. but then wouldn't lower wattage white bulbs work the same? I'm no science guy but could the light waves that the amber lens block be the intense waves that the snow reflects?

I personally would avoid the yellow window tint. The tint wasn't designed for outside use and I think that it wouldn't hold up long.

 

[muzzymaniac]

Just finished the install on my kids truck.

Don't mind the missing driving light. I'm rebuilding the bracket for it.