What is the peculiarity of LED fog lights, and can they be made at home? A guide to installing and connecting fog lights in a garage. What to make fog lights from.

Due to the fact that (Ptf) foglights are located near the ground, stones from the road often break the fragile glass of the headlights. Apart from this, almost everyone is familiar with the quality of Russian Foglights, which after a while, due to water ingress, become like an aquarium. Let's try to protect the PTF from gravel and water.

How to protect fog lights on your own:

Headlight protection against stones
Headlight water protection
Protection Fog lights from stones

1st method - protecting the Fog with an armored film. A popular method of protecting headlights, bodywork and bumpers.

Advantages - the film on the headlight is not noticeable, and the disadvantages are the cost and protection only from small pebbles.

The second method is to protect the foglight with transparent plastic or plexiglass.

In the first case, we use PET (which is used for the production of removable tinting).

The technology is common: a Foglight stencil is cut out of paper, and then PET is cut out on it.

Now we need to figure out how to fix the acquired templates.

Advantages - serious protection of foglights from stones, and disadvantages - due to a poor fit to the headlight, dirt can collect between the film and the headlight, or even worse, the headlights will be distorted.

In the case of plexiglass, which can be taken from the Gazelle headlights, the situation is similar.

According to the cardboard template of the Foglight, we cut out the plexiglass with a hacksaw, beforehand it is possible to leave the antennae for fastening. If you need to slightly change the shape of the sheet, then this can be done using a technical hair dryer.

It remains to fix the tape on the antennae, and preferably on small screws, our protection in front of the foglights.

All advantages and disadvantages are similar with PET.

3rd method - protecting the fog with an iron mesh.

You can use any grid, even the one used on top of the state. numbers.

It is possible to fix the grid on a strip of brass or tin, which must take the form of a fog lamp outline.

We impose a grid on the base and fix the edges with solder or glue. We cut off the excess mesh and process the edges.

You can fix it by any convenient method, but with the possibility of quick removal, so that when washing the headlight, the mesh can simply be removed.

Advantages - affordable and excellent headlight protection, in which the headlights are not distorted. Cons - look like an amateur.

Fog protection against water

The weak point of all Auto VAZ 2110 foglights is the rubber cover at the back. At some point, it shifts and water gets into the headlight. Because of the water, the fog lights become unusable and you have to repair them or take new ones.

Measures to protect fog lights from water come down to two points:

Processing edges and joints Foglights with sealant.

Make visors to prevent water from entering foglights

On the first point, I think everything is clear, and the 2nd is more detailed:

You will need 2 tin cans with a capacity of 1 liter. It is only necessary to pay attention to the fact that on the one hand it is necessary to bend so that the piece of iron does not climb out of the fog.

Now water will not get into the PTF!

Fog LEDs are an excellent solution for those who are used to off-road driving. Competent replacement of regular lighting will help to significantly expand its functionality, improve basic qualities. The headlights will not only become more practical, but they will also look noticeably better. The main attention should be paid to the choice of the LED, since the design and capabilities of the new fog lamp will depend on its characteristics.

What should be considered?

Installing LEDs in fogs is not a very difficult task, but you should consider all the details in advance in order to avoid problems with operation in the future.

Characteristics of the LED. The color temperature of the devices, their power and flow properties must comply with the standards established for fog lamps. Ideally, you need to find the optimal solution so that the car stands out on the road, but the lights do not interfere with oncoming cars.
Cooling. To maintain the required temperature, you can use not only radiators of various designs, but also heat pipes (used in laptops). In this case, the size of the cooling system should not exceed the dimensions of the headlight itself.
Powering the LEDs. Using drivers will help control the current and voltage indicators.

You can select not only ready-made LEDs with an appropriate base, but also assemble fog lights yourself.

A set of tools and a sequence of actions

Not only the possibilities, but also the design of the new headlights largely depends on which LEDs have been chosen for mounting. It hardly makes sense to discuss circuitry, it can differ significantly in each specific case. You can only approximately draw up an algorithm according to which you have to assemble fog lights with your own hands.

Would need:

regular headlights;
soldering iron, sandpaper;
paint, glue, epoxy or small self-tapping screws;
LEDs and wires.

The idea is to strip the contents of the old headlights by sizing them to fit specific LEDs. Next, assemble the cooling system and, if necessary, the driver. You can try to make radiators yourself from sheets or pieces of metal of a small thickness of 2-5 mm. After that, the LEDs themselves are fixed, connected by wires to the rest of the components of the circuit.

If you choose the right LEDs, fog lights can also be used as daylight. Manufacturers provide many ready-made options, but it can be quite difficult to find effective lamps at an affordable price, which significantly increases the popularity of do-it-yourself light tuning.

Let's say you have installed fog lights and you need to deal with the connection. I hope we can help with this, there is nothing complicated in this situation.

First of all, you need:

minimal knowledge in electrical engineering (find + 12v and ground);
tool - knife, wire cutters, pliers, terminal block;
consumables: blue iso-tape, heat shrink of a suitable diameter, plastic clamps, car corrugation, mass and connecting terminals.

Select the appropriate basic materials:

wire 2-wire 1.5 mm2 - approx. 6m;
switching relay with a connector (ordinary light relay with VAZ 2108) -1 pc;
remote fuse 30A -1 pc;
power button (to choose from by design, preferably with backlight);
connectors for fog lamps (if not) - 2 pcs.

Now that everything is ready, we assemble such a scheme
fig 1.

Assembly order

The first step is to make and connect the connectors to the foglights, screw the ground wire (brown in the diagram) through the terminal to the body. Lead the positive (blue in the diagram) to the battery area (it will be connected to the relay, terminal 30).
We fix the relay in a suitable place and connect the wires. Red (87) to the battery through the fuse (you can use a relay with a built-in fuse). with a nominal value of 30 A. Cherny (86) to the body through the terminal (possible to the minus of the battery). We lead the control wire (green) from terminal 85 into the passenger compartment (drilling the motor shield is allowed). Pairs of terminals 85-86 and 87-30 are interchangeable.
We install the button in any convenient place, when connecting, we follow some rules.

We choose the possibility of turning on the foglights with our own hands:

autonomous (turning on regardless of anything, but there is a chance to completely discharge the battery by accidentally forgetting to turn off the fogs) connect to the dimensions or constant + ACC.
use only when the ignition is on (there is no way to use the backlight, for example, from an alarm), take a plus from the ignition switch or look for IGN1, or better IGN2 according to the circuit, device or control light. Everything, we check the performance.

Road safety largely depends on the quality of lighting. One of the elements of external lighting is, but they may not be included in the basic equipment of the car. The article gives advice on how to properly install fog lights, the requirements for installation, and provides methods and connection diagrams.

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Requirements for installing foglights

The purpose of foglights is to illuminate the roadway in conditions of poor visibility: during fog or precipitation. Head light during fog is reflected from water droplets, forming a white wall in front, which makes it impossible for the car to move further. If the fog lights are correctly adjusted, then the light from them will be pressed against the canvas, and the road in front of the car will be illuminated at a distance of 10-12 meters. The driver has the right to decide whether to turn on additional lighting or not.

Despite the fact that PTFs are optional lighting equipment, when installing them, you must comply with certain requirements and know how to connect foglights. In case of violation of accepted standards, problems may arise during the inspection or an administrative penalty may be imposed.

When installing fog lights, the following rules must be observed:

there must be a distance of at least 25 cm from the roadway to the headlights;
PTF should be located symmetrically at a distance not exceeding 40 cm from the side plane of the machine (along the outer edge of the marker lights);
fog lights can only be turned on together with the dimensions;
if xenon is used in the headlights, then they must be marked “D” and an automatic corrector is installed.

Tools and materials

Before purchasing PTF, the motorist must decide on the place of their installation. On some cars there are special plugs in the bumper for fog lights. In this case, the size and shape of the headlights must be selected according to the size of the holes. If PTFs are mounted at the level of standard optics or on the roof, then the shape and dimensions do not matter. It is important that the kit includes reliable fasteners.

When choosing a PTF, you should decide on the type of lamps. Xenon can only be installed in specially designed headlights.

When choosing, you should pay attention to the following factors:

production material - resistant thermoplastic;
the body must be collapsible and sealed;
it is better to choose an aerodynamic shape, which reduces noise when driving.

When using polycarbonate as glass, it is better to cover the glass with a protective film, then they will remain transparent for a long time.

For self-installation, you need to purchase not only headlights, but also prepare other materials:

wires;
terminals for connecting electrical wires;
PTF switch in the form of a button or knob;
fuse with a rating of 20-30 A;
4-pin relay.

In addition, to perform the work you will need a standard set of tools. To protect the onboard network, the connection is made through a relay (the author of the video is PRO.Garage).

Ways to connect fog lights

PTF can be connected in several ways. The easiest, if the machine from the factory provides for the connection of tumanok, that is, the electrical circuit consists of all the necessary components: connectors, a switch, connecting wires, a fuse, a relay.

Installation, in this case, consists in mounting the headlights and connecting them to the mains. This method can be used when the machine is fully equipped, if you need to replace the installed fog lights or to improve the lighting system.

When buying a PTF kit, you need to make sure that the mounting parameters and connectors match the factory ones.

If there is no foglight connection in the basic configuration of the car, you will have to lay the wiring yourself. To do this, you need to purchase the necessary components: a set of wires, a relay, a switch, etc. You can purchase a ready-made kit for mounting fog lights. Know how fog lights turn on (video by Morgan One).

Some drivers doubt whether fog lights can be connected to the dimensions. This cannot be done, since in the side lights the switch and wiring are not designed for the current consumed by the headlights.

Having bought a universal foglight connection kit, you can connect foglights with your own hands according to the following algorithm:

Wiring must begin with the dismantling of the dashboard and connecting the relay.
First you need to find the wire going to the instrument lighting. Following these wires, you can find a block in which there is a free connector to connect the fog lamp relay to it.
The second step is to connect the switch. If there is a free button on the dashboard, we connect the headlights to it. If the button is free, then you need to install a new one.
The next step is to connect the relay to the battery. The wire from the battery must be connected to the 87 contact of the relay. It is more convenient to pass the wire under the pedals.
It is important to include a fuse in the electrical circuit during installation. This will protect the lamps from burnout and save from a fire in case of a short circuit. The fuse rating is calculated based on the power of the headlights. If you take bulbs of 60 W, then the current for powering the headlights will be: 2 * 60 W / 12 V = 10 A. The fuse must be selected with a large rating. In this case, a 15 A fuse must be used.
Now we mount the PTF in the bumper. Before you put the foglights, you need to mark the places for the headlights according to the requirements. Installation of PTF is better on the removed bumper. After installation, the headlights must be securely fixed using the fasteners that come with the mounting kit.
The negative wire must be shorted to ground (car body), the positive wire is connected to the 30th relay contact.
At the final stage, the relay is installed on the seat, fixed. The instrument panel returns to its original place.

Photo gallery

Tumanok wiring diagram

The second contacts must be connected to the positive terminal of the battery. They also need to be connected together and the wire connected to pin 87 on the relay.

Then the relay contacts must be connected in the following order:

30 is connected through a fuse to the positive terminal of the battery;
86 either to the mass of the car, or to the negative terminal of the battery;
85 is connected to the battery plus through a switch and a PTF fuse, which is included in the circuit with 30 pins.

The button for turning on the fog lights is mined in a place convenient for the driver on the instrument panel. The relay is placed in the mounting block, where you can find a free connector for fog lights. You can use one of the fuses installed in the block.

At the heart of another scheme, the previous version is used, only the positive wire is connected not to the battery, but through the ignition switch. In this case, the fog lamp button is not connected to the battery through a fuse, but to any power wire that has voltage when the ignition is on. Since, according to this scheme, you can turn on the fog lights only after turning on the ignition, you don’t have to worry about leaving them on when the engine is not running. To comply with the connection rules for the current legislation, connect the PTF switch-on button to the machine's external lighting switch.

Conclusion

Fog lights can ensure the safe movement of the car in bad weather. On modern machines, they are installed at the factory. If fog lights are not installed on the car, then knowing how to install and connect them, you can perform the installation according to the PTF connection scheme yourself. The installation must be carried out according to the requirements, so that there are no problems during the technical inspection, and also to avoid problems on the road with traffic inspectors.

It is important to remember that before you turn on the fog lights, you need to turn on the dimensions.

The main purpose of fog lamps is to provide high-quality illumination of the road in bad weather. The modern market offers consumers a large selection of different PTFs; recently, our compatriots are increasingly attracted to LED fog lights. You can learn more about this optics from this article.

Criteria that determine the operation of LED fog lights

Why lensed fog lights with or without angel eyes illuminate the road well:

The luminous flux formed by the optics is directed upwards and forwards, as well as to the sides. If you look at the lighting stream from the side, it looks a bit like a broom - it is narrower at the top, and expands towards the bottom. Thanks to this, fog lights allow you to illuminate the required space directly above the road, that is, the place where there is practically no fog.
The effective operation of fog lights for a car also depends on the correct installation of optics. In accordance with the current traffic rules, it is necessary to mount fogs no higher and no lower than 25 cm from the road. In any case, fog lights should not be installed above the head optics.
The light itself emitted by anti-fog optics has a longer wavelength, in particular, if we compare the yellow lighting flux with the white-blue that has been so fashionable lately.

Functionality of fog optics with LEDs

Since fog optics have undeniable advantages and enable motorists to see the road in difficult weather conditions, it must be installed on every car. But in fact, most of our compatriots put fogs with DRLs only when tuning a car. When installing diode lamps in PTF, it should be borne in mind that the white lighting flux is actually not as efficient and effective.

Selection Options

What to look for when buying fog lights:

Pay attention to the dimensions and body of the lights, their installation should not spoil the appearance of the vehicle. If you want to install angel eyes fogs, then make sure they look good after installation. As practice shows, large linded fogs look great on foreign-made SUVs, but they are not always suitable for Niva.
Also consider the fact that the hinged or vertical mounting method will depend on the location of the lamps, as well as the convenience of connection.
You should also pay attention to the power parameters - the optics can be designed for the on-board network at 12 or 24 volts. At first glance, it may seem that the difference is insignificant, but if you do not take this into account, this can lead to a rapid battery drain.
The body of the tumanok should be as tight as possible, gaps between it and the glass are not allowed. Also make sure that the fogs are equipped with glass and not plastic - plastic is more prone to damage.

LED lamps for PTF

If it is necessary to put diodes in the PTF, you need to determine the number of diode elements that will be used in the headlights. Their number can be different, depending on the model - from 5 to 30 pieces. Recently, SMD LEDs have been popular among our compatriots, but such devices can have different sizes. The disadvantage of such optics is that when buying it is difficult to assess its real power.

On average, the dimensions of diode elements are 19-50 mm, most of the devices sold on the domestic market are manufactured by Chinese companies. Accordingly, many light bulbs have a similar design and dimensions. Also keep in mind that most Chinese manufacturers indicate deliberately inflated specifications.

To date, one of the most popular options are LED light bulbs, the power of which is 7 watts, which is about 700 lumens of brightness. In accordance with consumer reviews, such light sources, although they shine brightly, do not properly illuminate the road. This is because for high-quality lighting, the brightness value should vary around 1000 lumens, this parameter should be taken into account when buying. But you also don’t need to buy very powerful lamps, since, as a rule, they get very hot, which contributes to their accelerated wear.

Lamps for DRL

The use of daytime running lights instead of fogs is not relevant, since for high-quality lighting, the power of the diodes should be about 1000 lumens. In addition, the illumination angle in daytime running lights will be about 30 degrees, while in fogs this figure is 45 degrees. The power of light sources for daytime running lights must correspond to the nominal value indicated on the headlights or in the operating instructions for the car.

Correct LEDs

If you want to install high-quality LED headlights and not face problems in their work, then you need to consider certain parameters. Any diode lamp must be equipped with a cooling radiator, this will prevent its possible overheating. Remember that usually regular places for installing light bulbs are not designed for installing diode components with cooling, respectively, you will have to “break” your head during installation.

If you want to save on installation, you can buy Chinese-made devices, but the quality in this case will be a big question. In practice, in the operation of Chinese LEDs, the problem often arises of driver burnout, the appearance of defects on the case during long-term operation. In addition, the build quality in such lamps is usually low. In such designs, both the built-in driver and the additional one can be used, but if it fails, then it will not be possible to replace it, since such drivers are not commercially available. Therefore, we recommend giving preference to more well-known manufacturers that produce quality products so that you do not run into problems in the near future (video by Alex Kenn).

Proper LED fogs

An easier option is to buy ready-made fog lights and install them in existing regular places. Then you do not have to remove the existing headlights and rack your brains to install diode bulbs in them. It is best that such headlights are made in a monolithic case, and inside the case there is a diode cooling system. For greater reliability, the devices can be supplemented with a control module, which will ensure the correct connection and further operation of the PTF.

How to make with your own hands?

In order not to spend money on buying ready-made diode foglights, you can install diodes in existing PTFs with your own hands. Below is a detailed instruction for the manufacture of LED fog lights, read it before you begin the task.

Tools and materials

In order to avoid mistakes and do everything right, first of all, you need to prepare all the tools and materials.

You will need the following:

fog lights, you will need new fogs or already installed ones;
soldering iron with rosin and tin;
small self-tapping screws for fixing optics;
LED bulbs or tape with wires (video author - Alexander Pletnev).

Stages

Check out the step-by-step instructions for making LED PTFs:

First, turn off the ignition, and then open the hood and disconnect the battery power, this will de-energize the on-board network.
Next, you need to remove the fog lights from the bumper, for this you need to turn off the power from them and dismantle the case. Disassemble the headlight housing, then remove any debris that has accumulated inside the headlight. In the event that you notice that traces of rust have appeared inside the case, you will need to treat the surface with fine-grained sandpaper. If you bought new PTFs, then you don’t need to remove anything. If necessary, the dimensions of the lamps should be selected for the purchased diode lighting sources.
After that, you will need to independently assemble a cooling system for optics, and if necessary, you will additionally need to install a driver. Separately, it must be said about cooling radiators - you can make them yourself, to complete this task you will need pieces of steel 2-5 mm thick. Alternatively, you can use an old processor heatsink from a personal computer.
When the cooling device is ready, the diode lighting sources themselves should be connected to the lamps, which will be connected to the vehicle's on-board network. Install the diodes so that their glow is as efficient as possible. Separately, it must be said about the connection - the best option would be to connect the lights to the battery and remove the switch to activate the optics in the car interior. The switch itself should be installed on the center console.
Alternatively, you can connect the PTF to the dipped beam headlights, side optics or daytime running lights, but keep in mind that in this case, the fog lights will often work unnecessarily. Accordingly, this can reduce the service life of these headlights as a whole. When connecting directly to the battery, the electrical circuit must be supplemented with a safety device, and it is desirable to install it as close to the battery as possible.