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HID fog lights - super simple install!

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by iamsuperbleeder, Jan 5, 2013.

  1. Jan 5, 2013 at 11:50 AM
    #1
    iamsuperbleeder

    iamsuperbleeder [OP] Licensed Lunatic

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    So about a week and a half ago I put some bixenon HID's in my headlights. And while that install isn't that difficult to begin with, the fog lights are even easier. I've seen several step-by-step tutorials on headlight HID installs with photos, but have yet to find a good one for the fog lights on our trucks.

    So here's one of my own :D


    For starters, I used, yes, an eBay kit. But I was very selective on what I bought and purchased a kit with a ballast that seems to have some good reviews and even a couple demo videos on YouTube. The Luminis G4 ballast. EXTREMELY small digital ballast. Came in a complete kit with the H10 HID bulbs, in my case, 6000k to match the headlights.

    So first off, fog lights before we get started...

    IMG_20130105_125954_zps1b0af9e8_ed7d519ba735469f636b6bff5127ee01b1bdd794.jpg



    The thing that made this install so easy was the discovery of something. I don't know if anyone's every tried this when installing HID's into their fog lights, maybe someone's mentioned if before, or maybe everyone does it and just keeps it a secret :rolleyes: But the power plug for the aftermarket HID ballasts are nearly IDENTICAL to an H10 bulb plug.

    Factory harness and plug on the top with the orange rubber seal, and the HID kit's "adapter" plug for power on the bottom with the green rubber seal:

    IMG_20130105_132817_zps0cc9f6c7_5c0c75802ef9fd1b65618480a1c0e8a8109af8d1.jpg



    The ballast will literally plug right into the factory wiring for the H10 bulb. Even better, the polarity is right, so you don't even need to swap and wires over. It's literally a direct plug-and-play on these trucks, and any vehicle that uses H10 bulbs really (and I'm sure there's others)


    IMG_20130105_132850_zpsec7f4a7d_e64692cd3309c3fff93702ca8df1184b3773c90f.jpg

    IMG_20130105_132856_zpscf7b3717_ebf4197042e8e984557bd914bb78484908c4cd27.jpg




    When you don't have to fool with that silly adapter section of wire that's typically built into the HID H10 bulb, you can just eliminate it completely and clean up a lot of wire clutter.

    IMG_20130105_134814_zps988c6bb0_c39ee6cc76da6dbb86927539f1c80baa0695e267.jpg



    The power adapter wires can simply pull out of that rubber grommet:

    IMG_20130105_134838_zpsb5db65a9_3e4c706a64ff513fee5006cf4a32017b28ec1bd6.jpg



    You're still left with that rubber grommet on the HID's high voltage wires.

    IMG_20130105_134857_zpsb3861c74_578922e20bc985577d03f9463ab74ed6481e32bb.jpg



    But since we're not needing that, just snip it off (being careful not to nick the wires of coarse :rolleyes:)

    IMG_20130105_134940_zps1c4bb872_dc996ac938a927fca2204868a2f5804ce7e9c1fc.jpg



    So now we've reduced that cluttered mess of wires and grommets down to just two wires, and eliminated useless plugs that are just another spot for corrosion and connection issues to take place in.

    IMG_20130105_134950_zpsbc54d3db_0481d983c155cee5a90fe914b6c639f73b95c3d6.jpg




    It also makes things much easier if you remove the fog light housings from the bumper. It's by no means necessary, but for the 15 seconds it takes to just pop them out, it makes things a lot easier, at least in my opinion.

    IMG_20130105_135235_zps3438ceac_65c98b61b5225439824f6c24d3532df6fc077528.jpg




    Before you go popping the fog light back in though, plug everything in and turn on your fog lights just to make sure everything's working.

    IMG_20130105_132930_zps3972aed4_d0d95425737a64fcbd4c47de086594b3f321a1b4.jpg



    Bingo, we have light :cool:

    IMG_20130105_132948_zpsb6247422_0742a9fc9b9bf20634f7bc2f3bae011a00a91e72.jpg




    Then just feed the wires and ballast up through the fog light mounted hole and pop the fog light back in.

    For mounting the ballast, I used some industrial strength velcro and stuck them just underneath the headlights after cleaning off the spot so there will be no "stickage" issues. That's another great thing about these G4 ballast; there just so tiny you can stick them just about anywhere.

    IMG_20130105_133847_zpsdfcb5425_900edd059f56b7db8dc854e8ddfb90133445bbf9.jpg



    There's not a huge wire clutter between the ballast and bulb, so you could probably get away without even putting any zip ties on anything.

    IMG_20130105_133857_zps2e31863d_3ecfacc1c31fc7c0b35176b7c3cad18c282a2bb6.jpg



    I did anyway, lol

    IMG_20130105_133952_zps11dff159_1b6fe3496b0b17df21d5591f151871ba32f91fbf.jpg




    Power up one more time, just to make sure everything functions. And giggle at how goofy it looks with an HID in one side and a halogen bulb in the other :p

    IMG_20130105_134153_zpsd796a673_331c9698c6346f75d7756c0996a198fd8b0cfd0e.jpg

    IMG_20130105_134057_zpsffd20a41_e2f7c3b9e52b0cabac1709ebdd57209782b997fa.jpg




    Then just do the same process on the other side!

    IMG_20130105_140727_zpsd9fec1e1_006c0ad1a4214e75f3693e231afa57de9fb97c50.jpg




    And end up with these useless things left over... Not sure what I'll ever do with them, but I'm sure I'll find some use for them, lol

    IMG_20130105_140845_zpsdeed6a8d_a707758b9bece1983e492effb3b585eea2fb58ba.jpg
     
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    #1
  2. Jan 5, 2013 at 12:10 PM
    #2
    Jon850FL

    Jon850FL is Lurkin'

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    had pretty much the same kind but yellow, kept blowing fuses. so i took them out.
     
  3. Jan 5, 2013 at 12:51 PM
    #3
    Justus

    Justus fucks not given

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    Nabisco the kid
    In ur toolbox
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    stockish
    No need to femove the housing when I tried them (won them free).........absolutely the worst move I've ever made......h10 have no glare shield, and the fogs scattered horribly.

    I used my gf's car as a reference and the glare was insane.....also seen other shielding their eyes.

    Horrible horrible idea, and completely illegal in every single state.

    Use cautiously.......if u can, look into a projector setup for fogs and any other hids.......the halogen designed reflective housing offers no cutoff shield and everyone pays the price....even if u aim them waaaay down, ur killing ur own distance vision because ur pupils are "shielding" ur eyes by constricting.

    Night driving u should avoid most up close lighting when not "crawling".......turn off/way down all in cab lights, etc.
     
  4. Jan 5, 2013 at 3:50 PM
    #4
    outxider

    outxider Never stop exploring. Rest in Paradise Big Bro.

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    A few mods here and there and counting....
    Not another plug and play hids into stock reflective housings install! Ill give you A for effort and taking the time to put up the pictures but that setup is way worse than stock.
     
  5. Jan 5, 2013 at 5:36 PM
    #5
    iamsuperbleeder

    iamsuperbleeder [OP] Licensed Lunatic

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    appreciate all the positive feed back...

    I decided to make this to maybe help some people out, not to start an argument over HID lights in stock housings

    but whatever...
     
  6. Jan 5, 2013 at 7:25 PM
    #6
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    This ^^^^^

    If you guys cant keep it civil, we may have an issue.
     
  7. Jan 6, 2013 at 12:06 AM
    #7
    Justus

    Justus fucks not given

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    Good point....nice writeup, carry on
     
  8. Jan 6, 2013 at 12:21 PM
    #8
    Jon850FL

    Jon850FL is Lurkin'

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    i wasnt negative.
     
  9. Jan 6, 2013 at 7:33 PM
    #9
    iamsuperbleeder

    iamsuperbleeder [OP] Licensed Lunatic

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    You're right, you were not.

    You mentioned you had pretty much the same kind but kept blowing fuses? Not all HID kits are created equal, especially the ballasts. I selected these specifically because of the good reviews I've read about them. They feel VERY solidly built; I'm extremely impressed considering their cost. Will probably buy two more to use with the headlights instead of the cheaper ones that I currently have on them (got those second hand...)

    Consider the stock H10 bulbs, 42w at 12v, they're pulling 3.5 amps each when on. These ballasts are rated to operate at 3.3 amps, there shouldn't be any issues. The only time they go higher is during the ignition phase which lasts all of about 10 seconds and they pull 4.8 amps. Considering the factory fuse is 15 amps, there shouldn't be any blowing fuse problems, unless one of the ballasts are defective and not working within spec or there's a wiring issue somewhere that was overlooked.
     
  10. Jan 6, 2013 at 10:12 PM
    #10
    HighTQCummins

    HighTQCummins Instagram: stormtrooptaco

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    good write up, fogs are simple to do, but none the less, there are just some times when you need some good pics to reference. good thread, clean pictures too. Wish i'd have known fogs were that easy to get out when i had my 07. struggled with those for a while when i was swappin bulbs
     
  11. Jan 24, 2013 at 7:47 AM
    #11
    LoadedTaco

    LoadedTaco Kick A$$ Member

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    What headlights do you have?
     
  12. Jan 28, 2013 at 11:31 PM
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    ornithology

    ornithology Active Member

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    Are those projectors or stock housings? Where on eBay? Considering doing this but with TRS projectors...
     
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  13. Mar 27, 2013 at 8:26 AM
    #13
    sambojee

    sambojee Well-Known Member

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    Nice man! That looks great! this was exactly what i was lookin for, cant wait to do this when it gets warmer!
     
  14. Mar 27, 2013 at 8:41 AM
    #14
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    Thank you! Do you have better links to buy these parts from?
     
  15. Mar 27, 2013 at 6:50 PM
    #15
    iamsuperbleeder

    iamsuperbleeder [OP] Licensed Lunatic

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    they're factory headlights, blacked out bezel, and a 1ft strip of side emitting LED's along the bottom inside the light.


    negative, just stock housing



    just Google or eBay search "Luminis g4 ballast", and the bulbs are just cheapo eBay junk at the moment. About a month ago I started having an issue with the left one not igniting on the first try. happened twice, so I swapped the bulbs, and the problem moved to the right; has done it two more times since. so the cheap bulbs are showing how cheap they really are, lol





    HOWEVER, these came in for my headlights today:

    891617_508124082558111_657435797_o_ffeab3da97acbf665d2628d3ad4bde46c7db99a5.jpg

    now that I'm retrofitting the headlights with TRS projectors, it's got me thinking about putting some Matchbox projectors in the fogs :D

    http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=18725
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2013
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  16. Jul 14, 2016 at 7:28 PM
    #16
    MicahW95

    MicahW95 Member

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    :confused:Quick question, can you post a photo of how exactly you take out the fog light? I'm looking everywhere and can't seem to find anything. Please help!
     

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