Fog Light Wiring

[jh.]

Yesterday I removed the stock bumper with aftermarket PIAA fog lights in anticipation of installing my new winch bumper. I also untaped the rats nest of wires that were hiding behind the grill - whoever the PO used to install these fog lights did an interesting job to say the least.

THE GOOD: The stock fog light switch on the dash works and I want to keep it that way.

THE BAD: Look at this mess:


What appears to be the stock fog light harnesses are unused, and I assume disconnected somewhere between here and the switch:


I want to save the existing harness to solder the new Hella fog lights into:


It also has a fuse going directly to the positive battery terminal:


And there are three wires going back into the Disco - positive and negative leads to the battery and one going into the drivers side...presumably to the switch?


BUT...now what do I do with this mess? Is any of this needed or can I just simplify and go with the three wires going back into the Disco, knowing the positive is fused and wanting to keep using the stock switch? This extra fuse with extra wires (red one to nowhere already) is what confuses me.


THANKS!

 

[fishEH]

Cut it out, start fresh.

 

[jh.]

Would love to...but how do I make sure the stock switch still works?

 

[SilverBullet]

The relay allows the fog lights to be on with low beams and off with high beams. A stock light does that too. Don't remove that, just use it.

If you get lost, check out ARB light wiring online, they to this. Its good to do for drivi g lights with high beams too.

 

[Ray_G]

Check out Dweb...it's many things, substantive tech is one of good aspects.
Here's three different wiring diagrams:
http://www.discoweb.org/tech.htm

The one on the bottom shows you the pin out for using the factory switches, using a relay.
r-
Ray

 

[fishEH]

Pull it all and scrap it. Why woukdn't you want to use your Hi beams AND your aux lighting?? Run new wires to the switch and use a relay. Make it always hot or so it's tied to the ignition.

 

[Antichrist]

Pull it all and scrap it. Why woukdn't you want to use your Hi beams AND your aux lighting??

Because that's not the correct way to wire fog lights. Fog lights should only be used with low beams (or alone in really bad conditions if you're willing to risk a ticket). Using them with high beams, presumably in clear weather, gives too much foreground light so you can't see as well where you really need to.
Driving lights are for use with high beams.

 

[fishEH]

Because that's not the correct way to wire fog lights. Fog lights should only be used with low beams (or alone in really bad conditions if you're willing to risk a ticket). Using them with high beams, presumably in clear weather, gives too much foreground light so you can't see as well where you really need to.
Driving lights are for use with high beams.

That's great and all but....
A) We're dealing with aftermarket lights that may or may not be an actual Fog beam.
B) I don't need some car telling me when I can/can't use my lights.
C) It's not incorrect, just different from the way the switch was wired from LR.

 

[Antichrist]

A - He stated they are fog lights. I can only go by what the OP said.
B - It's not the car telling you when to use them, it's how you wire them that determines it.
C - On with high beams is incorrect for fog lights, you can't see as well. Too much foreground light at speeds where you need high beams isn't as safe. Saying it's "just different" is like saying running stock tires at 20psi at highway speeds isn't incorrect, just different.

 

[jh.]

I decided to keep the existing wiring but I cleaned it up a little so it's not as obvious through the grill. I will be using them as fog/snow lights with PIAA yellow lamps. Bright lights don't do much in a big dump...