Re-wiring halo/fogs and headlight/DTRLs

jumbosrule

jumbosrule

Fully FX Invested
Premium
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
Car
2003 FX35T
Name
Brad
I recently installed the fog/halos (OEM for a Nissan Altima, I think) and the color temperatures of the Halos and the projectors inside the fogs don't match each other. This doesn't really bother me because my plan was to use the halos and projectors at different times. They won't ever be on at the same time.

The fog Halo color temp matches the OEM headlight projectors. And the fog projector matches the OEM DTRLs. So the best way to go has got to be to link the matching color temps together DTRL/fog projectors and the headlights/fog halos. Right now they are wired the opposite.

I assume the projector bulb draws more current than the LED Halos do. Right now, I'm spliced off the DTRL wire for Halo power. If I swap the fog halo/projector power lines to get the matching color temps to come on at the same time, then the fog projector bulb will be spliced off the DTRLs.

QUESTION: Will brightness suffer from either the fog projector or the DTRL because I'm increasing the load on the circuit (adding the fog projector to the existing DTRL circuit)? I don't want to dim either the fog projector or the DTRLs.
 
if you are worried about the load, then install a relay for the projectors. You should do this anyways since the original fuse may be rated for the DTRLs or whatever.

*brightness should suffer, unless you were bumping some heavy bass:wink: then it would flicker
 
theMerchant said:
if you are worried about the load, then install a relay for the projectors. You should do this anyways since the original fuse may be rated for the DTRLs or whatever.

*brightness should suffer, unless you were bumping some heavy bass:wink: then it would flicker
Click to expand...

I've looked up the schematics from the service manual and the DTRL fuse is 10A. The fog circuit is 15A, but I have changed the type of light and don't know what the new load will be.

If anybody has experience with installing new relays or independent light circuits, please PM me - I'll do the write up after the work is done...
 
here is a diagram, you dont have to use a indicator light...

foglite.jpg


---------- Post added at 01:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

heres a good article

http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/lightforce/index.html
 
I understand the diagram. If I run an independent circuit to the fogs, then I'll need to find an open fuse location that provides power (IGN/BAT).

Do I install and use a new relay or just use an existing relay?
 
new Bosch type relay and new wires to and from relay. if you run it this way, you can have independent control of your fogs w/o a KP controller. try to install the relay in a dry location.
 
This would give me independent control of the fog projectors, but the halos would still be wired to the OEM fog circuit. Which is fine, but really I wanted to have both the fog halos and fog projectors tied to the one fog switch. That way when the fog switch is on and I:

Turn on OEM DTRLs + new fog projectors come on at the same time.

Turn on OEM headlights + new fog halos come on at the same time. (DTRLs and fog projectors turn off when headlights/halos come on).

After doing a little relay research, it looks like I need to replace my current fog relay with a new one that accepts two triggers and has two outputs. I will have to run power to the fog projectors. Halos will use the existing OEM circuit.

The two triggers should come from the headlight trigger (jumper to the new relay) and fog trigger (already there). So I just need to buy the new fog relay, identify the headlight relay and splice the trigger wire into the new fog relay. Then run power to the fog projectors. Should work - unless anybody sees a flaw with my plans...
 
theMerchant said:
here is a diagram, you dont have to use a indicator light...

foglite.jpg


---------- Post added at 01:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

heres a good article

http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/lightforce/index.html
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I have done and it works... the only thing I did is deleted the independent switch and connected the fog to the DTRL...

This way when I turn on the DTRL the fogs will be on...

Looks sick on the road..
 
I want mine like yours - except my fogs have both projectors and Halos that I don't want on at the same time because they are different colors. I could hook the projectors into the DTRL like you did, but then need to hook the halos into the headlights the same way.
 
DTRL/fog wiring

I swapped out the power lines between the fog halos and fog projectors, with no impact to the brightness of each. The fog projectors are spliced into the DTRLs, so they come on at the same time. When the headlights come on, I want the DTRLs off - which is where I am falling short here. I can turn on and off the fog halos with the fog OEM switch, but the DTRLs/fog projectors are always on when the headlights are on. Looks like I need to replace the DTRL relay with one that goes off when the headlights come on.

I also changed the DTRL fuse to a 15A fuse to protect the new projector on the same circuit. Found these fuses that actually glow when they blow. No more going to the maintenace manual to locate a particular fuse for a particular circuit. If it's blown, I'll see it. Pretty cool. For about $20, I think you can replace most of your OEM fuses with these little guys. New to me - but back to topic.

I'm being a bit of a perfectionist on this because I went with the inexpensive fog/halo replacements. What I had envisioned originally was DTRLs and fogs on all the time - until headlights and fog halos are switched on. This combination gives me matching color temperatures - I am using an OEM FX headlight assy and a OEM Nissan Altima fog/halo assy. If you are decent with tools, it doesn't take any real skill or fabrication. Just dissasembly and reassembly. You only need to make one splice from each DTRL down to the fogs, and then run a ground to the fogs. So this is a super-cheap mod that's pretty easy to do, and definitely does not look OEM. I'd say the whole thing cost less than $75.

I'll take some photos of the wiring and the lights for the thread.

The discussion in the thread above about relays took place because I am/was worried about the brightness of the two loads on the same circuit. I started with a simple splice, then thought I might need an independent circuit. I've come full circle and I'm back to the original splice. The brightness does not look affected. Actually cutting and splicing was easy - access wasn't too bad, once the fog lights are installed. Installing the new fogs required taking off the bumper, which I did for the first time for this. That was tough to do because I just figured it out as I went along. But I'm excited about getting to the finished mod.
 
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