Updated: 04/22/2021 15:11:12
Expert: Boris Evgenievich Kononov
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All modern cars are equipped with fog lights. Their task is to provide good illumination of the road in heavy fog or a rainy night. Replacement of light bulbs is required in two cases: if the filament has burned out or the quality of the light flux has deteriorated. Russian auto stores offer a wide range of lamps for fog lights. Our experts will help you make the right choice.
Which socket is used in the fog lamp
PTFs are equipped with specialized moisture and vibration resistant bases. They differ among themselves in power and connectors.
When installing a lamp of a different type, more powerful than that provided by the base standard, you can cause the fuses to blow.
The following bases are more widespread on the market:
- H3 - designed for a power of 55 W;
- H8 - 35 W (H11 type lamps are suitable for it, but they are designed for higher power);
- H11 - 65 W;
- H27 - at 27 W.
All types of bases used in PTF.
Article on the topic: Types and markings of car lamp bases
Halogen
A common type for foglights, which has an affordable price as its main advantage. Such elements ensure acceptable PTF efficiency in foggy conditions, and if configured correctly, they do not become a prerequisite for dazzling oncoming drivers. Among the shortcomings of halogen lighting, one can note a small working resource, and replacing a light bulb in a fog light is not always a common task. In addition, the headlight becomes very hot, which, if it cools suddenly, can cause the glass to crack. If the power of the standard lamps for the driver is insufficient, when replacing the lamps in the fog lights with more massive ones, there is a high risk of the control unit overheating and the headlights automatically turning off.
Types of light bulbs used
There are three types of lamps for fog lights, each with different characteristics. In order to understand whether a particular light bulb is suitable for the PTF, you need to look at the manufacturer’s markings on the body or in the documents. If installed incorrectly, the headlight may produce an incorrect beam of light.
Halogen
These bulbs are the most popular on the market due to their efficiency and ease of installation and replacement. These are exactly what manufacturers install when they equip their car models with PTF. Halogen lamps have a warm light beam that penetrates well through rain and fog. The brightness of their light does not decrease over time.
The main disadvantages of halogen lamps are: sensitivity to vibrations and voltage changes.
For brighter light, some manufacturers add xenon to halogen lamps, which affects the cost.
The service life of halogen lamps is quite short , depending entirely on compliance with operating standards and the number of switches on/off.
Halogen bulbs are marked with the letter “H”. Headlights for them are marked with the letter “B” and are not intended for any other lamps.
Halogen lamps OSRAN fog breaker H8 35W.
Xenon
Gas-discharge or xenon bulbs are the brightest and most expensive. The characteristics of the light spectrum, as well as the service life of such lamps, are better than those of halogen lamps. Xenon lamps are resistant to voltage surges and require much less power than halogen lamps.
The installation of such light bulbs is complicated by the included components: ignition unit, tilt angle corrector and washer. That is why the installation of xenon lamps on cars not equipped for this by the manufacturer is prohibited by law. Another significant disadvantage is the decrease in light brightness over time , which occurs unnoticed by the driver, making it difficult to understand when it is necessary to replace the light bulb.
What kind of light bulbs are best?
As already mentioned, halogen lamps are the most common in “foglights”. These are fairly reliable and well-proven light sources. They are easy to replace if they fail.
Xenon bulbs can pose both installation and legal problems. In turn, xenon gives a special charm to the car and perfectly illuminates the road.
If we look for a compromise between affordability and quality, then LEDs win here. They can be installed without restrictions and are easy to replace. They work for a long time. The only limitation may be the need for a cooling module.
Is it legal to install xenon and LED lamps?
As of October 2022, xenon lamps are allowed to be installed in foglights only if the car’s headlights are intended for their use by the manufacturer - this is indicated in the car’s documents with the letters: “D”, “DC”, “DCR”. You must also always have a certificate of conformity or instructions for the machine with you. Unauthorized installation of xenon is prohibited and is punishable by Russian law with a fine and possible deprivation of rights for a period of one year.
According to the law, it is prohibited to use lamps with a luminous flux of any color other than white, yellow and orange in PTF. In addition to the fact that light of other shades does not penetrate through the fog, it can be blinding.
LED bulbs are blue, prohibited for PTF in the Russian Federation.
LED bulbs are also allowed to be used in foglights, provided the regulations are followed. The headlight must have the required markings and the lamp must comply with the requirements. Headlights marked “B” are not designed to accept LED bulbs.
The law prohibits the use of lamps with a luminous flux of more than 2000 lumens without auto-corrector. This applies to both xenon and LED.
PTF device
The design of the fog lamp emitter is similar to the design of day and night road lighting. The standard PTF has:
- base with lamp socket;
- deflector for reflecting and directing light;
- emitter;
- diffuser
But the distinctive features are that the PTF directs the light flux parallel to the road surface, this provides additional range and does not blind oncoming drivers. Therefore, bulbs for fog lights are installed below the main lighting.
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