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fog lamps instead of low beams

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:29 pm
by patriceboivin
Since the whole point of fog lights is to avoid white glare in snow and fog, I was wondering if it's legal in Canada to wire fog lights in a way that they could be used *instead of* the usual low beam headlamps. Wouldn't that be more secure than having white glare + yellow at the same time?

Does that sound silly? :?

In another thread someone suggests using the lowbeam circuit as the power source for the switch instead of tapping the battery, but it seems to me that means both fog and normal lights would both be on.

I'll try to figure out where to tap the power for the switch, if I want to prevent the fog lights and regular beams (low and high) from being on at the same time.

Because most references I saw for fog lights mentioned H3 bulbs, I originally ordered H3 yellow bulbs for the new PIAA fog lights I received from Japan, but then dismantled them and noticed they actually have white H4 bulbs in them. I ordered two H4 yellow bulbs and will see how much difference there is between the white and yellow bulbs.

Re: fog lamps instead of low beams

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:16 pm
by Big-Bird
Headlamps must be white per Transport Canada which has been adopted universally across Canada. If you have your yellow fog lights on and there is no snow or fog you can get a ticket from police/sheriff/RCMP. Been there and got the ticket to prove it when I had yellow filters over my H4 headlight bulbs. The cop made a point of turning around and pulling me over instantly.

Driving lights can be on at any time as long as they are white (or whatever passes for white these days).

Re: fog lamps instead of low beams

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 6:16 pm
by patriceboivin
I guess these laws are not written with safety in mind. Laws by committee and by lobby group, probably.

This thread talks about running fog lights instead of low beams though:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/wiring-fog-lights-13577.html