Light Upgrade - High Beam vs. Fog Lights

[impalator]

Hi everybody,

Although its been super foggy in the Vancouver area for days now, I have this plan in the back of my head to actually replace the fog-lights that are mounted on the front bumper assembly with some "kick ass heavy duty super bright off-road long distance high beam searchlights..." (something like a million candlepower kinda-thing)....

As an alternative I would then mount low profile (i.e as flat as possible) fog lights just onto the lower bar of the front bumper... (the bar that goes across in front of the radiator air intake... there are actually mounts welded on the backside of the bar... I copied "imaginary" lights onto the jpg posted below)

Here are my questions:

Has anybody done such a change on their Van? ... and if yes....

Are there some good long range lamps that you recommend / or a place where to get them? Some place with maybe a bit more selection than Canadian Tire?

Is there a maximum wattage that I have to consider for such lights (normal headlights and highbeams are around 50 - 60 Watts - but some aftermarket bulbs claim to have 80 / 100 Watts...)

Would I run the risk of frying something up if I were to go 100 Watt for the auxiliary lights? Especially since they are controlled by a separate switch.

PS: Does somebody know if it would be "legal" to run the position/marker lights as DRL-lights?

I put LED bulbs into my marker lights - they are WAAAYYY brighter than the original 5 Watts and have only a fraction of the draw on the batteries....

Thanks for any feedback or suggestions,

Cheers, Chris

[jessef]

to actually replace the fog-lights that are mounted on the front bumper assembly with some "kick ass heavy duty super bright off-road long distance high beam searchlights..." (something like a million candlepower kinda-thing)....

Has anybody done such a change on their Van? ... and if yes....

http://www.delica.ca/forum/100-hid-euro ... -4341.html

They consume 33 watts at their peak and put out 4-5 times the candle light output that a 100W spotlight does.

Is there a maximum wattage that I have to consider for such lights (normal headlights and highbeams are around 50 - 60 Watts - but some aftermarket bulbs claim to have 80 / 100 Watts...)

Would I run the risk of frying something up if I were to go 100 Watt for the auxiliary lights? Especially since they are controlled by a separate switch.

Yes. 55W is that max I would run bulbs/lights on the stock Delica wiring. That includes replacement fog lights.

If you do run a higher wattage, than make it it's own circuit (separate wiring/switch from the main Delica wiring harness)

PS: Does somebody know if it would be "legal" to run the position/marker lights as DRL-lights?

I put LED bulbs into my marker lights - they are WAAAYYY brighter than the original 5 Watts and have only a fraction of the draw on the batteries....]

Not legal to use the marker lights as day time running lights.

[Erebus]

I've replaced my foglights with Hellas mounted low. See my previous post on the subject here

There was also another thread on the subject: http://www.delica.ca/forum/fog-aux-ligh ... -3792.html

[FalcoColumbarius]

"daytime running lamp" means a lamp used to improve the visibility of a vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from the front in daylight;

Daytime running lamps 4.08 A motor vehicle may be equipped with daytime running lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of not less than 30 cm and not more than 2.11 m, that comply with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada). [en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Fog lamps 4.11 (1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 fog lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle below the headlamps, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light. (2) Each fog lamp must be (a) mounted not more than 30 cm below the headlamps, and (b) adjusted and aimed so that, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, the centre of the beam is at least 10 cm below the height of the fog lamp. (3) The fog lamp wiring and switch must permit simultaneous operation of the parking lamps, tail lamps, licence plate lamp and, if required, clearance lamps. (4) The operator of a vehicle may use fog lamps instead of headlamps when atmospheric conditions make the use of headlamps disadvantageous. [en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/freeside/-- M --/Motor Vehicle Act RSBC 1996 c. 318/05_Regulations/27_26_58 Motor Vehicle Act Regulations/26_58_01.xml

P.S.:
Hours prescribed for lighted lamps 4.01 A person who drives or operates a vehicle on a highway must illuminate the lamps required by this Division (a) from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, and (b) at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, objects on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 m. [en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Falco.

[Golf Cart]

Jesse,

Who in town stocks Optilux. Not really interested in the ones on CraigsHotList

[jessef]

I got mine through Wakefield Sperling (Auto Parts) in Langley