Thread: How NOT to melt your fog lights

Hey all! I just got a pair of smoke headlights and I know how much it cuts down on the light output. On my 300zx i upgraded the fog lights from 55w to 100w without any problems. From what I've been reading, I hear that an upgrade to 55w doesnt create any issues. Has anyone tried the 100w bulbs? Rewiring isn't an issue, I'm just worried about melting the housing and/or the front bumper. Thanks in advance!

I run 100w H3's in clear Hella Optilux 1300 glass housings that were about $35 (basically same thing you can get on some store shelves, just throw away the 55w bulbs).

It's a must to do relay power to these lights, but definitely worth it. I personally did it for "deer finding" a 1/4mi. down the road, so the deer last until morning for us hunters.

We've installed them on 2 cars with HID's (roommate's 4300k & my 5000k), and you'll crap yourself when you click them on "over top of the HID beams".

I pulled my HID's a while back, since they were OK, but too finicky even with 10ga relay power. The spray wasn't something I liked either, but overall it wasn't something I wanted to 100% remove. They may go back in, but I am leaning towards projectors with strong halogens in the distant future.

If there's such a thing as "too bright," these might fit the profile, though. I run them in the daytime just like OEM ones with DRL disabled, since it doesn't affect oncoming unless they're directly ahead (turning, parkinglot...). At night, the difference between regular headlights and hibeams is minimal, but the 100w fogs come on with either (SCACGP jumper) and light up everything.

- Dave

That's exactly what I did on my Z. I bought a pair of $15 fog lights from harbor frieght and threw in some 100w bulbs as soon as the original bulbs went out. Man what a difference! Only problem is it cracked the glass on the el cheapo's in the winter. Thanks for the info!

Does anyone know where to get 55w 898 fog light bulbs?

If not, I'll be soldering some butt connectors on the original base and putting a higher wattage bulb in it

Originally Posted by Blown97

Auto Zone, in the ricer aisle.

I was looking at these too, But was wondering if they were really brighter, how much heat do they produce, and is our system able to handle the power load of a 55w increase from the stock 27w.

SWEET!!! Thanks Blown! I'm sure they're brighter but by how much I do not know. Hopefully it says how many lumens it puts out on the back of the aftermarket bulb package.
I'm not too worried about blowing anything up or melting anything with the 55w bulbs. Let's assume that the voltage of the car is 13.8. Here's the math:

Stock
27w / 13.8v = 1.956521739130435 amps per bulb

Aftermarket
55w / 13.8v = 3.985507246376812 amps per bulb

So with stock bulbs we are drawing roughly 4 amps. With 55w bulbs we are drawing roughly 8 amps total. I would assume that there is a 10 amp fuse. If the wiring wasnt able to handle 10 amps, then the fuse could be useless in the event of an overloaded circuit.

I went from the stock 880/27watt bulb, to a 889/37watt bulb, an it melted my plastic fog light housing. It didn't destroy the housing, just melted it enough, that the fog light bulb was loose in the housing, an no longer aimed even close to correctly. FWIW. So, BlazerTechs, waiting to go in.

Not recommended to put upgraded lights on the stock wiring (the basic bulbs burn out all the time as it is, due to the crap setup)... BnB has a simple diagram to help you do the inexpensive upgrading in a matter of about 1hr: Fog Lamp Wiring Upgrade

As long as the upgraded power wires (positive thru relay & ground to bulb) are thick enough, at least 12ga, you'll be able to run 55 or 100... 130 may be OK as well, but I'll probably swap my 12ga out for 8-10 and try going up from my 100's for kicks if one burns out.

- Dave

They melted with only a 10w upgrade? man that blows... so much for that idea

I started searching for new foglights today. I found that this guy has 100w factory replacement bulbs if anyone wants to give this experiment a try eBay My World - xenonevil

UR LOSEN, made the definitive statement...."as everyone just upgrades to the HID kits" No bulb yu put in there, is going to be better than an HID kit.

And I've said that I'm probably the only one posting here who's had experience with both... and were installed at the same time on 2 separate GP's. Believe me, 100w fogs are no joke. Both cars I'm talking about, use HID's for regular beams, and the 100w fogs as "high's", if that says anything for you. ;-) (both have upgraded wiring for each harness)

- Dave