Fog Light Install Diode Dynamics
 

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum, just got a FR-S Monogram and I'm loving it.

Did quite a few mods already but I had a technical question (might sound dumb..)

I'm planning to get the Diode Dynamics kit that taps into the headlights and don't need to add a switch. My FR-S has the auto - on at night lights so they'd come up at the same time my headlights come on. I watched the video to install on you tube and it seems pretty simple.

My question number 1 is: mu FR-S came with HIDs and I'm just wondering if it's the same process to tap into the wiring as far as the red and black wiring.

Number 2: would tapping into the wiring cause strain on it as well? Causing it to melt maybe..? I heard that HIDs draw less power so that wouldn't be a problem..?

Last question: if I'd get the kit and also upgrade the fogs to the HID kit would that then be too much to be tapped in the headlight wiring?

I switched my headlights to 6000k so I'm trying to match the fogs.. maybe instead of the HID kit I can choose the LED H11 instead? But not much output..

Thank you in advance!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

The answer to all three of your questions is you should run a relay when adding lights, or anything really for that matter, and not just tap directly into the source.
Better yet would be to run a relay and a fog light switch instead of them being switched on by the headlights because why would you have your fog lights turn on at the same time as your headlights? Fog lights are for when it's foggy out.. *Edit: nevermind, you're going for the ricey blue lights everywhere look.. just add a relay and you won't have anything to worry about. Especially if going with HID otherwise you will be blowing fuses and/or melting wires eventually.

Gotcha. The kit does talk about a relay.. I'll research a bit into that not familiar with it.

The HID kit talks about one too so I'll look into how that works.

To answer the fog light question. . It just looks cooler. :D

snakey

The factory wiring is generally designed for a certain load, and fuses are designed for that load as well. You can put a bigger fuse in to compensate for the higher draw, but now the wiring which was only originally designed for X amps is being pushed harder. Too much and you will melt wires. This is the reason for a relay. (Yes, I am sure you can get away with it for a while if the load isn't significantly higher and I am sure some have even done it.. but it's a new car, and worst case scenario for melting wires is an electrical fire. Why chance it when it's cheap and easy to do it the right way?)

A relay is basically just an electrical switch. Instead of the fog lights being ran off the headlight power, they are ran straight off the battery (like everything is) and use a lead from the headlight power to switch the relay 'on'. The headlights just tell the relay to switch to 'on' - they won't actually supply power to the fog lights.

With HIDs there is another factor, and that is that they draw a good bit more power when they first start up. If there are other things on the circuit trying to draw power as well - they might not ignite.

Google how to wire one up, I'm sure there are thousands of diagrams online.


As for the fog lights looking cooler when on all the time; obviously a personal opinion, but most of the world laughs at people who run their fog lights constantly. And, it can be obnoxious to oncoming traffic. And, lastly, it is illegal in many (if not all?) states to run them when it's not foggy out.. but that is clearly not enforced ever.

Thanks for all the info! Very helpful. The kit has the relay included so I should be fine.

I didn't know about the fog lights being on illegal when not foggy. Wouldn't that defeat the purpose for the Diode Dynamics kit tho? Because they're wired to come on when the headlights come on so unless I lived somewhere where it's always foggy.. you know what I mean. :) it doesn't have a switch for it since it tags along with the headlights.

But thanks for all the info!!

snakey

So I just noticed that the HIDs that I have in my car don't have the usual red and black to be tapped by the fogs.. it's a thicker silver cable behind an encasing like most HIDs... sent an email to diode dynamics to see what they say about how to tap them..

snakey

Any updates?

Awesome! If possible and you have time please post pictures!

OK so here's the picture of it installed! Using garax 6000k for HID, LED white/amber switchbacks for turn signals and the LED H11 HP8 cool white from diode dynamics for the fogs.

Installation was easy and I used the diagram below to figure out what wire to tap. I tapped pin 5 for trigger and pin 8 for ground since pin 6 is hard to reach get the tap piece around it because I didn't wanna cut more of the tape that covers everything.

Other than that, I zip tied everything nice and neat, ran the left fog under the intake and zip tied it to some other cables I saw and got working!

Oh and here's a picture of the plug you tap in. This was before I tapped. You do the red to the red wire on the top left of the picture and the black ground to the far top right of the picture.

snakey

Thanks for this. It saved me today!

So you basically tap the connector coming straight from the car?

Yes.Or you can tap into the sidemarkers so it can come on with you park lights.

Last question so I don't feel like an idiot before I buy these, if one taps the side marker or headlight for signal and what I assume is power, won't those lights dim?