Wiring Suggestions for Fog Lights

[Brutus]

I would like to install fog lights on my H2. I did not get the brush guard or factory lights. Is the truck already pre-wired for fog lights? Any suggestions for the easiest way to wire up a set of lights? IS there a factory harness that I might be able to use? Thanks.

Steve

[Brutus]

I would like to install fog lights on my H2. I did not get the brush guard or factory lights. Is the truck already pre-wired for fog lights? Any suggestions for the easiest way to wire up a set of lights? IS there a factory harness that I might be able to use? Thanks.

Steve

[maybe some day...]

Might be worth mentioning to check with your state motor vehicle agency = don't know if this still true but, here in Nujerzee, it used to be that the law did not distinguish between fog and driving lights and they had to be wired to the low beam headlights such that they could not be used with the high beams. Stupid. I used to wire mine with a jumper that was put in place only for state inspection. The rest of the time they were independent of the headlights.

[TheGoodHummerMan]

maybe some day...

Down in these here parts we have a name for guys like you! Fog Lamp Felons...

Arrest that man! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

How can you sleep at night knowing you are such a devious fellow? I also heard that the Joyzee Secret Police were monitoring this forum to catch people like you. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Ed

Could you perhaps send me a drawing of how that jumper worked? I mean just for scientific reasons...

[maybe some day...]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TheGoodHummerMan:
maybe some day...

Could you perhaps send me a drawing of how that jumper worked? I mean just for scientific reasons...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

First in my own defense let me say that I NEVER kept any of my aux lights on when facing any oncoming traffic... unlike every damn BMW driver in this state... here's one for you - next time you see one of these idiots with his fog lights on in clear weather pull up next to him and ask him with a straight face "so, when do you think this fog is gonna lift?".

The jumper is really two separate wires: one wire goes from the headlight low beam to the relay. With that one connected you are legal. The other wire goes from any ignition controlled 12v to the relay - with that one connected you control the lights any way you want. If you want to get sophisticated a 3 position switch could handle swapping the wire connections for you.

[MAC]

Now, there you go again, http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif Ed you are upset about something or somebody. I didn't know there are people out there upset about cars with 4 lights on, head lights and fog lights. I seen many cars drive around like that, I may have driven like that now and then, never dawn on me I should be upset about that, or if there anything wrong with that, seems harmless since the fog lights always pointed downward, during day time, not a problem either. I am sure there is some law somewhere that says you can't do that, only 2 lights or what. Not enough reason. Kindly educate me.

[TheGoodHummerMan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by maybe some day...:
"First in my own defense..."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Case dismissed! Your title: "Fog Lamp Felon" is now rescinded.

Calling everyone with fog lamps on in non-foggy weather an idiot seems a bit harsh though, doesn't it? Maybe they're just stupid?

Ed

[TheGoodHummerMan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MAC:
"Now, there you go again, http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif Ed you are upset about something or somebody. I didn't know there are people out there upset about cars with 4 lights on, head lights and fog lights. I seen many cars drive around like that, I may have driven like that now and then, never dawn on me I should be upset about that, or if there anything wrong with that, seems harmless since the fog lights always pointed downward, during day time, not a problem either. I am sure there is some law somewhere that says you can't do that, only 2 lights or what. Not enough reason. Kindly educate me."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Mac, I think it is silly that a law states that someone can't have fog lamps on with high beam headlights. If it's foggy, high beams blind you and you will turn them off if you want to see better. You don't need a law to effect that.

Maybe you guys didn't see the big goofy grins following my statement about a felon and arresting people for lighting violations??? Has EVERYONE lost all sense of humor?

I will admit that I don't know what the law is regarding number of lights allowed at one time or even how to find out about the laws? Does anyone know if the laws are national/federal in nature or variable depending upon what state you are in? It is always a good idea to know what the law is, makes obeying the law much easier? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

I'm sure that I am guilty of having fog lamps on during clear weather... Does this mean I am going to start drooling now? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Ed

[maybe some day...]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhilD:
What is annoying is the dummies with rear fogs who drive around with them on, I suspect that many of these are left on by people who don't even know they have rear fogs.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You mean like the drivers of certain German cars who don't have any clue that their light switch has a position for making the left side lights brighter?

[JCJ]

What about getting an (extra) roof-light-bar and mounting them backwards. At least you'll be visible... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Brutus]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhilD:

Mount the lights and run a + and ground from each, terminate the ground on to a good ground. Connect the + wires to the relay, then run the power from the relay direct from the battery, fused of course. Trigger the relay with a switch mounted in the cabin. I take the feed for the switch from SEO ACCY fuse which is not used, but is ignition switched, so when you turn the ignition off, you will also turn the aux lights off.

Behind the front BEC (the main fuse box under the hood) you will find a big rubber seal, about 4" or so across. I simply punctured this seal and ran the wire through it, then sealed it with some black marine silicone. The wire will come out underneath the dash, if you feed plenty through, it is real easy to find.

Connect the wire to the switch, then connect the feed for the switch to a igntion switched circuit such as the SEO ACY fuse.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the direction. Got most of it wired today and all I have left is the switch. A rookie question but how to you connect a wire to the SEO ACY fuse? I have the dash and kickpanels off but don't see how to plug into the fuse. Do I somehow need to get at the back of the panel? That doesn't look straightforward at all. Am I missing something obvious? Thanks Steve

[PARAGON]

Brutus, you can also get a wire splice that allows you to attach to an ignition switched wire. You don't have to cut or do anything to the original wire. It has a blade that cuts into the original wire and attaches your wire going to the switch.

Sometimes doing this is preferred so that you don't have a wire coming out of the front of the fuse panel. This way also takes a little more time because you have to find the right wire and is more of a "cosmetic" solution rather than a "better" solution. You can buy the splice at any auto parts store and it's called something like "inline splice connector."

[Brutus]

Thanks for all the info. Never heard of a fuse tap but it sounds like an easy solution. I would splice into an ignition switched wire except I don't have a wiring diagram to figure out which wire to tap.

[cinci]

PhilD,

I have the factory brush guard lights with the factory wiring and the switch in the overhead console. Is their a way, with out replacing all of the factory wiring, to change the trigger circuit, which is switched, from the always on factory mode to work only with the high beams similar to your set up?

Thanks,
David
Black H2

[TheGoodHummerMan]

Is there a wiring diagram for the Hummer H2?

Sure would be "nice" (a luxury) to be able to just splice into a wire instead of using fuse taps. In my opinion, it sure would make for much nicer ("neater") installations...

Maybe from the shop manual or available on that multi-CD set people advertise on eBay?

Ed

[cinci]

PhilD,

Thank you very much for your response and the diagram, it will be very helpful.

I noticed that you now have your lights triggered by a switch. Is there a way to combine both of these approaches so that I can use my current switch to turn off the lights so that they do not come on with my brights if I so choose.

I realize that this will prevent me from turning them on with out my bright lights being on but that should not be an issue.

Any thoughts that you have would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David
Black H2

[maybe some day...]

Just a quick note regarding wire taps - no, not the things the Feds want to put on your phone - the little connectors sometimes known as "scotch loks".
Be very cautious using these - although many installers use them - they are a quick and dirty means of wiring accessories and can do damage to the wire you splice into - they sometimes leave only a few strands of the wire intact leading to failure down the road. Wiring from a fuse tap is preferable. If you must connect somewhere other than the fuse box then splice and solder the wire properly and cover with heat shrink tubing.

[TheGoodHummerMan]

I've noticed that after using the "preferred" fuse taps, if you later remove the fuse tap it will have expanded the fuse's socket and the fuse then does not fit as tightly as it did before, but is loose and fits kind of sloppy.

I agree completely about the wire taps. In my opinion, there really is no substitute, quality-wise, for an old-fashioned splice, solder and heat shrink connection.

You get what you pay for? A quality electrical connection is not something to take lightly. I've seen what electrical fires do to cars and trucks and it ain't pretty.

Nor are intermittent electrical problems caused by loose fuses, or wires that broke after having the quickie wire taps used on them and tracking these faults down later can be a real nightmare.

Cutting, splicing, soldering and then using heat shrink tubing is a real pain --- but is the only "right" way to make splices, in my opinion...

Ed

[Hum2]

FYI: My switch location.

Ric

OMAHOG/IHOG
Hum2@cox.net