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Fog lights upgraded to high power LEDs

8K views 26 replies 7 participants last post by  Dixit 
#1 · (Edited)
I upgraded the fog lights to the best H11 leds I could find rated at 26w, 1800 lumens & 5000K.
Bottom Line: I would not recommend this as they are stupid expensive and required modification to the bulb's retainer tabs, however, the final out come is what I desired.

Dissatisfied with the color temp difference between the fog lights (~3000K) and the HIDs (~4500K) I set out to make them match with out loosing brightness (lumens). I'm also really into LEDs which is another reason. The stock bulbs are standard Philips H11 rated at 55w, 1350 lumens and ~3000K (yellowish). The problem with most leds is brightness in this application. They can make them as bright as the halogens but heat kills leds quickly so they must be engineered with heat sinks/cooling fins and/or fans. This gets expensive so most don't make these as no one would buy really expensive bulbs, except suckers like me. Almost all H11 leds will be for cosmetic purposes only to match the color temp as their light output would be half that of the halogens or less.

I really only found one choice to get the brightness as good, actually better, than the stock bulbs and the needed cooling engineered into them. They are from VLEDS.com for $120.
5K WHITE 1800LM LED HEADLIGHTS DRL FOG LIGHTS 9005 9006 H11 H7 H4 | 1 PAIR - Featured

Here's where the problems start. They wouldn't fit as the 3 retainer tabs were too thick. Using my dremel I ground them down to be half as thick and then they were able to turn in the socket to lock them in. I found the reflector in the projector housing is not symmetrical and because the led bulbs only have leds on two sides the beam pattern it cast was not good. Needing to rotate the bulb 90 degrees in it's locked position I had the modify the tabs once again as one tab is bigger making them seat only one way. Making all the tabs equal width I was able to get the bulb rotated 90 degrees. Now the beam pattern is much better.

I also realize they are now worthless as real fog lights (not that they really were to begin with) because of the shorter wave length frequency so they are now driving lights.

Pics below are the LED fog lights on without the DRLs or headlights except the last pic to show how they match the HIDs.
 

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#3 ·
I upgraded the fog lights to the best H11 leds I could find rated at 26w, 1800 lumens & 5000K.
Bottom Line: I would not recommend this as they are stupid expensive and required modification to the bulb's retainer tabs, however, the final out come is what I desired.

Dissatisfied with the color temp difference between the fog lights (~3000K) and the HIDs (~4500K) I set out to make them match with out loosing brightness (lumens). I'm also really into LEDs which is another reason. The stock bulbs are standard Philips H11 rated at 55w, 1350 lumens and ~3000K (yellowish). The problem with most leds is brightness in this application. They can make them as bright as the halogens but heat kills leds quickly so they must be engineered with heat sinks/cooling fins and/or fans. This gets expensive so most don't make these as no one would buy really expensive bulbs, except suckers like me. Almost all H11 leds will be for cosmetic purposes only to match the color temp as their light output would be half that of the halogens or less.

I really only found one choice to get the brightness as good, actually better, than the stock bulbs and the needed cooling engineered into them. They are from VLEDS.com for $120.
5K WHITE 1800LM LED HEADLIGHTS DRL FOG LIGHTS 9005 9006 H11 H7 H4 | 1 PAIR - Featured

Here's where the problems start. They wouldn't fit as the 3 retainer tabs were too thick. Using my dremel I ground them down to be half as thick and then they were able to turn in the socket to lock them in. I found the reflector in the projector housing is not symmetrical and because the led bulbs only have leds on two sides the beam pattern it cast was not good. Needing to rotate the bulb 90 degrees in it's locked position I had the modify the tabs once again as one tab is bigger making them seat only one way. Making all the tabs equal width I was able to get the bulb rotated 90 degrees. Now the beam pattern is much better.

I also realize they are now worthless as real fog lights (not that they really were to begin with) because of the shorter wave length frequency so they are now driving lights.

Pics below are the LED fog lights on without the DRLs or headlights except the last pic to show how they match the HIDs.
I'm a bit of an LED nut myself, planning on doing some ambient lighting in the Durango. In my home I have replaced every bulb, Minus bathroom and closets with Philips Hue Bulbs. I also have LED strips for ambient lighting throughout my house (behind TV, Under and behind Couches, Under Cabinets), and most of those are controleldby philips as well with a little mod job I did. I also control all the lights with home automation.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Me too except I don't have the cool philips control. I'm down to 5 lights left that aren't led in the master bath my wife won't let me touch. BTW these babies kick ass for garage lights, 5000k at 2200 lumens:
http://www.feit.com/led-lamps/General_Purpose/a-om2200r-5k-led


I'm probably going to add foot well led strips but I can't decide to use my own hardware or use the crazy expensive mopar kit.
Interior Lighting - 82212347 | Mopar

Here's the Durango wiring diagrams if you choose to tap in for power.
https://techauthorityonlinedemo.extra.chrysler.com/service/repair/wiring/view/classic.htm
 
#10 ·
Thank you both, Vertrkr and Gtaz19, for a great lighting education and always sound advice. I have so little to give forum members in return (recipes, anyone?) but I just get and get and get educated about my new vehicle, and a myriad of other things. So well worth the price of admission!
 
#12 ·
#14 ·
Here's where the problems start. They wouldn't fit as the 3 retainer tabs were too thick. Using my dremel I ground them down to be half as thick and then they were able to turn in the socket to lock them in. I found the reflector in the projector housing is not symmetrical and because the led bulbs only have leds on two sides the beam pattern it cast was not good. Needing to rotate the bulb 90 degrees in it's locked position I had the modify the tabs once again as one tab is bigger making them seat only one way. Making all the tabs equal width I was able to get the bulb rotated 90 degrees. Now the beam pattern is much better.
vertrkr, I ordered a set of these (not from these folks but another person) should be here in a week and hopefully I don't need to do the dremel grinding. But didn't realize also there was a reflector in there either, I just assumed since it was projector housing it was good. I guess I will probably have to do the same to rotate it 90 degrees. Which way were your LEDs facing basically after it was corrected? Straight up and down or left and right?

Dixit
 
#15 ·
vertrkr, I ordered a set of these (not from these folks but another person) should be here in a week and hopefully I don't need to do the dremel grinding. But didn't realize also there was a reflector in there either, I just assumed since it was projector housing it was good. I guess I will probably have to do the same to rotate it 90 degrees. Which way were your LEDs facing basically after it was corrected? Straight up and down or left and right?
Dixit
You'll want the LEDs facing left and right in its final position.

I notice there's a new version out which looks to have sheet metal for the tabs. If you get this kind you probably won't have to make the tabs thinner. You'll still need to trim the larger tab to get the orientation right so the LEDs face left and right though.

To mount the black box, I used 20lb double sided tape. Drilling holes to screw it in was too cumbersome for me. Feel around for a good flat spot to mount it on if you go this route.
 
#16 ·
Thanks for the info. Im going to mount it with a sheet metal plate with one hole where I will take a bolt. I remember seeing a few places I could put that plate on. Then was planning on mounting the box to that plate either via screws or some method, will see when I get to it.

Double stick tape aint a bad idea, I just want to be able to remove if it I need, plus my feeling is if it gets real hot the double stick tape may eventually fail. I'll see once I get it.

Dixit
 
#17 ·
vertrkr,
Got my LEDs. Ended up being 100% plug and play. Didn't have to modify the tabs, it was metal and when I inserted it into the housing they were already sitting left and right. Ended up zip tying the Driver to the large wire loom that was above the fog lights. The driver is pretty light so the two nice size zip ties through the mounting holes held it pretty solidly.

Here is the shot of the front with just the passenger side done.


Here is the beam pattern of it with just passenger side done.



Here is the final product.
 
#25 ·
vertrkr,
Got my LEDs. Ended up being 100% plug and play. Didn't have to modify the tabs, it was metal and when I inserted it into the housing they were already sitting left and right. Ended up zip tying the Driver to the large wire loom that was above the fog lights. The driver is pretty light so the two nice size zip ties through the mounting holes held it pretty solidly.
Looks great, good idea on the zip ties. The pic of the LED looks like mine with the thick tabs. Not sure why I had trouble getting them to turn in my housing and you didn't. None the less glad they worked out for ya.
 
#21 ·
Well the first post on this thread has the link that the original poster of this thread bought. Id recommend those over the joker I got them from. I got them from eBay from China and the guy kept making excuses on why my item didn't arrive in time, so I wouldn't recommend that person.

Here is the original link from post 1
5K WHITE 2000LM LED HEADLIGHTS DRL FOG LIGHTS 9005 9006 H11 H7 H4 | 1 PAIR - Featured

Or you can search for similar ones on eBay. They are running around $80+ to be honest.
 
#23 ·
Well the first post on this thread has the link that the original poster of this thread bought. Id recommend those over the joker I got them from. I got them from eBay from China and the guy kept making excuses on why my item didn't arrive in time, so I wouldn't recommend that person.

Here is the original link from post 1
5K WHITE 2000LM LED HEADLIGHTS DRL FOG LIGHTS 9005 9006 H11 H7 H4 | 1 PAIR - Featured

Or you can search for similar ones on eBay. They are running around $80+ to be honest.
could you post a image of the led itself? i have a pair coming from china, the heatsink is black, i am hoping i dont have to do much work!
if you dont mind post the ebay link! just so i know what to look for!
 
#27 ·
Mine were 6000k from the description. But they look almost identical to me to the running lights LED. Didn't analyze the difference yet between the HIDs and the LED Fogs yet since it got down to 9F here in ATL last night, flipping freezing. Still only about 16F and its 1pm.
 
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