5 replies to this topic

[felixy69]

hi guys

recently loooking to buy some fog lamps 

but when i was searching on minisport

i notice the ROVER mini came with 2 fog lamps  and 2 driving lamps.

what are the difference ?

which have brighter light output ??

and what are spot lamp ?

 

my 99 sportpack didnt come with the fog lamps in the front so i want to get them.

thanks 

 

driving lamps

http://usa.minisport...drive-lamp.html

 

 

fog lamp

http://usa.minisport...r-fog-lamp.html

 

 

spot lamp

http://usa.minisport...-lans-unit.html

 

not my car but i want those lights. picture for reference 

 

thanks 

[Steve220]

Fog lights have a more broken pattern to disperse the light. The idea is it lights up just in front of the car as low as possible to aid visibility in fog. The 2 outer lights are fog, the inner are driving lights that come on with the headlights. The top 2 links are to the genuine rover units, the one below is merely a piaa lamp that should be named driving light. Again, to come on with headlights.

http://usa.minisport...-xbn100280.html

This is the genuine kit, although It doesn't come with the harness and fog light switch that you will need. You may need to check whether your car already has the loom behind the grill.

Edited by Steve220, 31 January 2016 - 08:49 AM.

[DFulton]

I'm not certain there is a difference in brightness, but if there is, I'd expect the driving lights to be the brighter.
In the UK at least, there are very specific laws about the position of the fog lights. In the pic above, the fog lights will be the outer ones and the driving lights the inner. If you only have driving lights, they're usually placed in the outer position, so if there is a difference in brightness, you'd probably have to move the ones you have to make room for the fog lights.

[Steve220]

They all have the same bulbs in them so would expect them to be of equal lumina.

[Ethel]

...though they spread that light differently so will appear brighter depending on where you are looking in relation to the beam pattern.

 

Spots & driving lamps can be the same thing. I'm not aware of any rules, but logic suggests spots should have a narrower beam.

 

Fogs have flatter, lower, beams, the theory being that less light will be reflected in to the driver's eyes by the fog. The positioning rules are really only significant (unless you want to stick 'em on your roof) if you intend using them without your dipped beam on - they have to be within 40cm of the side of your car.

[welldc]

Fogs have a wide flat beam with a shorter throw. As already said, to minimise glar in poor conditions. Also useful as 'cornering' lamps when used with main beam.

Can be used with main or dip beam, but if wired seperately for use with side or dipped lights, they must have an illuminated switch.

 

Spot lamps have a much longer narrower beam for distance. They can only be used with main beam and must go out when headlights are dipped.

 

Driving lamps are somewhere in between. Reasonable distance but a slightly wider beam.

 

Thay all have the same type of bulb (although different makes can use different bulbs) so brightness is the same. Just a case of where the light goes.

 

I just have all four wired into main beam through relays, no seperate switch in the car.

Edited by welldc, 31 January 2016 - 10:52 PM.