What are the legal consequences of installing LED lamps in fog lights?

LED lamps in PTF - are they legal?

It is possible to answer this question immediately: yes, LED lamps can be installed in fog lights, but only if 2 conditions are met.

1. To be able to use it with an LED lamp, the “fog lamp” must be marked in accordance with UN Regulation No. 19,
2. The LED bulb itself must comply with UN Regulation No. 128.

Amendments to the UN Regulations to allow LED lamps to be installed in conventional headlights instead of incandescent lamps are still under development for 2021.

Additional LED lights

What do the regulations say about installing LED fog lights? To answer this question, let's start with the main headlights. Is it possible to change the headlight bulbs recommended by the manufacturer to xenon or LEDs? Traffic regulations give a precise answer: if the manufacturer recommends or could install non-halogen light diffusers on the conveyor for a specific car model, then “upgrading” is permissible. To put it simply, everything that is included in the vehicle configuration is permissible, everything that is not provided is prohibited.

If you simply replace halogen lamps with LED fog lamps, then due to the design features of the headlight (the diffuser lens only works correctly with the lamp intended for it), there will be almost no good effect. The headlights will, of course, emit more light, but the beam formation will be incorrect. It will not be possible to achieve the desired result without replacing the headlights themselves, except for blinding oncoming drivers.

All the same rules apply to fog lights with LEDs. The installation of fog lights not provided by the manufacturer according to the traffic rules (Article No. 12, paragraph No. 5) provides for punishment. It is illegal to operate a vehicle with lights that are not designed for a specific model. Will lead to deprivation of a driver's license for a period of 6 to 12 months with confiscation of light sources.

Photos provided by the Internet agency "DreamTrade"

Marking foglights for installing LEDs

First, remember that in official documents the abbreviation LED is used for LED lamps - light-emitting diodes. This is the equivalent of the well-known abbreviation LED. And in the documentation in Russian, first of all, look for this abbreviation.

The most interesting thing in UN Regulation No. 19, which sets the requirements for fog lamps, is contained in paragraph 3.5.2, which talks about how the headlight must be marked so that LEDs can be used in it:

The specific identification code includes the initial letters "MD" for "module" followed by the approval marking.

According to the Technical Regulations, it is necessary to check the need to fulfill one more condition.

In order not to dazzle oncoming traffic, any fog lights with light sources of any class with a nominal luminous flux of more than 2000 lumens must be equipped with an automatic headlight leveler.

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What should fog lights and lights be like?

According to GOST, the front PTFs must be white or yellow, and the rear lights must be red.

“Fog lights” must meet the following requirements:

1. Headlight glass. The choice of protective screen material is based on the specific use of these devices, since they are located in the lower part of the car. In inexpensive products, the transparent screen is made of polycarbonate, which has low performance properties: it is not very durable and can become cloudy. In addition, it loses its original parameters when the temperature reaches +130°C. Therefore, it is better to choose a screen made of thick, highly durable glass.
2. The housing must be sealed to prevent water from entering while driving. The plastic case must also be heat-resistant. The ideal choice is magnesium-type alloys. They are lightweight and conduct heat well.
3. In order for fog lights to work properly, they need to be adjusted from time to time. The design of the headlights should allow precise adjustment of lighting parameters for the most efficient operation.
4. Headlights must fit into the overall design of the vehicle. The streamlined shape reduces air resistance and noise while driving.
5. The power of the lamps should not exceed 55-60 W, so as not to additionally load the generator.

What fine or deprivation of rights?

What punishment will follow if an LED bulb is inserted into a fog lamp that does not have the MD marking?

You can’t mix warm with green. Installation of lamps not intended for them in fog lamps is prohibited, since it is impossible to get the headlight to work in fog mode (see below).

Punishment for the illegal installation of LEDs in PTF is provided for in Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses - deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 6 months to a year with confiscation of LED lamps.

There is no prohibition of exploitation with the removal of numbers. This security measure has long been abolished.

Why such a harsh punishment?

Our citizens overwhelmingly learn what they think about from television. And there is a well-established opinion that the most serious offense is driving while intoxicated. In fact, the most serious offense is related to blindness.

Judge for yourself!

• The level of alcohol in the driver's blood up to 0.8 g/l actually has no effect on the number of accidents.
• When alcohol levels exceed 0.8 g/l, a sharp increase in road accidents is observed. This is due to the fact that a drunk driver’s reaction time increases.

As a result, we have: where a sober driver needs one second to react to danger, make a decision and take measures to avoid it, a drunk driver needs 2, 3 and even more seconds.

For the average driver, the time to restore vision after being blinded is at least 3 seconds. Complete adaptation of vision to darkness takes at least 8 seconds. For 10% of drivers, it takes 60 to 120 seconds to fully adapt after being blinded. Compare the reaction time of a drunk driver with the adaptation time. The conclusion is obvious. If you have inserted a light source into your fog lamp that is not intended for it, you can assume that a crowd of drunk drivers is driving towards you.

If the driver does not initially understand the threat of using LED lamps in fog lights under conventional incandescent lamps and why they cannot be installed in 2021, then let him walk and think about it for six months, perhaps he will realize that the law is for these six months saved him from real big troubles with his health and property.

DIY Guide

So, if you decide to make fog lights with LEDs with your own hands, then it is quite possible to perform such an operation at home. It is important to accurately follow all the steps described in the instructions below so that the fog lights last a long time and reliably. To do everything yourself, first prepare all the necessary tools.

Tools and materials

To make diode PTFs with your own hands you will need:

• directly standard optics;
• soldering iron with consumables;
• small screws;
• LED elements themselves with wiring.

Standard optics

Soldering iron with consumables

Self-tapping screws

Light-emitting diode

Algorithm of actions

How to do everything correctly with your own hands?

To make it correctly, follow these steps:

1. To begin, dismantle the existing fog lights or take new ones that you purchased at the store. The essence of the method is to clean the optics with your own hands from what has accumulated inside it. This could be dirt, dust, other debris or corrosion. If rust appears on the internal elements of the optics, treat the headlight with your own hands using sandpaper. You need to manually adjust the dimensions of the optics to fit certain LED elements.
2. The next step will be to assemble a cooling system for the headlight with your own hands; if necessary, you also need to take care of the driver. As for cooling radiators, you can build them yourself; for these purposes you can use metal pieces or sheets, the thickness of which should be from 2 to 5 mm.
3. After arranging the cooling system with your own hands, you need to install the LED lamps themselves directly to the optics. These lights are subsequently connected to the vehicle's wiring. As for the connection, it would be better to connect the fog lights to the battery and bring a separate switch for them into the car interior. It is also advisable to protect the circuit itself with a fuse. It is not advisable to connect fog lights to side lights or low beams, since in this case the service life of the diodes will be significantly reduced. As for the scheme itself, we will not discuss it, since this issue is individual for each car.

1. Remove the PTF and clean it from the inside.

2. Install the LED and connect the wiring.

3. Place the finished headlight in the bumper.

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In general, manufacturers offer consumers a huge range of fog lights and LED lamps in particular. You only need to decide on the quality, since there are no good diodes at low prices.

How to avoid deprivation?

Between the layer of fog and the surface of the earth there is always a layer of clean air. The task of fog lights is to shine under the fog. No more than 3% of the light should go upward. If there is a discrepancy in the headlight + lamp system, then part of the light from the fog lamp will go up into the fog and return to your eyes in the form of a veil. That is, PTFs will lose the meaning of installing them on a car.

If you have changed conventional lamps to LED ones, and it seems to you that the beam of light from the fog lights has not changed, then you can drive without problems. Just don’t forget to register changes to the design of the car with the traffic police, objectively confirming that your experiments are safe for others, and no more than 3% of the light goes up from the PTF luminous flux.

If you missed the time and caught the eye of the inspector, you can still try to avoid deprivation of your rights.

1. First of all, the traffic police inspector must see the headlight markings. But getting to fog lights with installed LEDs or halogens is very, very difficult, and sometimes even impossible on the road. So that they shine under the fog, they are installed as low as possible - in the bumper.
2. Secondly, you need to remove the light bulb from the headlight and make sure that it does not correspond to the marking. As a rule, to disassemble a PTF, at a minimum, you need a screwdriver and knowledge of which bolts to unscrew in which direction.
3. And thirdly, the work must still be carried out by a specialist in an equipped place, and the work must be paid for from the budget.

In other words, have a heart-to-heart conversation with the inspector, where, on the one hand, you can even repent, and on the other, hint at problems with establishing the event of an offense. And give your word of honor that replace the light bulbs as quickly as possible, since we are talking about your own safety. End the conversation by comparing blindness with intoxication, emphasizing the understanding of the depth of the problem, and that this should not be done.

Something else useful for you:

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Installation of PTF

There are no fundamental differences regarding the installation of PTF. You can only notice that it is easiest to install LEDs in standard round-shaped optics. If the headlights have an excellent shape, then you will need a lot of patience to find a suitable option that eliminates major alterations.

It is also worth taking into account that PTFs, regardless of design, are used together with the side lights of the car. But connecting them to the ignition using a separate button is highly not recommended.

Some cars do not have fog lights installed at all, which can often be found among domestic vehicles. Therefore, many drivers try to correct this situation by installing LEDs in their foglights on their own.

But at the same time, it is necessary to adhere to certain requirements, otherwise penalties from the traffic police cannot be avoided. That is, the headlights should be located at a height of 250 mm from the ground surface (no less), and the distance to the nearest side lights should be no more than 400 mm.

As for the LED connection diagram, it is completely the same as in the case of standard fog lights.

With angel eyes

The so-called PTFs with angel eyes are popular among modern car enthusiasts - these are lensed headlights that can operate in one of three modes:

• LED ring around the round perimeter of the headlight;
• the central part of the headlight, equipped with a lens;
• and the ring-rim of the headlight, and the LEDs in its central part.

In addition to exceptional aesthetic appeal, LED headlights of this type provide good illumination due to the lens used in their design.

Car headlights

Criteria that determine the operation of LED fog lights

Why lensed fog lights with or without angel eyes illuminate the road well:

1. The light flux generated by the optics is directed upward, forward, and also to the sides. If you look at the lighting stream from the side, it is a bit like a broom - narrower at the top, and wider towards the bottom. Thanks to this, fog lights make it possible to illuminate the necessary space directly above the road, that is, the place where there is practically no fog.
2. The effective operation of fog lights for a car also depends on the correct installation of the optics. In accordance with current traffic regulations, fog lamps must be installed no higher or lower than 25 cm from the road. In any case, fog lights should not be installed higher than the head optics.
3. The light itself, emitted by anti-fog optics, has a longer wavelength, in particular, when comparing the yellow illumination flux with the white-blue one, which has been so fashionable lately.

Compatibility table for fog lights and car brands

Using LED headlights

There are 3 possible options for using LED headlights:

• Installation of LED headlights at the factory. In this case, the lighting devices are installed completely legally and the driver will not face fines.
• Installation of LED headlights on a car, if such headlights are installed by the manufacturer on cars of a similar model.
• Installation of LED headlights on a car, if the manufacturer did not provide for such an installation.

In this article we will talk about the second and third situations.

Selection options

What to look for when buying fog lights:

1. Pay attention to the size and body of the lights; their installation should not spoil the appearance of the vehicle. If you want to install fog lights with angel eyes, then make sure that they will look good after installation. As practice shows, large lens fog lights look great on foreign-made SUVs, but they are not always suitable for the Niva.
2. Also take into account the fact that the hinged or vertical mounting method will depend on the installation location of the lights, as well as the ease of connection.
3. You should also pay attention to the power parameters - the optics can be designed for an on-board network of 12 or 24 volts. At first glance, it may seem that the difference is insignificant, but if you do not take this point into account, this can lead to rapid battery drain.
4. The body of the fog lamps must be as sealed as possible; gaps between it and the glass are not allowed. Also make sure that the fog lights are equipped with glass and not plastic - plastic is more susceptible to destruction.

LED lamps for PTF

If it is necessary to install diodes in the PTF, you need to decide on the number of diode elements that will be used in the headlights. Their number may vary, depending on the model - from 5 to 30 pieces. Recently, SMD LEDs have become popular among our compatriots, but such devices can have different sizes. The disadvantage of such optics is that when purchasing it is difficult to assess its real power.

On average, the dimensions of diode elements are 19-50 mm; most of the devices sold on the domestic market are produced by Chinese companies. Accordingly, many light bulbs have a similar design and size. Also keep in mind that most Chinese manufacturers indicate deliberately inflated specifications.

Today, one of the most popular options are LED bulbs, the power of which is 7 watts, which is about 700 lumens of brightness. According to consumer reviews, although such lighting sources shine brightly, they do not adequately illuminate the road. This is because for high-quality lighting, the brightness value should vary around 1000 lumens; this is the parameter that should be taken into account when purchasing. But you also don’t need to buy very powerful lamps, since, as a rule, they get very hot, which contributes to their accelerated wear.

DRL lamps

The use of daytime running lights instead of fog lights is not relevant, since for high-quality lighting the power of the diodes should be about 1000 lumens. In addition, the lighting angle in daytime running lights will be about 30 degrees, while in fog lights this figure is 45 degrees. The power of light sources for daytime running lights must correspond to the nominal value indicated on the headlights or in the operating instructions for the car.

Correct LEDs

If you want to install high-quality LED headlights and not encounter problems with their operation, then you need to take certain parameters into account. Any diode lamp must be equipped with a cooling radiator, this will prevent its possible overheating. Remember that usually standard places for installing light bulbs are not designed for installing diode components with cooling; accordingly, you will have to rack your brains during installation.

If you want to save on installation, you can buy Chinese-made devices, but the quality in this case will be a big question. In practice, in the operation of Chinese LEDs, the problem of driver burnout and the appearance of defects on the housing during long-term operation often arises. In addition, the build quality in such lamps is usually low. Such designs can use either a built-in driver or an additional one, but if it fails, it cannot be replaced, since such drivers are not commercially available. Therefore, we recommend giving preference to more well-known manufacturers that produce high-quality products, so as not to encounter problems in the near future (video author - Alex Kenn).

Correct LED fog lights

An easier option is to buy ready-made fog lights and install them in existing standard places. Then you won’t have to remove existing headlights and rack your brains about installing LED bulbs in them. It is best for such headlights to be made in a monolithic housing, and inside the housing there is a diode cooling system. For greater reliability, the devices can be supplemented with a control module, which will ensure proper connection and further operation of the PTF.