Front fog / driving lamps

[GI]

Hello,

I can't switch on the front fogs without having full main beam on first.

What's that all about?

I don't want to drive with the fogs on as that would mark me out as scum, but it makes no sense at all. They are totally drowned out. And if I did want to use them in fog, the light from the full main beams would create so much glare that I'd sooner drive with just normal beam, and then I couldn't use the fogs. And I'd have to have my hand hovering over the switch AND the indicator stalk (which is physically impossible - for me, anyway) in case I met another car.

[Ballistic Banana]

Looking at the pic in your profile you dont have Fogs(cant remember seeing a S that does) are you on about the round lights low down in the nose, which are the Main Beam Driving lights?

BB

[tvrgit]

they can't be main beam driving lamps if they are that low - any lamps below 22 inches high (i think it is) must only be used in fog or falling snow and must be wired through a separate switch.

That's certainly how mine are wired up.

[pstruck]

Think you'll find they are driving lights (a la Griff), although IIRC thet are wired as fogs on some TVR's.

[tvr s4c]

They are wired up as main beam on my S4

[doddze]

They have a seperate switch on my S3C but they will only come on with main beam..... so they must be driving lights............. however...

the TVR owners handbook that came with the s3 / S3C states........

"28. FRONT FOG LAMPS
(where fitted)
Located on the bottom switch-plate at the base of the dash board. Flick the switch downwards to operate the high intensity front lights. These should only be used when visibility is poor. Awarning light is incorporated in the switch. The fog lamps only operate when the side or dipped headlights are switched on."

but of course that isn't the way they actually work

[RichardR]

In typical TVR style, the wiring of the lights varies from car to car. Mine only came on with the full beam, although the lights were definitely fogs, while I knew of others that were wired with the dipped beam or even the sidelights.

I changed my lights to proper driving lights, which actually made them vaguely useful, although they were a bugger to align properly. I ended up with them pointing at the road fairly close in front of the car, but that was actually quite useful for pothole dodging at night!

[Psychobert]

RichardR said:

In typical TVR style, the wiring of the lights varies from car to car.

Indeed.. Mine were originally fogs, and not bad as such, but I replaced them with driving lights and a modwise kit so I now resemble a low flying ufo. Which is nice..

And I can see where I am going at night for a change, which is ddefinately a good thing..

[GI]

Yes, the ones at the bottom I mean. I'm a duffer so I just called them fogs for want of the real name.

So they're really just cosmetic then? They add no useful light when the lights are up, and I can't use them separately with the lights dipped - ergo, they have no real usefulness.