Fog lights are lighting devices that motorists use to provide additional lighting on the road.
It is allowed to use them only in poor visibility conditions or in bad weather.
Installation in fog lights (PTF) xenon rather than halogen lamps are very popular nowadays. The problem is that many motorists do not follow the installation rules. The lighting system must have a device that regulates the magnitude of the light beam.
Installing xenon in the PTF is a controversial issue. We will understand the legality of installing xenon headlights, situations when the use is justified, and when it is unnecessary and harmful.
When installing xenon in a PTF, it is important to decide for what purpose we are doing this:
- Improving road lighting in poor visibility. In this case, the installation is done according to strict rules.
- If the goal is to hit friends or oncoming cars, to show off, then it is much better and safer to use daytime running lights.
Combining 2 targets at once will not work due to the principles of xenon and the rules road traffic... Thoughtless installation of xenon lamps in the PTF will lead to many problems:
- The light of the lamps will dazzle oncoming cars and passing ones (when you look in the rear-view mirror when overtaking). Xenon light spreads in all directions.
- Possible loss of control of an oncoming vehicle. And this is fraught with an accident, which you may find yourself in.
- Decreased visibility of headlights due to the properties of xenon.
- Penalties for using xenon in PTF.
If you put xenon in PTF, then it is better to do it in licensed headlights or special reflex devices. These headlights prevent dazzling of drivers. Another solution is special xenon fog lamps.
What laws say about the installation of xenon
The installation of xenon in the PTF, as well as the installation of various light sources in the headlights ( halogen lamps, incandescent lamps) is produced in accordance with GOST Russian Federation and UNECE Regulations.
These documents assign a specific type of headlights (eg DCR).
The headlamp type approval mark is depicted in the form of a circle with the letter “E” inscribed in it. Next is the number of the country where the approval took place, and the number of the approval itself. Xenon light sources are marked with an initial "D" and their installation is prescribed in UNECE Rule No. 99 and in GOST R 41.99-99 on installation instructions gas discharge lamps in mechanical vehicleah (types DC, DR and DCR).
The use of xenon in headlights and PTFs that are not intended for it is defined as a discrepancy between the operating mode of a light device and the requirements of vehicle characteristics. Responsibility for violation of the terms of use of xenon lamps comes on the basis of the Code of administrative offenses RF (Code of Administrative Offenses).
But such responsibility is possible if the installation rules are violated. For example, if you have installed xenon in headlights designed for halogen.
If PTF and other xenon headlights were produced together with the car at the factory, the traffic police inspector cannot hold you accountable for their use.
Correct xenon installation
Xenon is installed exclusively in headlights designed for use with gas discharge light sources.
These headlights are marked DCR - bixenon in one lamp (low and high beam) and DC \\ DR - xenon in different lamps (high and low beam).
- HC \\ HR and HCR - markings for headlights with halogen source.
- The DC \\ HR marking permits the use of xenon for the low beam, and only halogen for the high beam.
- C \\ R or CR - only incandescent lamps are allowed.
Xenon dipped beam headlamps can only work with headlamp cleaners and automatic headlamp tilting devices.
Installation of xenon in PTF is possible only when their type provides for the use of gas-discharge (xenon) light or fog lights with xenon are assembled at the factory and have appropriate labeling... There are no other exceptions!
What a fine
The use of xenon in fog lights is regulated on the basis of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and the "List of faults and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited."
Transport inspection methods are given in GOST R 51709-2001.
As such, there is no penalty for xenon! Problems of installing xenon lamps in external lighting devices described in Part 3 of Art. 12.5 Administrative Code. And the punishment for such an action is severe - deprivation of rights for a period of 6 months to 1 year.
If it turns out that xenon in the PTF cannot stand for the reasons described above, then the car is seized, the numbers are removed and it is sent to the parking lot. This cannot be done at night or in bad weather.
The decision to initiate a case for an administrative offense is sent to the magistrate's court, and only he can make a decision on deprivation of rights.
Lovers of xenon should not be upset. Part 3 of Art. 12.5 is too loose, so a good lawyer can easily prove your innocence. Why?
- The rules state that in order to be able to operate the vehicle, it is required to maintain its integrity. That is, you cannot change lighting devices, replace them with others.
- When installing xenon, the integrity of the headlights is not formally violated, as is the location of the lamps, the operating mode.
Pay the fine online:
Actions to install xenon with a competent speech in court are often re-qualified in Part 1 of Art. 12.5, and is replaced by a fine of 500 rubles. As a result, it is very difficult to deny rights for xenon. More often, under unfavorable circumstances, one can only count on small fine for xenon.
How to communicate with a traffic police inspector if you have xenon installed
The actions of the traffic police inspectors are regulated by the relevant laws.
And you should know them in order to be able to communicate if you are accused of illegal installation PTF in the fog lights.
- The inspector says that he can determine the violation in the xenon installation by eye? Don't be alarmed. Proof (with protocol) is only the markings on the headlight and lamp base.
- The inspector cannot violate the integrity of the parts of the car that are under warranty. This is done at a dealership or certified workshops.
- If you ask yourself to remove the lamp from the headlights for testing, feel free to say that you do not know how to do it. The traffic police officer cannot disassemble your car.
- If xenon is installed illegally, do not get lost. The inspector is obliged to draw up a protocol and make a decision on the violation.
- Record objections in the minutes. They will be used in court.
- Shoot a car inspection on video or photo. This helps to identify irregularities in the procedure during the trial.
Bottom line: entrust the installation of xenon in the PTF only to certified specialists. Most likely, you yourself will not be able to properly adjust the headlights. And this leads to a fine and deprivation of rights. Know how to defend your rights in front of the traffic police. And if it still comes to deprivation of rights, hire a good lawyer.
There is one point from which to start choosing fog lamps. The fact is that there are two types of additional optics in stores: in fact, fog lights and additional lamps high beam ... Outwardly, they may not even differ in any way, but the installation of "distant" headlights as fog lights will be a gross mistake. Fog lights should form a vertically narrow beam of light that does not dazzle oncoming drivers, additional high-beam headlights will start hitting the “oncoming” as a searchlight, and in the fog they will be practically useless, clogging the remains of the view with “milk”: try to turn on regular high beam, and you will understand what we are talking about.
Therefore, the first step is to make sure that we have exactly fog lights (on English packaging fog lamp, or abbreviation FF - front fog), eCE certified... Especially when it comes to inexpensive headlights of Asian origin. Although anything can be written on "very Chinese" headlights, only reality will not correspond, alas ...
Question tightness for low-lying optics is also not the last. A sign of the quality of the fog lamp is an indication of the ingress protection class at least IP 66.
If we are talking about buying headlights installed inside the bumper in a regular place (even if it is closed in the bumper, it is usually enough to cut a hole of the required diameter - everything inside is ready for installation anyway, unification on the conveyor gives its advantages), then the main thing, of course, is the headlight diameter itself. Fortunately, the spread is small here - usually car manufacturers use 90mm "round". When choosing a "built-in" headlight, pay attention to how the lamp replacement is organized in it, whether it will be convenient for your car.
Well, and have external universal headlights Let's start with dimensions and weight. Large and heavy headlights in a metal case, of course, captivate with their reliability and potential quality of light, but they will create a decent load on the attachment point. That is, simply bolting them into the hole drilled in the bumper will not work: sooner or later the plastic will crack from shaking under the headlight, especially in the cold. We'll have to be smart with bumper reinforcement - for example, a metal plate, which will distribute the load over a larger area.
By choosing led fog lights, do not "rush" to the low price especially. We will not even talk now about the quality of light distribution, which of the unknown origin of LED headlights can be anything you like, but let's talk about the resource issue. The more powerful the LEDs, the more sensitive they are to the accuracy of maintaining the operating current, which ideally already needs thermal compensation - therefore, high-quality led headlight and is assembled on expensive diodes, and the current driver is required in the design. And the cheapness of the headlight can result in a blinking and complete failure of the LEDs after a while. A good LED headlight can compete with the car itself in terms of resource - but you will have to pay for it accordingly.
Additional lighting is what allows you to get more illumination of the roadway and with it increased visibility and safety for yourself. Xenon additional headlights are one of the most important equipment that provides high-quality and rich luminous flux and will allow you to get that visibility, which will ensure the "correct" safety on the road.
What are additional xenon headlights?
- this is equipment that is installed separately from the head optics of the car and provides a rich beam of light. These are small devices that can be installed in different places on cars and act as an additional emitter to increase safety on the road.
Often, such headlights have a round or rectangular shape and design, and are also installed on all types of cars. They are especially popular on off-road vehicles and are installed on the bumper grill or on top of the roof.
Benefits of using additional xenon headlights
Xenon headlights provide a bright, rich and high-quality stream of light, providing better visibility of the roadway.
Its use on many cars is explained by a number of advantages:
- High build quality - robust case.
- The duration of the operational period.
- Saturated and intense light stream.
- A wide and extended beam of light.
- The snow-white glow is close to the daytime.
- Low power source.
- Stability of functioning in bad weather.
- Impenetrable body.
- Unique design.
- Stylish looks and more.
Today, there are several types and models that are actively used by drivers on the roadway around the world.
Characteristics of common xenon headlights
| Parameters / Lights | IPF Super Wide Scope Light | IPF S-9H14 | Hella Micro De Xenon 1F0 008 390-801 | Hella Micro De Xenon Premium 1F0 008 390-821 |
| Manufacturer | IPF | IPF | Hella | Hella |
| Country | Japan | Japan | Germany | Germany |
| A type | Wide coverage headlight | Xenon fog lamp | High beam headlamp | High beam headlamp |
| Application | For different cars, can be used as a source of rear fog lamp. | It is used on any cars, it is relevant in bad weather conditions. | For use on all cars, it has a high-quality and extended high-beam beam for night trips. | Used on all vehicles as a high beam light source for use in the dark. |
| Shine | High quality and wide standard color light. | Intense light, 4100 K - warm white. | High quality standard for xenon light in warm tone. | Intense warm light, effective to use. |
| Brightness | High brightness. | Average brightness. | High brightness. | High brightness. |
| Lamp | H3 and LED switch. | D2S xenon lamp. | Original lamp with D2S base. | Original D2S xenon bulb. |
| Voltage | 12 in | 12 in | 12 in | 12 in |
| Power | 55 watts | 35 watts | 35 watts | 35 watts |
| Features: | High quality and reliable lamp with a plastic body and therefore recommended for use with a xenon lamp. Can be used as a front light or as a back light fog lamp... The headlamp housing can withstand even the highest temperatures and therefore comes with a halogen lamp from the start. Provides the headlamp with a wide light spot and guarantees the highest visibility of the roadway. | High quality xenon fog lamp, which is supplied with a reliable original lamp. The product uses a wireless control switch. The body is made of steel, which makes the product maximally resistant to shock and shock. This model additional headlight can be easily installed on the vehicle and supplied in complete set, with wiring, ignition blocks, lamps. Has a special protective cover to protect the lens when traveling. | High-quality German auxiliary headlight, which has a lens appearance and lenticular glass, due to which it provides a focused, rich and uniform stream of light that evenly floods the road space. The headlight reflector is made of magnesium, and the housing itself is very durable, which guarantees a long operational life of the product. The headlight is characterized by small dimensions and stylish design, due to which it transforms the appearance of the car, makes it fashionable and modern. | Reliable and high quality small headlight, which is installed on all brands of cars. It comes with an original lamp for the highest visibility of the roadway. Thanks to the magnesium reflector and robust housing, the device lasts a long time. Lensed glass guarantees a focused and targeted narrow high beam beam. The light spot is evenly distributed along the road. |
IPF is japanese company, which manufactures quality and high quality automotive products. This is a company that combines innovative technologies and classics in one whole. All products manufactured by IPF are popular not only in Japan, but all over the world.
The manufacturer guarantees high quality each released product and its duration of operation. Car lights IPF are cut in a stylish design and have a huge number of advantages, of which the most important, as for a consumer, are low cost and maximum quality, productivity and duration of work.
A few words about the manufacturer Hella
Hella is german company, which is included in the TOP of the best products in demand all over the world. This manufacturer manufactures reliable and high-quality products, the service life of which is practically durable. Today, many drivers around the world use the products of this company. Hella car headlights are high quality, rich light, reliable and stable performance. It is worth noting that the products, namely the headlights from this company, are quite expensive, but due to the high-quality performance and efficiency on the road, it is worth it.
Why are xenon headlights so good?
Today, not only additional xenon headlights are produced, but also halogen and even LED ones. do not have such a demand, since they consume a large amount of vehicle energy, and do not differ in the most efficient glow. LED headlights are much more expensive and are not suitable for all cars, since the special design and brightness of the glow allows them to be used ideally on SUVs.
Xenon headlights are suitable for every car. They are small in size and securely attached to the vehicle. Thanks to innovative technologies and stability of work, they will allow you to get high-quality visibility of the roadway without spending huge sums for this. That is why, for today, xenon additional headlights are in maximum demand.
Are xenon headlights legal for on-road use?
Many drivers who want to quickly improve road illumination without interfering with the head optics are interested in the question of whether xenon headlights are allowed for use. We note right away that at present there is no prohibition that would not allow drivers to improve the illumination and visibility of the road, which plays a role in improving safety on the roadway. Thus, the xenon prohibition law additional equipment in the form of headlights does not exist.
If your vehicle has poor and ineffective head lighting, but you have no time or just do not want to engage in modernization, conversion of optics, then you should use an alternative, which is an excellent option. You can even put them on your own, and choose a place where they will be most effective and will ensure the transformation of the vehicle's appearance.
At the time of buying additional headlights be sure to check the package contents, because there should be everything for the simplest installation and instant operation of the products. Also, do not purchase additional xenon headlights, which cost more than a penny in the markets, but rather contact a dealer specialized in automotive lighting. Certification for quality and original products every conscientious seller who can provide you with it at will!
Choose exclusively products from renowned manufacturers such as IPF or Hella. Only such firms will be able to give you a full guarantee of a reliable, high-quality and stably working product. The xenon headlights of these manufacturers for additional equipment of vehicles are considered the best in their segment.
Hella German additional xenon headlights are the best choice for today, polka you will receive not only high-quality illumination of the roadway, but also visibility, stability of work and reliability. And thanks to the lenticular assembly and special glass, the high beam of light will uniformly spread along the roadway and fall on it under right anglethat will not blind the drivers of oncoming traffic, who will be grateful to you for it. Enjoy high-quality Xenon headlight illumination and the highest safety on the road.
Automotive optics is improving along with technical stuffing modern models... The introduction of durable, easy-to-read and reliable headlights is driven by safety and operational needs of drivers. Despite their shortcomings, xenon headlights have become one of the most sought after products in the automotive optics market. They are used both as headlights and as a complement to basic road lighting devices. At the same time, the legal nuances of using such lamps force us to carefully approach the issues of their self installation... At the same time, more and more models appear on the roads, which are routinely supplied with xenon.
Features of xenon headlights
The main distinguishing feature of xenon lamps is the absence of the traditional filament. This light source is rapidly degraded by wear and constant vibration. So, in comparison with halogen analogues, xenon lamps in car headlights last several times longer. However, to fully equip the car with xenon elements, it is also necessary to purchase a special control unit and a transformer that amplifies the voltage. For budget-conscious car owners, the purchase of xenon will also be beneficial, since the lamp power is reduced by almost 40%.
Operational benefits
During operation, the optical devices heat up less, which also increases the reliability of the adjacent electrical wiring. For the driver himself, xenon headlights as such will be the optimal solution for lighting the way. Again, compared to halogen, the brightness of xenon optics is three times stronger. Lamps improve visibility in bad weather and in poor natural light. Although xenon is commonly associated with blue light, it can be yellow or white, producing a color temperature in excess of 4000 K.
Device and principle of operation
The lamps are provided with a quartz bulb, the cavity of which is filled with metal chlorides and xenon itself, which is represented by an inert gas. For this reason, such headlights are called gas-discharge headlights. For their work, a ballast is required, which first ignites and then supports the operation of the electric arc. Thanks to the glow of this arc in a gaseous environment, xenon headlights have a fairly high intensity. To activate an electric arc, a voltage of 20 kV is required, and to maintain its burning - 85 V. Distinctive feature such lamps is high speed achieving optimal operating condition - in a few seconds, the headlights acquire their nominal glow parameters.
Legal aspects
Xenon headlights also have disadvantages, the presence of which imposes some restrictions on their use. Incorrect replacement of the standard halogen with xenon can turn into a risk of creating a threat to oncoming drivers, who will be dazzled by updated optics. In the legislation of the Russian Federation there is a clause on the corresponding administrative offenses during the operation of outdoor lighting devices that do not correspond to the structural characteristics of the car. Xenon headlights also fall into this category, the fine for the use of which can be 3 thousand rubles. Of course, such measures are valid only if xenon is installed independently, which is not intended for a specific car model. If the manufacturer has provided for the possibility of equipping with such optics in the operating instructions for the machine, then this document can become a confirmation of the legality of its use.
What to consider before replacing?
It is immediately advisable to purchase headlights in complete set with a ballast. If integration into conventional lamps is planned, variants with the D2R or D2S markings are excluded, since they have special bases for installation with the corresponding holders. But you can find an alternative to them in the form of models with a conventional base. These are non-standard xenon headlights, the penalty for which is imposed only in the absence of appropriate recommendations from the car manufacturer. When installing, one of two schemes is usually used: four-head or two-head. The first option allows you to implement low and high beam with the ability to switch between them. The two-headlight scheme assumes only low beam. In any case, it should be borne in mind that self replacement rarely achieves the optical parameters that the manufacturer of a particular set of xenon lamps stated.
Xenon fog lights
Headlights of this type are not mandatory and are installed as complementary optics. Xenon can also be used in this capacity. To initially protect yourself from possible penalties, you should pay attention to the designations in the headlights of the car. In particular, the “H” marking means that halogen bulbs are allowed, and the “D” letter allows the integration of gas discharge devices. If we compare traditional lamps and xenon fog lights, the difference will be as follows: the absence of a reflector and the presence of a lens that collects scattered light fluxes into one beam. The light of such optics spreads over road surface and provides good coverage for at least the first 10 m ahead. In addition, you can feel the clear cut-off line, thanks to which, even in dense fog, the distance to transport or other objects is easier to estimate.
Installation
During installation, it should be remembered that work is carried out with gas-discharge devices, therefore, it is not recommended to touch the glass bulbs. The first step is to remove the current headlights by removing the corresponding unit and lamps. Further, holes are created in the waterproof plugs for the subsequent introduction of xenon sealing gum. Xenon headlights are installed in this hole, after which the protective cap is removed. Now you need to ensure the connection of the lamp connectors and the wiring of the starting system.
If the connection operation is successful, you can insert plugs with a waterproof one. They can be easily put on the wiring and fixed to the headlight, but it is important to exclude any distortions of the device. The start unit is locked next to the headlights in the engine compartment. Fastening is provided with brackets and clamps, and then you can fix the system wires. When the installation is complete, you should pay attention to the fuses. Since xenon headlights require more power, it is possible that the current security systems will not cope with the increased loads.
Bixenon and varioxenon
The development of gas-discharge optics technology has led to the emergence of bi-xenon headlights. Their development was caused by the need to implement more effective way switching low and high beam. Previously, this operation could be performed by several means - by changing the position of the reflector, by displacing the electric arc in the bulb, or by changing the position of the lamp. The most reliable and convenient mechanism turned out to be a mechanism in which xenon headlights change the characteristics of light as a result of moving the lamp to the appropriate position thanks to a special lever and a spring. Also, bi-xenon lamps make it possible to adjust with respect to the right or left-hand light system. The evolution of lamps did not stop there - a varioxenon with a drum mechanism has recently appeared, which allows you to choose one of four modes of low beam operation.
