Replaced OEM fog lamp bulbs with Hoen xenonmatch superwhite bulbs - Page 2

lordbaby · #16 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAB

... what was that again?

is the bulb you changed a fog lamp bulb or driving lamp bulb

gm_eng · #17 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 08:42 AM

The H11 bulb is the same in both applications. What makes the difference between a fog light and a driving light is the lens the light shines through. A fog light lens focuses the light out wide and down, while a driving light focuses it out ahead of the car. Kind of like twisting the lens on a Maglight. Twisting one way to spread the beam out wide or the other way to a more narrow beam. Either way, it's still the same bulb.

I turn my fog lights on all the time. It lets me see the road better just in front of my car. I've already received my new, Hoen bulbs, but they are a Christmas present from my wife, so I haven't installed them yet.

In the past, when I've bought aftermarket fog lights, I've noticed they can be purchased with either clear or amber lens. Anyone noticed a difference in lighting performance when changing from the more yellow, OE bulb to the whiter, Hoen bulb?

MoFex · #18 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 09:04 AM

Hoen do not last as long as OEM's. Also the light output, despite the light being whitwr is somewhat deemed.
It was my perception confirmed by measurements.
So if one is after the apperance - Hoen is OK. If you need more light output - this is a wrong choice....

rippypartsmaster · #19 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 10:06 AM

hmmm interesting

**The Tony Show** · #20 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 02:05 PM

The main purpose of a foglight is to catch the reflectors in the sides of the lane or road, not to pierce through the fog.

The reason the Hoens look more like Xenons is the blue color of the glass- running the light through blue glass filters out the yellow in the spectrum and the eye sees more of a bluish white color. I had the same lamps as low beam replacements in my old MX-5 and liked them.

Nice.

RAB · #21 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoFex

Hoen do not last as long as OEM's.

On my last vehicle ('02 Olds Aurora 4.0), the OEM fog lamps bulbs were still functioning after 6 years of vehicle operation. Even if the Hoen's last only 25% of that total time, I can live with that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoFex

Also the light output, despite the light being whitwr is somewhat deemed. It was my perception confirmed by measurements.

A minor difference in light output between the OEM bulb and the xenonmatch bulb is not important to me. The fog lamps on the new CTS, by their basic design and choice of bulb (H11), don't throw a heck of a lot of light to begin with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoFex

So if one is after the apperance - Hoen is OK. If you need more light output - this is a wrong choice....

I was strickly after the appearance. To me, the yellowish look of the OEM fog lamp bulbs look distinctly out of place when compared against the superwhite color of the HID's, hyper-vision DRL's and LED light pipes.
I've attached a photo I took earlier on of the front end of my CTS4 with the OEM H11 fog lamps bulbs still applied. The yellowish light of these bulbs really apparent. The 2nd photo I've attached is again of my CTS, but with the Hoen xenonmatch bulbs applied. Quite a difference!

For those who require more light output from their fog lamps, a different application would be required - using either higher wattage halogen-type bulbs, or going the HID route. Gotta caution folks though who might venture down one of those paths... you have to consider all the issues of additional wattage as well as the addition of more more heat to the existing fog lamp housings... (not to mention the potential for non-availability of vehicle warranty should Murphy's Law weigh in big time). Good luck!

RAB.

Zymurgy · #22 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 03:37 PM

What's the wattage of the stock H11s? What about using the Hoen Xeonmatch Plus? These are 80W bulbs and would give more light output (lumens). You might have to upgrade to heavy duty connectors, but Hoen offers these for $10/pair when ordered with the bulbs.

RAB · #23 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zymurgy

What's the wattage of the stock H11s? What about using the Hoen Xeonmatch Plus? These are 80W bulbs and would give more light output (lumens). You might have to upgrade to heavy duty connectors, but Hoen offers these for $10/pair when ordered with the bulbs.

Zymurgy, the wattage of the stock H11 bulb (Osram) is 55W, as is the Hoen H11 Xenonmatch standard bulb.
The Hoen Xenonmatch Plus bulbs could work quite well lumens-wise.. but as you say there may be a need to upgrade to heavy duty connectors.
The electrical load repesented by another 50 watts (25W x 2) using the Xenonmatch Plus fog lamps bulbs may not sound like much, but in a 12VDC system we're looking at an additional 4 amps of draw from the 'power grid'. And then there's the issue of additional heat within the lamp housings. Before proceeding with Xenonmatch Plus bulbs I'd be asking my dealer if such a change could impact warranty coverage should the electrical system stage a 'revolt'.. (pardon the pun

).

Zymurgy · #24 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAB

Zymurgy, the wattage of the stock H11 bulb (Osram) is 55W, as is the Hoen H11 Xenonmatch standard bulb.
The Hoen Xenonmatch Plus bulbs could work quite well lumens-wise.. but as you say there may be a need to upgrade to heavy duty connectors.
The electrical load repesented by another 50 watts (25W x 2) using the Xenonmatch Plus fog lamps bulbs may not sound like much, but in a 12VDC system we're looking at an additional 4 amps of draw from the 'power grid'. And then there's the issue of additional heat within the lamp housings. Before proceeding with Xenonmatch Plus bulbs I'd be asking my dealer if such a change could impact warranty coverage should the electrical system stage a 'revolt'.. (pardon the pun

).

I'm going to take a look at the fuse box. Based on the diagram in the owners manual, the fog lamps have their own dedicated fuse. I'm guessing it is a 15 amp since the 2 factory fog lamps would draw 9.2 amps (cutting it too close to for a 10 amp fuse). The Xenonmatch Plus would draw 13.3 amps. So, if that is a 15 amp circuit, the Xenonmatch Plus should be OK.

Cadillacboy · #25 (**permalink**) 12-13-07, 05:37 PM

What a cool shot !
Thanks, I am saving it now

Zymurgy · #26 (**permalink**) 12-17-07, 01:30 PM

I verified the fog lamp fuse is, in fact, a 15 amp fuse. So, the 80w Xenonmatch Plus are possible from the electrical load viewpoint. Does any body know how much additional heat the 80 watt will produce over the 55 watt bulbs?

st4422 · #27 (**permalink**) 12-17-07, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zymurgy

I verified the fog lamp fuse is, in fact, a 15 amp fuse. So, the 80w Xenonmatch Plus are possible from the electrical load viewpoint. Does any body know how much additional heat the 80 watt will produce over the 55 watt bulbs?

About 75-80% of energy required by incandescent bulbs is used producing heat, so figure 80-55=25 watts * .80 = 20 watts additional heat over a 55 watt bulb.

RAB · #28 (**permalink**) 12-17-07, 08:37 PM

The webpage via the included link provides everything you will ever want to know about an H11 Halogen 12V 55W bulb... except the heat it produces!
http://www.donsbulbs.com/cgi-bin/r/b...j19-2~ece.html
Referencing ST4422's post above, the difference between an 80W halogen bulb and a 55W halogen bulb is "20 watts of additional heat", or essentially a 36% increase in heat production. What does this truly mean for the fog lamp housings on the '08 CTS? Damned if I know!

Looks like we need a pioneer on this one. Zymurgy, are you leaning toward trying out the 80W Xenonmatch Plus bulbs? Per your recent post we seem to be okay with respect to electrical load. So.. when are you going to order the bulbs for the trial??!

Regards,
RAB.

st4422 · #29 (**permalink**) 12-17-07, 11:48 PM

To be slightly more precise, the 55 watt bulb produces about 44 watts worth of heat. The 80 watt bulb would produce 64 watts, 20 watts more than the 55 watt bulb or 44% more heat.

I don't know if this is a problem for the '08 CTS. Is the fog lamp housing completely enclosed or is there some ventilation? Apparently we need a guinea pig on this.

O2B2 · #30 (**permalink**) 12-18-07, 12:34 PM

It also depends on how clean you keep the lenses. If snow or mud blocks the lens the heat will increase as the light is trapped from releasing heat.

Moving, the air movement should prevent any additional heat problem, but standing still or stop and go traffic could be, especially in the south or southwest in high temp days.

That's for the guys that run fogs' 24-7 in clear weather!