Recommendation for Adding Lighting to Brighten Roads?

[Brian_B]

I just ordered those today! I assume they're working well for you if you're mentioning them here.



So what kind of improvement could I expect from installing these lights or similar ones?

See my post just above yours. What I describe there is ~just~ from running the one set of Fog lenses.

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[Dirtrider]

Thank you for your response. Brian_B just posted a few minutes ago with a recommendation for the Diode Dynamic lights you suggest. I asked him about amber vs white before scrolling up and seeing that you have the amber lights. Do you have the Sport or the Pro version?

Sport version. I bought the lights through Panda Motorworks. It came with 6 lights (2 3" amber fogs, 2 (2x3"?) driving and 2 (2x3") combination lights) and a wiring harness specifically for the upfitter switches. You can pick whatever lighting combination you want. It fit very well. I ended up making a terminal block (see pictures) for the upfitter wires that uses WAGO lever connectors and mounts to the flange above the master cylinder.

 

[ThunderFlash]

@Denny Crane, if you want street legal, you should look at "SAE" designed lights (Society of Automotive Engineers). Those will be of an intensity and beam pattern that is DOT compliant. If you don't care about that, then the Pro lights are brighter and with that more expensive than Sports. I believe that is the same for DD lights and BD lights. The amber lights are generally dimmer, but supposedly provide better contrast and they don't reflect/glare off heavy rain/fog/snow. I personally prefer the brighter white or clear lenses for general supplemental lights, but I do have some amber tinted lights for true foul weather use.

Edit: I take that back....the Baja Designs SAE lights have a unique lens and are a single intensity. I guess DD has SAE lights in sport, pro, and max...which makes me wonder if they are truly SAE compliant because I believe the DOT only allows supplemental lights to be so bright, or maybe I'm wrong on that, too .

 

[Oldhippie]

When you say "clear," are you referring to "white"?
Why did you choose white for the fogs instead of amber?
Why the Pro over the Sport?

yes “white”… they provide more light than amber/yellow, plus I don’t like colored light…pro provides more light than sport for not alot of money…max too much money

 

[Dirtrider]

Thank you for your response. Brian_B just posted a few minutes ago with a recommendation for the Diode Dynamic lights you suggest. I asked him about amber vs white before scrolling up and seeing that you have the amber lights. Do you have the Sport or the Pro version?

I thought I posted a response but it doesn't seem to show. Anyway, I have 3" amber Fogs, 2x3" Driving, and 2x3" combination all the 'sport' levels with an amber backlight. I also have 3" ditch lights with amber backlight. Mine are all tied into the upfitter switches with a really nice wiring harness that is made by one of the sponsors on this site but I bought from Panda Motorworks. I made a junction box for the 6 upfitter switch wires that uses WAGO lever connectors.

 

[ThunderFlash]

@Dirtrider, did you model and 3D print your block? Any chance you might share the file? I generally use stl files out of SolidWorks, but I think I've used 3mf too. I use the Prusa Slicer.

 

[DarthLincoln]

A few other folks are also suggesting Diode Dynamic lights.

The Diode Dynamics Dual Fog Light Kit w/KR Off-Road Brackets for 2021+ Ford Bronco (Capable Bumper) is pricey ($849) vs. the fog lights only ($379), so another $500 to get the driving lights.

Thoughts?

Yeah, I‘m a proponent of only buying the lights you need. If you’re not sure you need both fog and driving lights, then save yourself the extra cost. Just buy the SS3 Pro Fog or Driving.

A nice thing about the DD lights is you can easily change the lenses. So if you buy the Fog Only set, you can change the lenses later from fog to driving lenses for ~$60 cost. You can also change the color.
Amber lenses: https://www.diodedynamics.com/yellow-lens-for-ss3-pods-one.html
Clear lenses: https://www.diodedynamics.com/clear-lens-for-ss3-pods-one.html

If you want the fog lights, then amber is better I think since there is less light scatter than white light when there is actual fog or dust in the air.

If you want driving lights, then white (clear lens) makes more sense since amber lens can cut the brightness almost in half.

Here’s a video about Amber vs Clear lights:

but this YouTube comment below from a claimed optometrist (randalorian8979) about blue light scatter by particles and within eye is probably a better explanation for why amber light is better for fog:

”I’m an optometrist with extensive training in physics, optics, light and illumination, not to mention the human eye. The real reason amber lights “cut through” dust, fog, snow is because amber reduces/eliminates the shorter blue wavelengths from the output beam. The blue wavelengths scatter more than other colors when hitting particulates in the air and thus prevent the beam from penetrating through the fog, snow, dust, etc. It has nothing to do with “optical workload” (whatever that is). Also the reflected blue wavelengths scatter within the eye, degrading the image quality. Additionally, eliminating blue makes the light reflected back to you (allowing you to see the environment) more monochromatic, and thereby reduces the effects of chromatic aberration. And yes, having a better quality image is less tiring for the eyes”

 

[Oldhippie]

headlights

fog plus driving

fogs

 

[Sparkherd]

I have read lots of specific posts on lighting written by folks who go off-road. I've just purchased a 2023 Black Diamond Sasquatch for my wife. She probably won't drive off the blacktop. I may, on the rare occasions when I get to drive the Bronco. What do y'all suggest if I want to add a set of auxiliary lights to brighten the road ahead, in addition to the standard headlights?

Thanks in advance!

YES!!!

 

[Brian_B]

headlights

fog plus driving

fogs

Pretty much how mine look too.

 

[ThunderFlash]

@Oldhippie, and those are supposed to be SAE lights?

 

[Oldhippie]

@Oldhippie, and those are supposed to be SAE lights?

yep!…stamped right on them…

 

[CalvinT]

My thanks to the many people who have responded to my original message. Y'all have provided a lot to take in. Before responding further, I wanted to take some pictures of my vehicle, which are now attached.

After considering your responses, I think pillar lights are a good idea. They range in wattage from 20W on up. Since I am not racing or going off-road, the utility of these lights, depending on how they are focused, is to brighten the road ahead. It appears there are lenses that direct the light to the front and the side. How many watts do you think are sufficient?

Secondly, please have a look at the front bumper of my Bronco. The vehicle has OEM fog lights. Some are saying it's a good idea to add on a more efficient set of fog lights. With the bumper you see, is this possible? If so, what do you suggest?

I have the same bumper you do. That's why I installed the Diode Dynamics Elite Series Fog Lamps. They don't need a new bracket. They install exactly where your stock fog lights are. The improvement is striking. I ordered yellow because I intend to use my fog lights as fog lights.The Elites are SAE approved.

The Elites have a sharper cut off than the Stage Series Fog lights. If you had the modular bumper the Stage Series Fog lights be the better choice. They're a better fit for the modular bumper. The brightness of the Elites is between the Stage Series Sport and the Stage Series Max.

The Elite Series Fog Lamps also cost less than other options from DD.

I orded directly from DD. You don't need a third party pigtail.

Drop me a line if you decide to install them.

 

[CalvinT]

I just ordered those today! I assume they're working well for you if you're mentioning them here.



So what kind of improvement could I expect from installing these lights or similar ones?

I decided I needed ditch lights after driving down Mars Hill in Flagstaff at night. I think these will be more than adequate. I haven't used them off road yet, but they do let me read house numbers and should work well for finding turn offs on a back road.

 

[CalvinT]

The Diode Dynamics Dual Fog Light Kit w/KR Off-Road Brackets for 2021+ Ford Bronco (Capable Bumper) is pricey ($849) vs. the fog lights only ($379), so another $500 to get the driving lights.

The DD Elite Series Fogs are only $259.95. But you can't install other lights with them.

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