Do you want to improve your fog light output?
#1
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Do you want to improve your fog light output?
You can easily improve your fog light output by converting to H9 globes. Read my DIY at Ozhonda here:
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#2
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Originally Posted by yfin
You can easily improve your fog light output by converting to H9 globes. Read my DIY at Ozhonda here:
CLICK HERE
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CLICK HERE
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Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and I take no responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You do this entirely at your own risk.
The problem: The stock 55w H11 fog lights on the CL9 are not particularly powerful. To put it blunt they are useless. They are a cosmetic feature to enable you to ‘be seen’ rather than provide you with any useful light output.
The solution: Convert very efficient H9 type globes to fit the stock H11 fog light harness. The result is an increase in lumens output from 1350 lumens in the stock form to a massive 2100 lumens in the H9 type (also a whiter output).
The increase in wattage is a measly 10 watt (65w compared to stock 55w) so there should not be any associated heat problems typical with increasing wattage. The fog light covers are also made from glass so the risks of overheating are minimal in my opinion.
Credits: Credit goes to the website below for giving me the idea to modify a H9 globe to fit a H11 socket. He doesn’t give instructions as to how to perform the conversion but it is self explanatory once you look closely at the sockets. As far as I am aware no one has attempted this modification on a CL9 Euro before.
Props to http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html
Cost: 2 xH9 globes. I purchased some cheap and nasty H9 globes on ebay for $12. They are blue coated bulbs . Coated bulbs are not recommended if you are looking for maximum light output. If you want maximum output use a standard clear H9 globe.
Tools required: Stanley knife or similar.
Step 1:
Get your H9 globes. The H9 and H11 globes are physically the same size! So no fitment issues in the housing. This pic is what the H9 I purchased looks like. The stock globe looks the same - except for clear glass.
Compare the socket of the stock H11 globe to the H9 globe in these pictures below.
Stock H11 globe below
H9 globe below
Note how the H9 globe has an extra piece of plastic ridging in the socket? (NB: the photo above was skewed when I resized it. Not to worry - I assure you the H9 and H11 are the same shape and size).
Step 2:
Being very careful not to touch the glass – you need to use your Stanley knife to slowly cut away the socket ridging so the H9 globe fitting looks exactly like the stock H11 globe fitting. One ridge needs to be removed with the knife. If you work slowly this should be easy to do.
The end result should look like this.
Step 3:
Fit the globe to the vehicle. No other modification is required. If you have cut the globe socket properly the globe will fit the fog harness in the vehicle perfectly.
Results:
These pics below are of the fog light and parking lights only! The headlights are turned off!! Not bad aye for $12. You will get even better results using a clear globe and adjusting the beams correctly (I haven’t done this yet). There is a screw underneath the fog housing to adjust the beam up and down.
Borat’s review on this mod is “Wa wa wee wo, I like very much!”…
If you try this DIY let me know what you think of the results.
__________________
The problem: The stock 55w H11 fog lights on the CL9 are not particularly powerful. To put it blunt they are useless. They are a cosmetic feature to enable you to ‘be seen’ rather than provide you with any useful light output.
The solution: Convert very efficient H9 type globes to fit the stock H11 fog light harness. The result is an increase in lumens output from 1350 lumens in the stock form to a massive 2100 lumens in the H9 type (also a whiter output).
The increase in wattage is a measly 10 watt (65w compared to stock 55w) so there should not be any associated heat problems typical with increasing wattage. The fog light covers are also made from glass so the risks of overheating are minimal in my opinion.
Credits: Credit goes to the website below for giving me the idea to modify a H9 globe to fit a H11 socket. He doesn’t give instructions as to how to perform the conversion but it is self explanatory once you look closely at the sockets. As far as I am aware no one has attempted this modification on a CL9 Euro before.
Props to http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html
Cost: 2 xH9 globes. I purchased some cheap and nasty H9 globes on ebay for $12. They are blue coated bulbs . Coated bulbs are not recommended if you are looking for maximum light output. If you want maximum output use a standard clear H9 globe.
Tools required: Stanley knife or similar.
Step 1:
Get your H9 globes. The H9 and H11 globes are physically the same size! So no fitment issues in the housing. This pic is what the H9 I purchased looks like. The stock globe looks the same - except for clear glass.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3432.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3435.jpg)
Compare the socket of the stock H11 globe to the H9 globe in these pictures below.
Stock H11 globe below
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3437.jpg)
H9 globe below
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3431.jpg)
Note how the H9 globe has an extra piece of plastic ridging in the socket? (NB: the photo above was skewed when I resized it. Not to worry - I assure you the H9 and H11 are the same shape and size).
Step 2:
Being very careful not to touch the glass – you need to use your Stanley knife to slowly cut away the socket ridging so the H9 globe fitting looks exactly like the stock H11 globe fitting. One ridge needs to be removed with the knife. If you work slowly this should be easy to do.
The end result should look like this.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3434.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3433.jpg)
Step 3:
Fit the globe to the vehicle. No other modification is required. If you have cut the globe socket properly the globe will fit the fog harness in the vehicle perfectly.
Results:
These pics below are of the fog light and parking lights only! The headlights are turned off!! Not bad aye for $12. You will get even better results using a clear globe and adjusting the beams correctly (I haven’t done this yet). There is a screw underneath the fog housing to adjust the beam up and down.
Borat’s review on this mod is “Wa wa wee wo, I like very much!”…
If you try this DIY let me know what you think of the results.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3481.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3478.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/yfin/IMG_3477.jpg)
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#8
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Originally Posted by rmpage
Nice and bright. Are your H9 bulbs rated 55 watts? That is the North American TSX wattage.
#11
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Originally Posted by Knox
He said in the DIY: "The increase in wattage is a measly 10 watt (65w compared to stock 55w) so there should not be any associated heat problems typical with increasing wattage. The fog light covers are also made from glass so the risks of overheating are minimal in my opinion."
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#12
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Originally Posted by rmpage
Nice and bright. Are your H9 bulbs rated 55 watts? That is the North American TSX wattage.
Sorry I don't have any H11 comparison pics at the moment - I am sure someone will do this. It is a pain in the ass to change the globes now for the sake of a photo.
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#13
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Hey nice DIY. I had thoguht of doin this but I'm glad you tried it and it looks like it works well.
The one concern I have is that the H9 bulbs don't have the coating on the tip, which might cause a bit of a glare. Especially on JDM fogs which dont have the glare shield like their USDM counterparts. But, I think I'm still goin to do it anyway.
BTW, if anyone wants lower wattage (for some reason), you can also swap in some H8 bulbs, they are 35W. Just thought I'd share. But why would you want to do that?
The one concern I have is that the H9 bulbs don't have the coating on the tip, which might cause a bit of a glare. Especially on JDM fogs which dont have the glare shield like their USDM counterparts. But, I think I'm still goin to do it anyway.
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BTW, if anyone wants lower wattage (for some reason), you can also swap in some H8 bulbs, they are 35W. Just thought I'd share. But why would you want to do that?
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Originally Posted by lcrazyaznl
Anyone can find where to buy those h9 bulbs?
Note - I said above H9 are all 65w - that isn't correct as Hella sell them as 100w too. Just make sure you get 65w and you will be right.
LINKY
#18
nice mod
but i have H11 100 Watt Heliolite Fogbulbs
used it for couple months, no crack no nothing
works perfect, i use fog lights 100% of driving time.
i dunno if it's brighter than 65W H9s, but def. brighter than 55W stock fog
but i have H11 100 Watt Heliolite Fogbulbs
used it for couple months, no crack no nothing
works perfect, i use fog lights 100% of driving time.
i dunno if it's brighter than 65W H9s, but def. brighter than 55W stock fog
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Originally Posted by jaehshim
nice mod
but i have H11 100 Watt Heliolite Fogbulbs
used it for couple months, no crack no nothing
works perfect, i use fog lights 100% of driving time.
i dunno if it's brighter than 65W H9s, but def. brighter than 55W stock fog
but i have H11 100 Watt Heliolite Fogbulbs
used it for couple months, no crack no nothing
works perfect, i use fog lights 100% of driving time.
i dunno if it's brighter than 65W H9s, but def. brighter than 55W stock fog
![ugh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/ugh.gif)
When you are replacing those 100w globes try the Hella H9 100w - they are 2900 lumens, more than double the stock output. H11 100w is going to be similar lumens to the H9 65w
#20
Senior Moderator
the large watt numbers are claimed output (whatever that means to the manufacturer), not actual consumption. I bought some Mtec bulbs that say 130w on the front, but on the back say 65w usage, 130w output. Its all marketing BS, just make sure the real wattage is correct.
#21
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after seeing this thread, i'm thinking about replacing my hoen xenonmatch h11 bulbs with hoen xenonmatch plus h9 bulbs. I'm happy with the color of my current bulbs, but since i completed custom fog light "grilles" my light output is pretty decreased.
http://www.hoen-usa.com/plus.htm
http://www.hoen-usa.com/plus.htm
#22
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if we order the h9 will it come with the globe we need to cut?
http://www.hoen-usa.com
http://www.hoen-usa.com
#23
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the 'globes' people are refering to are the light bulbs... so yes, if you order the H9's you will get everything you need. NOT pictured in the DIY is the trimming of one of the 3 metal tabs that locks the bulb into the housing you need to do. On each bulb there is one tabe that is much wider then the other two, but the wide part of the tab is not centered. On the h9's the wide portion is to the right, while on the H11's the wide part is to the left. In order to get the H9's to fit in the slots in the foglight housign designed for H11's you need to trim the right protion of the wide tab off with some tin snips or some other sharp metal cutting tool. Its very easy to do and takes about 30 seconds each bulb. Sorry i dont have pics because i know that probably sounds a little confusing. I am pretty sure i am correct about with side needs to be trimmed but compare the two bulbs side by side just to be sure.
#27
Oliver!!!
Hmmm, you've given me much to consider here. I've been thinking of getting a set of Hoens, but now I'm not so sure. I think PepBoys has some H9's in the 4000k range fairly cheap. My concern is the long term effects of the extra output on the switch and the wiring. I realize it's only an extra 10 watts, and the fusing should prevent any damage, but it's still a concern.
#28
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I've tested it out so far on the oem harness with 2300k h9. No abuse or melting of the harness.
I upgraded to 3000k hid fogs now after a tsx member was parting out.
The harness is intact i kept the fogs running for 4 months about every night or when it rained. only issue is i'd shut it off if im waiting at a long light or parked.
Since the glass does get really hot. might make it easier to shatter when something hits it if its not getting cooled by air.
I upgraded to 3000k hid fogs now after a tsx member was parting out.
The harness is intact i kept the fogs running for 4 months about every night or when it rained. only issue is i'd shut it off if im waiting at a long light or parked.
Since the glass does get really hot. might make it easier to shatter when something hits it if its not getting cooled by air.
#29
Oliver!!!
That's true. Hadn't thought of the extra heat those extra 10 watts would put out. You didn't have any reflector issues, did you? I had a buddy that put 100 watt bulbs in his Focus headlights. After a few months the reflectors started to warp and melt. The lens was fine though. I told him he was lucky he didn't smoke the OE harness. I think I know what I'll be doing next time I get 10 extra minutes.
#30
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Well i ran it for 4 months about every night when i drove. Also when i drove up its a about a 7hr drive with the fogs on at night.
No problems really.
I'm running 1 oem glass and a rsx lexan replacement for the right foglight. So i was testing how it was doing. Worth reported that his lexan plastic warped after having the h9 bulbs on for a while.
No problems really.
I'm running 1 oem glass and a rsx lexan replacement for the right foglight. So i was testing how it was doing. Worth reported that his lexan plastic warped after having the h9 bulbs on for a while.
#31
Oliver!!!
Hmm, I may reconsider then. And I definitely think I'm going to dissuade my buddy with the Miata from doing it. I'm pretty sure his lenses aren't glass. Of course I didn't think ours were, so I could be mistaken. Oh well. Guess it'll be Xenonmatch H11s.
#32
^^ Our OEM fogs are glass lenses, but not the thickest, thats why alot of members report Cracked fog lenses. I'm sure it could handle the heat, but I'm probably gonna opt out of this mod since there is a possibility of an electrical issue.
Plus our HID's are so bright, the fogs are just there for aesthetic purposes. I use my fogs as DRL since I have them re-wired to run with just the parking lights on.
Plus our HID's are so bright, the fogs are just there for aesthetic purposes. I use my fogs as DRL since I have them re-wired to run with just the parking lights on.
#36
Oliver!!!
To put in HID fogs you have to get a whole kit with a new socket and ballast. The stock lights are 12v Halogen H11s. And the 08s do not have HID fogs, just the headlights.
#37
none of them have HID fogs, they all have the regular halogens. The write up just seemed like the halogens used 55w and then now the HID is using 65, so there wasnt a need for a ballast. If ballasts are involved, il have to save this for a later project. a good kit from Mtech costs about 300+, but that was for BMW. i dont know how much for Acura.
#38
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All the kits are universal you just need the h11 conversion kit from the hids.
This write up is to improve light output for non hid users.
its a simple mod with h9 bulbs which have more lumens 2100 i think and run a bit higher 65w which is really like nothing.
This write up is to improve light output for non hid users.
its a simple mod with h9 bulbs which have more lumens 2100 i think and run a bit higher 65w which is really like nothing.
#39
I see what you mean. Just a direct swap with halogens. I really want HID fogs. I know my first mod. Just stinks you can't turn them on without having the headlights on. Thanks for the clarification.
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