Fog Light Build

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blackbetty14

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HID and LED do not mix well as they are optimized for different forms of light patterns and optics. you need to match an HID projector to HID and LED bulbs should not really go in anything. ANY LED PROJECTOR has a dedicated bowl/chip setup and its not a bulb replacement type, those have different bowl designs for the LED chips placement. You can put an LED bulb in an HID projector but it will not optimize the output and pattern... expect the hotspot to be off and a fuzzy cutoff not to mention the LED chips aren't even close in output to HIDs still.

With that being said, morimoto has come out with a new LED bulb that closely matches halogen bulbs (they are testing them in reflector housings) and they offer roughly the same optics as halogens (safe for reflector housings) but these still won't be optimal in HID projectors.

Matchbox take H1 bulbs (rebased bulb base style) and anything will go in. I dont recommend going over 35w on them as you can burn the bowls with a cheap kit, I'm running 45w hylux but I run morimoto bulbs. You can get any kit you want to go in them, even a $30 digital slim DDM HID kit will work well in them... no need for $100+ kits in the fogs but thats up to you. Even if you cheap out on the ballasts I dont recommend cheaping out on the bulbs a thats where the difference is really made (as long as the ballasts are putting out the rated power).

Halos are based on Shroud dimensions. The matchbox take a smaller HALO as they only have 1 shroud designed for them (If I remember correctly it was a 60mm HALO) where as the MH1 version 3.0-7.0 take a 70mm or something. The Mini gatling gun shrouds are NOT available for the matchbox projectors and your stuck using the only ones available for them (MICRO gatling).
 
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blackbetty14

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Also I forgot to mention that depending on the year of your ram you have to get a full Mopar Spec HID harness to run them. Mines an 18 and I needed 2 of the $100 harnesses to keep the canbus system happy (one for Headlights and one for fogs). I think if your ram is OLDER than 2015 your fine as I didnt need any harness on my 14 ram. So factor that into your pricing as well.
 

blackbetty14

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Thanks for the explanation, that is nice and I agree would be great to wire it up like you did. I sure wish you had a full write up with what parts you bought/links, I really want a set

Ask and you shall receive.
I got everything from theretrofitsource... minus the fog light housings (amazon).

Matchbox projectors (comes with micro gatling shrouds)
XB 60mm switchback HALOs (any 60mm HALO will work but you will need to glue or wire it and I bought wire from them as well)
Hylux 45w HID ballasts (going on 3 years old)
Morimoto XB H1 bulbs (color of your choice, I have 3000k, 4500k and 5500k).
Mopar Spec 15+ morimoto HID harness (with the 4 resistors etc)
Amazon cheap Fog housings

Screen Shot 2018-10-22 at 11.55.37 AM.png

Screen Shot 2018-10-22 at 11.54.35 AM.png

Screen Shot 2018-10-22 at 12.02.25 PM.png
 
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OC455

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Well....

I attempted to use the Duplicolor for the fogs. After cleaning and prepping them and spraying the first coat on, it didn't look good. It beaded up and didn't spray evenly at all. I wiped it all off with alcohol and got it cleaned up.

Went to start to setup the projectors in it. Used the same alcohol to wipe out the reflectors of the housing. Well, that was the worst thing I did, as the alcohol I used removed the chrome out of the reflectors and turned them black.....FUaQQQQ….

I guess the next step is to hit them with some gloss black.

Let me see what I can do with these before I spray them up.
 
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OC455

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I dunno.....the alcohol only removed the chrome from the reflector part of the housing.

Should I leave it or should I paint it gloss black?1f293b93bd54c95caba4a0e022835c09.jpga38f517f6eb2cb06414428d19c1396cf.jpg

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OC455

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What do you guys think?a3ddb62b5cd55b010628d47859567a42.jpg

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I dunno.....the alcohol only removed the chrome from the reflector part of the housing.

Should I leave it or should I paint it gloss black?1f293b93bd54c95caba4a0e022835c09.jpga38f517f6eb2cb06414428d19c1396cf.jpg

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I would imagine there needs to be reflective paint on the sides to throw the light forward. I would leave them how they are, and try them.
 

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HID and LED do not mix well as they are optimized for different forms of light patterns and optics. you need to match an HID projector to HID and LED bulbs should not really go in anything. ANY LED PROJECTOR has a dedicated bowl/chip setup and its not a bulb replacement type, those have different bowl designs for the LED chips placement. You can put an LED bulb in an HID projector but it will not optimize the output and pattern... expect the hotspot to be off and a fuzzy cutoff not to mention the LED chips aren't even close in output to HIDs still.

With that being said, morimoto has come out with a new LED bulb that closely matches halogen bulbs (they are testing them in reflector housings) and they offer roughly the same optics as halogens (safe for reflector housings) but these still won't be optimal in HID projectors.

Matchbox take H1 bulbs (rebased bulb base style) and anything will go in. I dont recommend going over 35w on them as you can burn the bowls with a cheap kit, I'm running 45w hylux but I run morimoto bulbs. You can get any kit you want to go in them, even a $30 digital slim DDM HID kit will work well in them... no need for $100+ kits in the fogs but thats up to you. Even if you cheap out on the ballasts I dont recommend cheaping out on the bulbs a thats where the difference is really made (as long as the ballasts are putting out the rated power).

Halos are based on Shroud dimensions. The matchbox take a smaller HALO as they only have 1 shroud designed for them (If I remember correctly it was a 60mm HALO) where as the MH1 version 3.0-7.0 take a 70mm or something. The Mini gatling gun shrouds are NOT available for the matchbox projectors and your stuck using the only ones available for them (MICRO gatling).

I am on the same page as Hid bulb to Hid projector. Personally, i am going to throw led bulbs in my factory fog housings, and compare light output to this Hid fog build. Maybe by that time morimoto will have better Led projectors.
But Whoever thought up the idea of Halos needs kicked in the teeth with steel toed boots. They look ********.
 
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2010 Infantry Vet

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Ask and you shall receive.
I got everything from theretrofitsource... minus the fog light housings (amazon).

Matchbox projectors (comes with micro gatling shrouds)
XB 60mm switchback HALOs (any 60mm HALO will work but you will need to glue or wire it and I bought wire from them as well)
Hylux 45w HID ballasts (going on 3 years old)
Morimoto XB H1 bulbs (color of your choice, I have 3000k, 4500k and 5500k).
Mopar Spec 15+ morimoto HID harness (with the 4 resistors etc)
Amazon cheap Fog housings

View attachment 144337

View attachment 144338

View attachment 144339

That all sounds good except for the switchback halos. Any type of halo is just plain ***.
 
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I would imagine there needs to be reflective paint on the sides to throw the light forward. I would leave them how they are, and try them.

Yeah, it's weird, all I wanted to do was wipe out the insides to make sure there were no fingerprints inside or residue and the alcohol removed the chrome from the reflector. The sides where the textured chrome is, is not affected. The reflector has a shiny black look now. I think I will go with it...
 

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Yeah, it's weird, all I wanted to do was wipe out the insides to make sure there were no fingerprints inside or residue and the alcohol removed the chrome from the reflector. The sides where the textured chrome is, is not affected. The reflector has a shiny black look now. I think I will go with it...

Hell, maybe tape off the unaffected chrome reflective paint, and spray chrome spray paint over the surface that the reflective finish was removed from. Cant hurt at this point.
 
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OC455

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I'm going to go with it.e62244920785d1edacbb527f00a13fff.jpg

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Changed my mind. Going satin black on the inside.

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brianw0048

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I would imagine there needs to be reflective paint on the sides to throw the light forward. I would leave them how they are, and try them.

Halogens need the reflectors to throw the light out in front. Projectors don't require the light to be reflected as it's projected out in front. That's why you can get away with painting the inside of your headlights black with a projector retrofit.

I wanna see this project completed. Several threads I've seen in the past had issues with the fog light bouncing. I assume it happens stock but could be more pronounced with a projector installed in the housing.
 
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