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Home Jensen Monday Club |
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Rear Fog Lights |
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On a recent trip out in the Jensen, I got caught in bad weather, including fog. This highlighted the lack of high intensity rear fog lights, and increased the risk of being run into in the poor visibilty, especially as the car is grey in colour, so even more invisible in fog. I had seen Jensen's at shows that had retro fitted under bumber rear fog lights, but these always looked bulky and out of place. A quick look around the internet found a local company who made a combined high output white (reversing light) and red (fog light) LED This meant I could use the reversing light housing, but add a high output red LED to act as a fog light. It would require a change of bulb holder as the factory reversing light bulb holder was only for a single output bulb, not a twin output version. The twin output bulb is called a "BAY 15D (1157)", but the company who sell the LED's don't have the correct type of bulb holder (518041 | L880) for the Jensen rear lights, so another internet search found these https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/bulb-holder-rear-lamp-double-2 Chris Miller very kindly donated a "FOG" switch from his spares, so I was all set to do the project. As the "Park Light" switch was not operational, I replaced it with the FOG light switch. This had 2 advantages: 1. It's easier to get under the centre consol than the dashboard switch panel 2. The Park Light switch is fed from the side light circuit, so there was already a +12v supply available, and it was only live when the side lights are on, so no danger of leaving the car with the rear fogs still on (I had previously fitted a warning buzzer which sounds if you open the doors with the side lights on but the ignition off)
A cable in a protective sheath was run to the rear of the car to carry the power from the FOG switch I had previously replaced all the bulbs in the car for LEDs (I say all, I keep finding ones I've missed all the time!) so I already had LED reversing lights Original single output bulb holder and white reversing LED
The new twin output lamp holder and White/Red LED
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quick test of the LED on the battery showed just how bright they are!  The BAY15 lamp holder has 2 gaps in the prongs that hold them in place to orientate the holder in the light unit. What I didn't know before doing this project is that they are differnt sizes. One is 12mm and one 15mm. The tabs in the light unit they go over are also 12mm and 15mm, so make sure you have them the right way around.  |
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it was all connected up, they could be tested. Reversing lights:  Fog Lights  It's been a fairly cheap addition, and if I ever get caught in fog again, I will have a better chance of not getting rear ended. |
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