In Canada, we have a DRL law and are required to have DRLs when the car is running. For the Infiniti, they use the fog light as the DRL; it is dim when used as the DRL and bright when forced on as a fog light. I assume this means as the DRL it operates at a lower voltage level that increases to 12V when operating in the fog mode.

I have replaced the factory fog with an HID kit that contains a 35-watt ballast. Is there any problem with operating the ballast at less than 12 Volts? I’m assuming the output is about 7 Volts when in DRL mode. I was advised by others that the HID either won’t light or I’ll burn out the ballast. For now I disabled the DRL.

Appreciate a quick opinion as I already have it all installed.

 

So I contacted the manufacturer and they assured me you cannot use an HID operating through a ballast at such a lower power level as I expect the DRL relay is putting out. The HID just won't light. So if you have DRLs operating through the fog lights (which I think is the standard way for a 2008) you cannot change the fogs to HID and expect them to work the same way.

I will need to devise another way to meet the Canadian DRL requirement - right now I have the HID fogs on full strength all the time as my DRL. I'm going to see if I can re-route the output of the DRL relay to my new 6K LED city light which is pretty bright.

We'll see how this goes......

 

Thanks for the heads up. I was contemplating HID conversion for my fogs as well. I thought that I read that the fogs in the coupes run on 55 watts. What is that little wedge bulb in the fog housing? City light?

 

The HID fog kit I installed came with it's own 35W ballast. I've heard the coupes have a 55W ballast as well but thought this must be for the headlight as the factory fog wouldn't need a ballast (IMO).

The small 194 wedge bulb in the same housing is often called the city bulb although I would call it a parking light. It can be turned on by the control stock at the setting between Auto and ON. BTW, I changed this out at the same time to a 6K LED; also changed the side marker and the turn signal but I'll save all this for another thread.

Regarding the DRL using the HID fog, I'm planning to switch the DRL to the city light as it is now quite bright.

For those with a USDM without DRL, I don't think they would experience any of the issues I'm having - should be a straight swap out. I'll do a DIY once I get my DRL resolved.