On or around Wed, 22 Mar 2006 11:00:13 +0000, Alex
<
[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 06:16:27 +0000, Dave Gibbs
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>Is it legal to connect my new roof light bar to the main beam circuit or
>>do they need to be on a separate switch?
>>
>
>There is a stipulation in the Construction and Use regulations about
>the maximum permissible height for headlamps, I can't remember what it
>is, memory says to me 1.2metres, but the roofline of a landrover is
>certainly above it.
AFAIK in the UK, main beam lights can be anywhere provided they don't show a
white light to the rear and provided all headlamps bar for 2 dips extinguish
when you dip. This is a good argument to use with the twunts who say that
their foglamps are "driving lamps" - OK, if they're driving lamps, then they
shouldn't be on at the same time as dipped beam.
'ere y'go - the bit about optional main beams is at the bottom.
PART 1 REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO OBLIGATORY MAIN-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND TO
OPTIONAL MAIN-BEAM HEADLAMPS TO THE EXTENT SPECIFIED IN PART II
1. Number-
(a) Any vehicle not covered by subparagraph (b), (c) or (d): Two
(b) A solo motor bicycle and motor bicycle combination: One
(c) A motor vehicle with three wheels, other than a motor bicycle
combination, first used before 1st January 1972: One
(d) A motor vehicle with three wheels, other than a motor bicycle
combination, first used on or after 1st January 1972 and which has an
unladen weight of not more than 400 kg and an overall width of not more than
1300mm: One
2. Position-
(a) Longitudinal: No requirement
(b) Lateral- :-
(i) Where two mainbeam headlamps are required to be fitted- :-
(A) Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle: The outer edges of
the illuminated areas must in no case be closer to the side of the vehicle
than the outer edges of the illuminated areas of the obligatory dippedbeam
headlamps.
(B) Maximum separation distance between a pair of mainbeam
head-lamps:No requirement
(ii) Where one mainbeam headlamp is required to be fitted:
(a) On the centreline of the motor vehicle (disregarding any sidecar
forming part of a motor bicycle combination), or
(b) At any distance from the side ofthe vehicle (disregarding any
sidecar forming part of a motorbicycle combination) provided that a
duplicate lamp is fitted on the other side so that together they form a
matched pair. In such a case, both lamps shall be treated as obligatory
lamps.
(c) Vertical:No requirement
3. Angles of visibility
No requirement
4. Alignment
To the front
5. Markings-
(a) Any vehicle not covered by subparagraph (b), (c) or (d): An approval
mark or a British Standard mark
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986: No requirement
(c) A threewheeled motor vehicle, not being a motor bicycle combination,
first used on or after 1st April 1986 and having a maximum speed not
exceeding 50mph: No requirement
(d) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination: No requirement
6. Size of illuminated area
No requirement
7. Colour
White or yellow
8. Wattage-
(a) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle
combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986:No requirement
(b) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle
combination, first used before 1st April 1986:30 watts minimum
(c) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination- :-
(i) having an engine not exceeding 250 cc: 15 watts minimum
(ii) having an engine exceeding 250 cc: 30 watts minimum
9. Intensity
No requirement
10. Electrical connections-
(a) Every mainbeam headlamp shall be so constructed that the light emitted
there- from- :-
(i) can be deflected at the will of the driver to become a dipped
beam, or
(ii) can be extinguished by the operation of a device which at the
same time either- :-
(A) causes the lamp to emit a dipped beam, or
(B) causes another lamp to emit a dipped beam.
(b) Where a matched pair of main-beam headlamps is fitted they shall be
capable of being switched on and off simultaneously and not otherwise
11. Telltale-
(a) Any vehicle not covered by subparagraph (b):A circuitclosed telltale
shall be fitted
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986:No requirement
12. Other requirements-
(a) Every mainbeam headlamp shall be so constructed that the direction of
the beam of light emitted therefrom can be adjusted whilst the vehicle is
stationary.
(b) Except in the case of a bus first used before 1st October 1969, where
two mainbeam headlamps are required to be fitted they shall form a matched
pair.
13. Definitions-
In this Schedule-
â approval markâ means-
(a) a marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 5 of the
Designation of Approval Marks Regulations and shown at item 12 or 13 or 17
of Schedule 4 to those Regulations; or
(b) a marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 4 of the
Designation of Approval Marks Regulations and shown at item 1A or 1B or 1F
or 5A or 5B or 5F or 8C or 8D or 8E or 8F or 8M or 8N or 20C or 20D or 20E
or 20F or 20M or 20N or 31A or 31D of Schedule 2 to those Regulations; and
âBritish Standard markâ means the specification for scaled beam headlamps
published by the British Standards Institution under the reference BS AU 40:
Part 4a: 1966 as amended by Amendment AMD 2188 published in December 1976,
namely âB.S. AU40â.
PART II REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO OPTIONAL MAIN-BEAM HEADLAMPS
Any number may be fitted and the only requirements prescribed by these
Regulations in respect of any which are fitted are those specified in
paragraphs 7, 10 and 12(a) of Part I and, in the case of a motor vehicle
first used on or after 1st April 1991, paragraph 5 of Part 1.
--
Austin Shackles.
www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Satisfying: Satisfy your inner child by eating ten tubes of Smarties
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.