On or around Sun, 25 Dec 2005 23:19:23 +0000, Tom Woods
<
[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>On Sat, 24 Dec 2005 18:48:54 +0000, Austin Shackles
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>>
>>>Nah read the post... Austin's mates motor. Hence Austin very lucky.
>>
>>I tellyer one thing - having the lights all go out in the dark is a good one
>>for testing whether you were really looking where you were going... If so,
>>you have a mental picture of enough of the road ahead to stop without going
>>off it.
>
>I wired up my series 2. On advice of a mate i put my sidelights and my
>headlights on completely different circuits, fuses and switches and i
>have the higher wattage indicator bulbs in my sidelights.
>Means that if i loose my headlights then you can drive quite easily on
>just the sidelights!. Its happened atleast once too (i think a dodgy
>connector fell apart and i lost headlights)
makes sense. what also makes sense is a dual-circuit sidelight - you don't
need the 21W bulbs when it's dark and the headlamps are on. Best bet would
be to swap the sidelight units fro brake/tails with white glasses on, and
have the 21W ones for use in dim daylight conditions, and a changeover relay
triggered from the headlight circuit to put the 21W filaments off and 5W
ones on when you put the headlamps on.
Bit like the Swedes used to do.
21W lamps are good for daylight running lamps when its murky or ****ing down
or something - better than the ultrabright dip beams every twonk wants to
use, usually in addition to foglamps, when it's not foggy.
Front foglights have a single purpose: to enable you to reduce the glare
reflected from fog at night, and still be able to see a certain amount where
you're going. To do this they need to be aimed properly and mounted low
down, principally so they're lower than your eye height.
There is a related problem with constant lighting, though: it tends to
result in drivers who only look for lights - but it looks like I'm
increasingly in the minority about this. Mind you, constant lighting adds
to the fuel bills
OK, here's my re-write of lighting regulations - and I now have some respect
for those who formulate these things: this set only apply to single rigid
vehicles, not motorcycles and not long enough to need additional side marker
lamps... You can tell I'm bored...
Begins...
--------------
All new vehicles to be fitted with the following illumination. Vehicles
already extant to be made to comply where possible. e.g. vehicles already
fitted with fog lamps should conform to switching requirements. There will
be no requirement to modify vehicle bodywork in order to move lamps which
have previously been approved, nor to add daylight lamps where this would
require modification of the vehicle structure.
1) Obligatory lamps.
a) Switching.
i) Lighting switch to have 3 positions, viz. Off, Head, Fog. [represented
in table 1)d) by O, H, F].
ii) An automatic switch to operate the brake lamps which operates in
conjunction with the brake pedal being depressed and remains off otherwise
[represented in table 1)d) by O or B].
iii) A switch to operate flashing direction indicators [represented in
table 1)d) by O, L, R].
iv) A switch to operate all direction indicators simultaneously ("Hazard
warning switch") [represented in table 1)d) by O, Z]
v) A automatic switch to operate reversing lamps which operates in
conjunction with selection of reverse gear and remains off at all other
times [represented in table 1)d) by O, V].
b) Position and fitment of obligatory lamps
i) Front position and daytime lamps.
a) Number - 2 front position, 2 daytime.
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level.
c) Across vehicle - not more than 200mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300 mm from the extreme front of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form symmetrical pairs.
f) At least one of a pair of lamps to be clearly visible from the front
of the vehicle, in an arc covering the area from the front-rear centre line
of the vehicle to either side, as far as 90 degrees, measured from the lamp
position.
g) Position and daytime lamps may be combined in one unit
ii) Obligatory headlamps.
a) Number - 2
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level
c) Across vehicle - not more than 300mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300 mm from the extreme front of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
f) Lamps to face forwards and be so aimed as not to dazzle other road
users.
iii) Obligatory front fog lamps.
a) Number - 2
b) Height - not more than 500mm from ground level
c) Across vehicle - not more than 300mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300 mm from the extreme front of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
f) Lamps to face forwards and be so aimed as not to dazzle other road
users.
iv) Combined rear position/fog lamps.
a) Number - 2
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level.
c) Across vehicle - not more than 200mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300mm from the extreme rear of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
f) At least one of a pair of lamps to be clearly visible from the rear of
the vehicle, in an arc covering the area from the front-rear centre line of
the vehicle to either side, as far as 90 degrees, measured from the lamp
position.
v) Brake lamps
a) Number - 2
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level.
c) Across vehicle - not more than 400mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) The centre of the lamps to be at least 100mm from the centre of the
combined rear position/fog lamp.
e) Along vehicle - not more than 300mm from the extreme rear of the
vehicle
f) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
g) At least one of a pair of lamps to be clearly visible from the rear of
the vehicle, in an arc covering the area from the front-rear centre line of
the vehicle to either side, as far as 60 degrees, measured from the lamp
position.
vi) Front direction indicator lamps
a) Number - 2
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level.
c) Across vehicle - not more than 200mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300 mm from the extreme front of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
f) At least one of a pair of lamps to be clearly visible from the front
of the vehicle, in an arc covering the area from the front-rear centre line
of the vehicle to either side, as far as 120 degrees, measured from the lamp
position, unless side repeater lamps are fitted
vii) Rear direction indicator lamps
a) Number - 2
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level.
c) Across vehicle - not more than 200mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300 mm from the extreme rear of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
f) At least one of a pair of lamps to be clearly visible from the rear of
the vehicle, in an arc covering the area from the front-rear centre line of
the vehicle to either side, as far as 120 degrees, measured from the lamp
position, unless side repeater lamps are fitted
viii) Side repeater direction indicator lamps.
Where either the front or rear direction indicator lamps do not conform
to the required angle of visibility as specified in 1)b)vi)f) or 1)b)vii)f),
an additional indicator lamp shall be fitted to the side of the vehicle,
such that it is visible in an arc of 160 degrees to the side of the vehicle,
radiating from the lamp position.
ix) Reversing lamps.
a) Number - 2
b) Height - between 500 and 1200mm from ground level.
c) Across vehicle - not more than 400mm from the extreme edge of the
vehicle, not counting moveable items such as wing mirrors.
d) Along vehicle - not more than 300mm from the extreme rear of the
vehicle
e) Lamps to form a symmetrical pair.
c) Table - Obligatory lamps: wattage (light output) and colour
lamp minimum maximum colour
output* output*
front position 5W 7W white
front daytime 18W 24W white
dipped beam 40W 55W white
front fog 40W 55W white or yellow
rear position 5W 7W red
rear fog 18W 24W red
brake 18W 24W red
direction 18W 24W amber
indicator
side repeater 5W 7W amber
reversing 18W 24W white
d) Table - obligatory lamps: operating conditions
lamp engine light lamp comment
running switch alight
front position no O no
yes O no
no H or F yes parking
yes H or F yes in case of main lamp failure
front daytime no O no
yes O yes
no H or F no
yes H or F no
headlamp no O no
(dipped beam) yes O no
no H or F no no headlamp when parked
yes H yes
yes F no can't have dip and fog
simultaneously
front fog no O no
yes O no
no H or F no no fog lamp when parked
yes H no can't have fog and dip
simultaneously
yes F yes
rear combined no O no
position yes O yes rear daytime
component no H or F yes parking
yes H or F yes
rear combined no O no
fog component yes O no
no H or F no
yes H no
yes F yes
brake no O no
no B yes brake lamps always work
yes O no
yes B yes
near-side direction no O no
indicator no R no
no L yes indicators always work
yes O no
yes R no
yes L yes
off-side direction no O no
indicator no R yes indicators always work
no L no
yes O no
yes R yes
yes L no
all direction no O no
indicators no Z yes
(hazard lights) yes O no
yes Z yes
reversing lamps no O no
no V no
yes O no
yes V yes
2) Optional lamps
The following optional lamps may be fitted. No other optional lamps are
allowed.
a) Optional position lamps.
i) Switching - optional position lamps may be switched independently in
any manner that produces a symmetrical light pattern.
ii) Front position lamps - up to 8 may be fitted, of not more than 7W
output* each. Lamps should form a symmetrical pattern and must not emit a
red light.
iii) Rear position lamps - up to 8 may be fitted, of not more than 7W
output* each. Lamps should form a symmetrical pattern and must emit a red
light.
b) Optional headlamps.
i) switching
a) All optional headlamps must be capable of being switched off
simultaneously by a single switch ("dipswitch").
b) individual optional headlamps may be switched on or off provided that
this switching does not interfere with requirement 2)b)ii)a)
ii) Number - up to 8
iii) Fitment - light must be aimed forwards and must not show a white
light to the rear of the vehicle
iv) Output - not more than 60W per lamp.
v) One pair of optional headlamps are permitted to turn in the same
direction, but not necessarily by the same amount, as the steering wheels of
the vehicle, provided that this does not conflict with requirement 2)b)iii).
c) Optional Brake lamps
i) switching - Optional brake lights must be switched so as to operate in
conjunction with the obligatory brake lamps.
ii) Number - up to 2
iii) Fitment
a) lamps must be fitted facing to the rear
b) lamps must emit a red light
c) lamps must not exceed 24W output
d) lamps must be fitted in a symmetrical pattern.
d) Optional rear indicators
i) switching - optional indicators must be switched so as to operate in
conjunction with the appropriate obligatory indicator.
ii) Number - 2
iii) Fitment
a) lamps must be fitted facing to the rear
b) lamps must emit a red light
c) lamps must not exceed 24W output
d) lamps must be fitted in a symmetrical pattern.
e) Worklights - any lamp which emits a light not approved in regulations 1)
and 2)a) - d).
i) Switching - all worklights should ideally be incapable of being
illuminated while the vehicle is in motion. In any case, a prominent
warning lamp or telltale shall be fitted to indicate that any workight is
illuminated.
ii) worklights should as far as possible be fitted so as to minimise
inconvenience to other road users.
iii) save subject to 2)e)iv), it shall be an offence to use a vehicle such
that worklights are illuminated while the vehicle is in motion.
iv) exceptions
e) The following vehicles shall be allowed to operate with worklights
illuminated while in motion where the use of said lights is essential to the
safe or proper operation of the vehicle:
i) emergency vehicles.
ii) vehicles engaged in road maintenance during the hours of darkness.
iii) vehicles engaged in the recovery of broken down vehicles during the
hours of darkness.
* output means the light output from a standard incandescent bulb of the
specified wattage or equivalent light intensity from other types of light
source.
-----------------------
ends.
if any of you CBA to read this far, a) well done and b) I welcome comments,
either in the group or in private. If replying by email, removing the
obvious spamtrap makes it more likely that I'll see it.
--
Austin Shackles.
www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"You praise the firm restraint with which they write -_
I'm with you there, of course: They use the snaffle and the bit
alright, but where's the bloody horse? - Roy Campbell (1902-1957)
