Light bulbs

[Bernard]

Just found the 1 bright bulb and 1 dim bulb saga.... After looking for faulty earths, poor connections and power wires etc etc..... Dumbo here checked the bulbs and hey oh they looked the same but had different ratings !!..... The bright bulb is 12V 130/90W the dim is 12V 75/75W

question.... What is the correct rating bulb I should be fitting ?? (Don't forget I am a hammer man not a sparky ! )

[Guy Mayers]

I think anything over 100W isn't legal Phil. I'm assuming we're talking headlight bulbs and not brake/side light bulbs? Said the other man with a hammer...

Guy

[Bernard]

I think anything over 100W isn't legal Phil. I'm assuming we're talking headlight bulbs and not brake/side light bulbs? Said the other man with a hammer...

Guy".......... Yes Guy headlamp bulbs !

[turbonutter]

I think 65/55 is the max legal wattage. If you are'nt too bothered about legality then bigger is better assuming your wiring tan handle the current....

[Sando]

I think 55 dip 60 main is standard Philipe

[turbonutter]

Ok then 60/55.....

[Sando]

soz crossed posts Neil.

Usually H4 fitting for dip and main too. So many bright headlights nowdays don't think you'd get noticed if you did have higher wattage bulbs. When we were yoofs and everyone had dim glow standard bulbs 75/100w halogens stood out like a sore thumb, but now with all the HID and rainbow bulbs in all the golf's and Corsa's even 75w looks tame. :-)

[Bernard]

Ta boys...... It's just been on wheeler dealers too !!!..... Lol....... Thanks Edd

just got some supadoopa osrams off flea bay

[turbonutter]

As a legal alternative to high Watt bulbs, You can get a H4 60/55w bulb that is supposed to produce the equivalent of 140/130W. PIAA NIGHT TECH (http://www.piaa.co.uk/bulbs/bulbshow.asp?ID=nighttech)

I need new bulbs after one fell apart at silverstone last year, so might try those, or for ultimate power there are these 80/80W equivalent of 150/150W COMPETITION (http://www.piaa.co.uk/bulbs/bulbshow.asp?ID=platcomp)

Lokking at the price of those competition bulbs, the night tech ones look a much better option.

[Bernard]

Hi Neil / Roberto

I have ordered Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited 55/60 which are supposed to shine 40m further down the road and give 20% brighter white light........... I will let you know

Cheers

Phil

[ChrisCar6]

Is the legal limit expressed in Watts or Lumens? The march of technology has dramatically changed the relationship between the two.

[StruanR]

Can anyone identify/supply this high level rear brake light bulb?
I need 5.
Very indistinct markings DS3 or D83 one end?, 56T or 567 the other?
Struan

[turbonutter]

Is the legal limit expressed in Watts or Lumens? The march of technology has dramatically changed the relationship between the two.

To be legal I think the bulbs need to be e marked The PIAA night tech have that, so are legal and the equivalent of 140W. I guess as most of the high watt bulbs are really aimed at competition cars the manufacturers just dont bother with aproval.

[Griff]

All covered in:- The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
Full legal position described here:- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made (this is UK legislation - not applicable elsewhere)
I think you may be shocked at how much the regulations have changed since the old 50/55W maximum. Schedule 4 covers dip beam headlamps, and Schedule 5, main beam headlamps.

[Bernard]

Well Done Griff

Question for people who have passed SVA... were your bulbs checked ?????

[STR_Strat]

The only check when mine went through IVA last year was the normal "e" marking on the lens and the alignment. No check on the actual bulbs themselves.

Dave

[Sando]

Weren't checked on my SVA Phil, just alignment. But they are just 55/60's so not especially bright anyway.
dont know if IVA goes any further.

[ChrisCar6]

All covered in:- The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
Full legal position described here:- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made (this is UK legislation - not applicable elsewhere)
I think you may be shocked at how much the regulations have changed since the old 50/55W maximum. Schedule 4 covers dip beam headlamps, and Schedule 5, main beam headlamps.

After a quick scan, all I saw was some minimum wattages (15W). Otherwise, they've to be white or yellow, turn on & off appropriately, point in the right direction and be mounted in the right place.

[Bernard]

After a quick scan, all I saw was some minimum wattages (15W). Otherwise, they've to be white or yellow, turn on & off appropriately, point in the right direction and be mounted in the right place.

nice to see that her Maj's Gov is on top of this sort of stuff !!......... LOL

[Griff]

nice to see that her Maj's Gov is on top of this sort of stuff !!......... LOL

It has more to do with DoT (& HMG solicitors) realizing that the widespread use of HID, and now LED lighting makes the old wattage measurements meaningless, I suspect it will eventually come down to Lumens, and the accuracy of the beam pattern. If you look at what Audi research has been doing lately with "mouldable" LED lighting, which means that the same lighting units will used in both LHD and RHD markets (huge cost advantage), and of course it will also mean the end of the main/dip beam, as lights become interactive, and there projected beam length constantly varies to maximize vision and minimize dazzle. I think we will see WRC cars with bonnet integrated additional lighting within 12 months. Just look at some of the WRC2 Fiestas are doing with the 1st generation auxiliary lighting.

[ChrisCar6]

And here's me just ordered a new lamp pod.....when all I'll need is a couple of 5mm holes in the front clam with a miniature sun behind each one! Ah well.