extra lights on 1150 - what's the legal position

[Pint6x]

Am considering adding migsel lightbars and hella FF50s to increase the beam pattern of the pathetic lights on my 1150.

What's the legal position on this ? should they be switchable independently ?

Should they only come on with main beam or stay on with dipped beam as well ?

Cheers

Philip (6x)

 

[Steve]

Should they only come on with main beam or stay on with dipped beam as well ?

I've got two pairs. One wired to dipped beam and one to main beam. Neither are separately switched. Never had any complaints from plod or the MOT man.

 

[Tim Cullis]

I had a similar concern, but oriented towards the use of fog lamps as auxilliary lights, the point being that fog lamps shouldn't be used when there's no fog.

I checked out the Highway Code and the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations but couldn't get a clear answer as to how one determined what were fog lamps and what were driving lamps.

Tim

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Having tried driving lamps I have now changed to fog lamps (small cheap ones from Halfords) as I prefer to fill in the dipped beam rather than extend the main beam range.

Mine are switched two ways: Using an Autoswitch & relay lets me run them on dipped beam using the indicator cancel switch). They are also switched on when the main beam is active using a conventional relay.

While the autoswitch is legally questionable I don't see how an MOT inspector would know about it. AFAIK switching them on via main beam is OK.

Mike

 

[hops]

I had a similar concern, but oriented towards the use of fog lamps as auxilliary lights, the point being that fog lamps shouldn't be used when there's no fog.

I checked out the Highway Code and the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations but couldn't get a clear answer as to how one determined what were fog lamps and what were driving lamps.

Tim

The lamp lens will normally indicate what type of lamp it is. e.g. Fog lamps have a letter 'B' on and are normally fitted below the bumper. There is some legislation as to how high they can be and how far from the vehicles corners they are to be fitted but this is aimed at
cars and goods vehicles primarily. I think if your lights are used sensibly, i.e. Not causing dazzle to other road users then you are unlikely to come a cropper with a copper, excuse the pun. If you are really unsure pop into your local MOT man and I'm sure he'll set you straight on what is acceptable.

 

[Steptoe]

when i fit peoples fog/driving lights, i have the indicator cancel as the on/off switch - and the lights automatically switch between fog and driving with the operation of the high/low beam --

not answered your question though, has it !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pint6x]

when i fit peoples fog/driving lights, i have the indicator cancel as the on/off switch - and the lights automatically switch between fog and driving with the operation of the high/low beam --

so you fit a spotlight either side but one operates on dipped beam and one operates on main beam ?

 

[Pint6x]

Re: Re: extra lights on 1150 - what's the legal position

I've got two pairs. One wired to dipped beam and one to main beam. Neither are separately switched. Never had any complaints from plod or the MOT man.

any chance of a piccie Steve ? just want to see how you've mounted them. cheers - phil

 

[Steptoe]

so you fit a spotlight either side but one operates on dipped beam and one operates on main beam ?

NO, two pairs, mounted on a migsel light bar, spots on top, fogs underneth .

fogs work on dipped, when you switch to main beam the fogs turn off and the spots come on - automatically

or you turn the spots/fogs off with the indicator cancel switch and just run on normal lights .

 

[Jimb]

Pint6X

The legal position is you can have any auxilliary lights you like on in fog or no fog so long as they are on with your dipped headlights, so the use as daytime running lights is fine given that they don't dazzle other drivers, set them at the dip beam level, you can set them to be active only when your dipped headlights are on by tapping the aux lights relay feed from the dipped beam power.

The driving lights however should be set at the main beam level and only to come on with the main beam.

I have a pair of Micro DE fogs on with dipped and another pair of FF50 driving on with the main and mounted on the H&B engine bars so with the main beam all 6 are on, with dipped there are 3 on.

The benefit of daytime running lights is they give a much wider profile as well as better lighting at night, making you more visible, of course you'll only be seen if the cage drivers have their eyes open but at least its a start.