Reverse lights & ADR's

[Nathan]

Hi,

I've installed some LED lights at the rear of my Defender. I have wired them up to turn on with the reverse lights as well as a switch to turn them on independantly.

I'm just interested to know if there are any ADR's or other laws that relate to reverse lights and how bright they can be?

Any thoughts?

Nathan

[rrturboD]

I think you must have them switched so they only work with reverse etc
I put a relay ii a set i setup for a friend so that when the engine was running they only worked when reverse was selected
Turn off the vehicle and they could be switched on separately
This way they made great work lights

[Lotz-A-Landies]

You cant have reverse lamps which can be switched on manually from the drivers position while driving. So you either need to have a interlock that prevents the lights being on if the engine is running or the manual switch is not in the front of the car able to be reached by the driver.

[Nathan]

Cool, I've just wired up a switch in the back... couldn't be bothered wiring up one in the front - looks like my laziness has paid off!

[juddy]

You cant have reverse lamps which can be switched on manually from the drivers position while driving. So you either need to have a interlock that prevents the lights being on if the engine is running or the manual switch is not in the front of the car able to be reached by the driver.

Following on from our chat on reverse lights, the chaps at the compliance place up here said you could fit reverse lights that work on a switch, the 90 was done this way to pass, maybe they don't know what there on about.

[CraigE]

Yes there are ADRs regarding this and any light you buy in Australia should have an ADR compliant status on the packaging as a minimum.

[saiken]

The ADR 1 states...
"Reversing Signal Lamps.
Lamps that are switched on automatically whenever revers gear is selected and the ignition is on to signal the driver's intention to reverse and to aid the driver in reversing manoeuvres at night. these lamps must only operate when the vehicle is in reverse gear and must be amber or white."

However they can be covered under ADR 45 as "search lamps".

BUT.... to pass either you have to have them just manually switched or soley controlled by the reverse lamp circuit.... you can't have both.

Also some state laws may restrict things on top of this.

[rainman]

So, who wants to post a wiring diagram to have reverse operation only when engine is on, and manual work/search light function when engine is off? ;) This covers all bases doesn't it?


James.

[pfillery]

My 75 S3 has a manually switched spotlight at the back wired in with the factory reverse lights. At present not running through a proper reverse switch (soon to be rectified) and when it went through roadworthy and one of the "defects" was that the reverse lights didn't work, I simply said that they were non original and manually switched, which he was happy with, and it passed. So obviously the RWC places do not adhere that closely with ADRs nor do they check facts.

My plan is to maybe fit an led bulb to the spottie if one is available of sufficient brightness to eliminate the need for a relay, as I think the spotlight bulb is too big to run from a stock standard reverse switch.

[saiken]

So, who wants to post a wiring diagram to have reverse operation only when engine is on, and manual work/search light function when engine is off? ;) This covers all bases doesn't it.

Not quiet... if it's connected to both you can't classify it as either a search light or reverse light... and therefor it doesn't pass the ADR.


Also with regards to the roadworthy guys letting it past..... it's always possible. However even the same person might let it go one day and stop it another day based on how they feel :mad:

Having said that, I don't think you'd ever really get pulled up on it

[saiken]

The wiring should be something like this.... If you use a diode relay you'll need to make sure pins 85 and 86 are the right way around.... I can't remember which way their meant to go....

Blister pack details are for narva...

[saiken]

The wiring should be something like this.... If you use a diode relay you'll need to make sure pins 85 and 86 are the right way around.... I can't remember which way their meant to go....

Blister pack details are for narva...


Should probably add that any power coming from the battery should be fused.... and you'd need to make sure the power circuit of the reversing light can handle the extra lights.... otherwise you'd need to add in another normal relay to supply the power to pin 87a

[Doddy]

Hi,
Can one of you knowledgeable persons tell me where the reversing light switch is located on a series 3 land rover?(military FFR)
I have circuit that shows its existence but I cannot find reference to it in the manuals I have (cd).
I assume it is attached to the gearbox somewhere, and I would like to undo as few screws as possible to access it.

Regards
Doddy

[hook]

Some were in ADR's I have seen
max 55 watt
Spread lenes.
15 dec below the horizontal

AND why do you see the council tractors on the road with all spot light on???

[rick130]

I think I'm going to try one of those high output 360* LED's in my standard reversing light unless someone has a good reason not to.

[Blknight.aus]

Hi,
Can one of you knowledgeable persons tell me where the reversing light switch is located on a series 3 land rover?(military FFR)
I have circuit that shows its existence but I cannot find reference to it in the manuals I have (cd).
I assume it is attached to the gearbox somewhere, and I would like to undo as few screws as possible to access it.

Regards
Doddy

its on top of the gearbox fitted to the selector ball mount.

to get to it you need to undo the floor plates and then the tunnel cover.

[Doddy]

Thanks Dave,
Only a dozen or so tech screws.
Almost the last of the electrical wiring checks.
Regards
Peter

[JDNSW]

This thread seems to be a good place to ask a question about reversing lights on the Isuzu engined 110.

This has an additional oil pressure switch wired with a relay so that the reversing light cannot come on except when there is oil pressure, i.e. when the engine is running. As this is an Australia only installation, anyone know why? The only reason I can think of is that there is no "accessory" position on the ignition switch, so this is necessary to prevent the light being (misleadingly) on when you are parked listening to the radio for example.

John

[BigJon]

I think I'm going to try one of those high output 360* LED's in my standard reversing light unless someone has a good reason not to.

In my Rangie I have installed two 20 watt halogen "downlights" as reverse lights. They required a bit of modification (hacking) of the reflector to make them fit, but you can't tell once the lens is back on.

The advantages are a massive increase in light, a proper silvered reflector and a slightly lower overall wattage through the vehicle wiring system.

The only downside I can foresee is increased heat if you leave them on for a long time.

In my VS ute I have installed 12 volt cree LEDs as reverse lights. I bought some LEDs that came in housings ready to be installed in torches (they have reflectors as well). I then soldered the housings into the base of ordinary 12v 21 w globes, then installed them as per normal.
All the same advantages as the "downlights", but with no added heat and much lower current draw.

[Doddy]

its on top of the gearbox fitted to the selector ball mount.

to get to it you need to undo the floor plates and then the tunnel cover.
Hi Dave
Tunnel cover off, 4 different size bolts etc.
No sign of switch or mount for it.
Maybe its an earlier version selector mount.
Hope pics are clear enough
Regards
Peter

[DeeJay]

I got my Landie engineered & registered with these reversing lights, no one took any notice !!:)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/517.jpg

[JDNSW]

Hi Dave
Tunnel cover off, 4 different size bolts etc.
No sign of switch or mount for it.
Maybe its an earlier version selector mount.
Hope pics are clear enough
Regards
Peter

Switch is mounted in a hole in the back of the bracket that hold the gear lever, so that the selector for reverse hits it when reverse is engaged. Should be easy to modify the one you have (drill a hole).

The bracket with the hole was only fitted where reversing lights were factory fitted. This was not standard on Australian Landrovers until they became compulsory under ADRs in the mid seventies.

The modification can be made to any bracket or a newer bracket fitted. Interchangeable (I'm pretty certain) on all Series Landrovers except for Stage 1 (which have a different switch as standard) and some preproduction 80".

John