Thread: Combining high and low beams

A little more information...? Do you want to run both high and low filament at the same time on the standard H4 globe that fits the light housing?

Yes, you are quite right. I do want to run both high and low filaments at the same time.

When you pull the high beam switch towards you, against spring pressure, you get the high and the low beam on together. Having both high and low beams on together fills out the area that the high beam misses, and cuts out the bright light shining up in the fog. LRT

edited to remove possibly inaccurate information

OK, I'd strongly suggest you don't do this, as it will be completely illegal.

I can advise that BMW 3 series E36 add high beam to low beam when placed on High beam.
While they have 4 headlights , the principle is the same, so it cannot be illegal.
However I think the bulbs would die in short order. Flash is one thing, on all the time another.
Regard sPhilip A

My mothers Honda also has low and high on at the same time.
I remember our old d2 and when driving at night on potholed roads I used low beam as you could see the potholes easier, i also had the though of combining the two beams, But then it got sold for a puma, problem solved

The facelift D2a runs the low beams as well when high beam is selected ...

... it has 4x lights/reflectors though.

Can't be illegal.

From Western Australian Consolidated Regulations (based of course on the ADR's)

ROAD TRAFFIC (VEHICLE STANDARDS) RULES 2002 - REG 77

77 . Changing headlights from high-beam to low-beam position

(1) A motor vehicle built after 1934 that can travel at over 60 km/h must be fitted with —

(a) a dipping device enabling the driver in the normal driving position —

(i) to change the headlights from the high-beam position to the low-beam position; or

(ii) simultaneously to switch off a high-beam headlight and switch on a low-beam headlight;

and

(b) for a vehicle built after June 1953 — a device to indicate to the driver that the headlights are in the high-beam position.

(2) A headlight fitted to a vehicle not fitted with a dipping device mentioned in subrule (1)(a) must operate in the low-beam position.

(3) When a headlight fitted to a vehicle is switched to the low-beam position, any other headlight on the vehicle must operate only in the low-beam position or be off.

ROAD TRAFFIC (VEHICLE STANDARDS) RULES 2002


Reference to the ADR
http://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CDsQFjAG&url=http%3A %2F%2Fwww.comlaw.gov.au%2FDetails%2FF2007C00608%2F 52069310-a68d-4234-898f-844000bab145&ei=t6z5Te-zGozYuAPp0-CrAw&usg=AFQjCNH98sPMxlna-YK-8ebKDevok4a2bg

doesn't appear to prohibit both high and low beam operating together IN HIGH BEAM MODE.

ADR's onlin here:
Third Edition Australian Design Rules

specific reference
Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 13/00 - Installation of Lighting and Light Signalling Devices on other than L-Group Vehicles) 2005

I occasionally see old round low beam only H1 headlamps, used in twin lamp systems such as the ZG Fairlane. The high beam headlamps come on as well. In a single lamp assembly the main risk would be overheating, and the negative terminal of the bulb would carry twice the current. You would need to make sure the connectors are clean and tight.

If you had relays on both high and low beam a simple dash switch and diode would allow the low beam relay to be fed from the high side of the dip switch as well if you wanted to do so.