Thread: DRIVING LIGHTS

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

I had a friend who is an aircraft mechanic at Moorabbin airport. He got me a pair of these long before I had a 4X4.

I fitted them to my girlfriends(now SWMBO) Ford Escort which had a 35 amp alternator, and these lights draw 20 amp each! Now back in those days the biggest alternator available was 55 amp, but there was a conversion available to suit the 55 Bosch which took it to 80 or 85 amps so this took care of it.

When the engine was at idle and the lights were turned on the RPM would drop about 200 from the alternator load, much like a bigger engine used to when the air con was turned on.

These things generated so much heat that from about 250mm distance I almost got a piece of paper to ignite. It started to smoke and blacken but would not light.

The light output in its day was AWESOME.

Dave.

What state was that in??? A mate in Brisbane years back was telling me about an escort that had lights like that.


EDIT - FWIW I called the WA transport department. They were no help. Thy transferred me to the "supervisor", who read the ADRs while I was on the phone.

Then said. "I can give you the name of an approved person to ask"
I said - but they would be telling me their interpretation of the ADRs - when it is your (WA transport's) interpretation that matters.
(she agreed with me)
She said - "you can submit an approval to modify form"
I said - but driving lights are listed as not requiring modification approval, so my form would be rejected worldn't it?
(again she agreed with me)
She then said - "you just need to make sure that you comply with ADRs and the NCOP"
I said - that's the point - they are ambiguous - is the front edge of the roof considered the "front of the vehicle".
The best she could offer was suggesting I write a letter asking for clarification to:

Vehicle Safety & Standards
21 Murray Rd Sth
Welshpool.

I won't hold my breath for a response.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

I had a friend who is an aircraft mechanic at Moorabbin airport. He got me a pair of these long before I had a 4X4.

I fitted them to my girlfriends(now SWMBO) Ford Escort which had a 35 amp alternator, and these lights draw 20 amp each! Now back in those days the biggest alternator available was 55 amp, but there was a conversion available to suit the 55 Bosch which took it to 80 or 85 amps so this took care of it.

When the engine was at idle and the lights were turned on the RPM would drop about 200 from the alternator load, much like a bigger engine used to when the air con was turned on.

Hi Dave, I got mine from a similar source and had almost the same problems when mine were on my old S series Valiant.

all i can find for the nt is they cant be above the bullbar.
http://www.nt.gov.au/transport/mvr/v...t-vehicles.pdf 7.2[a]

Originally Posted by lewy

all i can find for the nt is they cant be above the bullbar.
http://www.nt.gov.au/transport/mvr/v...t-vehicles.pdf 7.2[a]

Thanks for the link.

So that specifies max 1400 mm - which I think is the old rule (Pre 3rd edition ADRs as mentioned).

Importantly, the implementation of the lighting ADRs was postponed until 1 October 1991 and 1 July 1992 for some vehicle categories.

So they cannot apply that to vehicles manufactured after 1991/2???

Originally Posted by PAT303

Tim,can you make me up a kit for the roof mounted lights?,my Puma is arriving this month hopefully so I'll be in contact for a few things. Pat

Hi Pat, are you fitting a roof cage on the Puma?

and then there is part 8 of
MOTOR VEHICLES (STANDARDS) REGULATIONS - AUSTRALIAN VEHICLE STANDARDS RULES

My roof mounted light bar is by far the best lighting mod I have ever made on any of my vehicles. It runs 4 cheapy lights, but they light up a huuge area in front of the vehicle, and well off onto both sides of the road. The main reason I put them up there was :-

A - Recommended by a friend that had done the same.
B - At the time I had cooling issues and didn't want anything else in front of the radiator
C - They look cool....

I have since found another good reason for putting them up there - after coming out the bush on Sunday night from a full days run on some very muddy tracks, I found that both my headlights were covered in mud, and I couldn't see **** with just them on. The roof mounted lights were still clean, so they came to the rescue.

The only draw back I find is the glare on the bonnet - which a coat of matt black paint will fix.

On the subject of legallity, I have been running around with these on for 6 to 8 months. In this time, plenty of Police have seen them, both while I am travelling, and while parked. The only comment I got from one of them was 'Nice Rangie!" Until one of them tells me to take them off, they are going to stay...

Cheers - Gav

Hi Gav, there is one thing to watch out for and thats low branches.

As to the bonnet, painting it matt black will not remove the glare.

The best option is to take a leaf from rail operations where they fit reflectors on the underside of the of locomotive headlights.

Sorry for the state of the loco in the picture but it is the best shot I have to show the reflectors.