Thread: Headlamps - To HID or not to HID?

ADR 77 and 78 deal with HID lamps and sources but I could not find a mention of washers or self levelling.

You guys worry too much. I have had HID headlights and driving light inserts for at least 5 years in my classic rangie and have never been flashed or questioned by authorities about them.
Just fit the globes, adjust them properly and enjoy the extra light and ease of driving at night.
I have 42 watt H1 globes in the Super Oscars and 35 watt twin bulbs on each stem for the normal lights (these cost a packet at the time and one has just stopped working after a very wet and muddy weekend).

Ian

I emailed the RTA today and got this response:-

"John,

Aftermarket HID headlamps must be self levelling and have a washer system fitted,and meet Australian Design Rule 13.

If you are not sure if they meet ADR's,you may require engineer certification.

Regards

RTA Tech Enq"

I was unable to find anything on their website, and have asked them by return email to give an online reference.

John

On the weekend, I replaced my standard halogen globes with Philips X-tremePower globes (supposedly 80% increased light output). Certainly a vast improvement and perfectly legal, unlike mosy aftermarket HID headlight replacements.

Cheers
KarlB

Further response from the RTA - sent me a copy of ADR 13/00, the ADR on lighting; all 140 pages of it! Half an hour establishes that, yes, a cleaning system will be required for dipped beam lights exceeding 2000lumens, which presumably includes all HID lights.

The requirement for automatic levelling I have not found, but I can't be certain it is not in there somewhere!

John

JDNSW,

You have done the hard work and found the relevant ADR.

ADR 13 relevant bits to the current question.

snip .....

6.2.6.1. Vertical orientation
6.2.6.1.1. The initial downward inclination of the cut-off of the dipped-beam to be set
in the unladen vehicle state with one person in the drivers's seat shall be
specified within an accuracy of 0.1% by the manufacturer and indicated in a
clearly legible and indelible manner on each vehicle close to either headlamp
or the manufacturer's plate by the symbol shown in annex 7.
The value of this indicated downward inclination shall be defined in
accordance with paragraph 6.2.6.1.2.
6.2.6.1.2. Depending on the mounting height in metres (h) of the lower edge of the
apparent surface in the direction of the reference axis of the dipped-beam
headlamp, measured on the unladen vehicles, the vertical inclination of the
cut-off of the dipped beam shall, under all the static conditions of Annex 5,
remain between the following limits and the initial aiming shall have the
following values. For category N3G (off-road) vehicles where the
headlamps exceed a height of 1,200mm, the limits for the vertical inclination
of the cut-off shall be between:
-1.5% and -3.5%. The initial aim shall be set between : -2% and -2.5%:
h < 0.8
limits:between -0.5% and -2.5%
initial aiming:between -1.0% and -1.5%
0.8<h<1.0
limits:between -0.5% and -2.5%
initial aiming:between -1.0% and -1.5%
or, at the discretion of the manufacturer,
limits:between -1.0% and -3.0%
initial aiming:between -1.5% and -2.0%
The application for the vehicle type approval shall, in this case, contain
information as to which of the two alternatives is to be used.
h > 1.0
limits:between -1.0% and -3.0%
initial aiming:between -1.5% and -2.0%
The above limits and the initial aiming values are summarized in the
diagram below:

percentage vs height diagram not pasted if interested follow this link and go to pg 32


6.2.6.2. Headlamp levelling device
6.2.6.2.1. In the case where a headlamp levelling device is necessary to satisfy the
requirements of paragraphs 6.2.6.1.1. and 6.2.6.1.2., the device shall be
automatic.
6.2.6.2.2. However, devices which are adjusted manually, either continuously
or non- continuously, shall be permitted, provided they have a stop positon
at which the lamps can be returned to the initial inclination defined in
paragraph 6.2.6.1.1. by means of the usual adjusting screws or similar
means.
These manually adjustable devices must be operable from the driver's seat.
Continually adjustable devices must have reference makes indicating
the loading conditions that require adjustment of the dipped-beam.
The number of positions on devices which are not continuously adjustable
must be such as to ensure compliance with the range of values prescribed in
paragraph 6.2.6.1.2. in all the loading conditions defined in Annex 5.
For these devices also, the loading conditions of Annex 5 that require
adjustment of the dipped-beam shall be clearly marked near the control of
the device (see Annex 8).
6.2.6.2.3. In the event of a failure of devices described in paragraphs 6.2.6.2.1. and
6.2.6.2.2., the dipped-beam shall not assume a position in which the dip is
less than it was at the time when the failure of the device occurred.


6.2.9. Other requirements
The requirements of paragraph 5.5.2. shall not apply to dipped-beam
headlamps. Dipped-beam headlamps shall not swivel according to the angle
of lock of steering. Dipped-beam headlamps with gas-discharge light sources
shall only be permitted in conjunction with the installation of headlamp
cleaning device(s) according to Regulation No. 45.4/ In addition, with
respect to vertical inclination, the provision of paragraph 6.2.6.2.2. shall not
be applied when these headlamps are installed.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I was unable to find anything on their website, and have asked them by return email to give an online reference.

Online, ADR information can be found at infrastructure.gov.au: Australian Design Rules

Getting more specific:

• 3rd Edition ADRs (infrastructure.gov.au)
  Third Edition Australian Design Rules
  
  
• ADR 13 - Lighting (comlaw.gov.au - available as Word DOC, PDF, HTML)
  ComLaw Legislative Instrument Compilations - Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 13/00 - Installation of Lighting and Light Signalling Devices on other than L-Group Vehicles) 2005 (ADR 13/00)

Why are HID's illegal ? I would have thought a properly installed HID setup would be no different from a 'normal' setup apart from a brighter higher temperature (as in light temperature) light. A lot more efficient than filament type globes.
What's with the washer setup being mandatory? Does dirty glass cause the world to stop turning or something ?
One thing I did notice when looking at imported Chinese H4 HID's was that some 'threw' the wrong way. ie. they were designed for LHD vehicles. With H4 HID's they have a small actuator that moves a shield to 'throw' the light properly for low and high beam, though I did see some that had a neutral throw for low/high beam. ie. it threw the light up /down but not to the side.
The OKA has 2 rectangular headlamps each side with standard high/low in the bottom and driving lights in the top. My thought was to put single beam HID's in all four and set the bottom pair for low beam and the top pair for high beam. With the power saving with HID's I wouldn't turn off the low beams when going to high beam but leave all four on. Anyone see any problems with this?

Deano