Thread: Reverse lights & ADR's

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

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.

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!

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.