Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Defender => Topic started by: StrenuousRelaxer on March 18, 2008, 21:12:11

Title: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: StrenuousRelaxer on March 18, 2008, 21:12:11: Does anyone know the law regarding use of spotlights in combination with dipped headlights? I have a standard bumper mounted "A" frame designed to hold spots at the same height as [but inside] the normal headlights. I know most people use the spots in conjunction with main beam. But I want to use them to augment the dipped position. Does anyone know if this is legal if I aim the spots to only illuminate the same area of road that the dipped lights cover?

I'd be grateful for any relevant advice. :help:
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: SteveGoodz on March 18, 2008, 23:19:32: You are only legally allowed to have a single pair of dipped head lights illuminated. Spots mounted close to the centre of the vehicle (like on an A-frame) will almost certainly not meet the positioning requirements for dipped headlights either.

Sorry :(
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 19, 2008, 02:13:27: Spot lights and fog lights for that matter do not have the correct beam pattern or cut-out to be used a dipped headlamps either.

But if you want a decent pair of "off-road work lamps" take one pair of good quality fog lamps (Hella for example) and file new cut-outs in the bulb so that it rotates 90 degrees, not mount above your bumper for a good beam pattern with nice spread and depth. Not really legal though other than off-road or with the main beam.
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Boddle on March 19, 2008, 08:38:30: The only set of lights usable with dip beam are fog lamp which have to be mount so low that you may have difficulties mounting them within regulation on a Defender but they can only be used for conditions where clear visibility is than 100 metres (that also would include there use on greenlanes as they are classified as highway)
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 20, 2008, 03:46:50: There is no maximum height requirement for fog lights that I'm aware of other than something to do with how they are wired up :-k

What you will find is that if you mount them really high they only produce a pencil thin beam of light across the road, which is why I modified the bulbs in mine.
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Boddle on March 20, 2008, 08:20:30: Just because you are not aware of it doesn't mean there isn't a law. IF you have purchased a set of lights which claim to fog lights (not driving lights) they will come with should instruct you to height and distance from the edge of vehicle for Fog lights.
Any light mounted not mounted in that zone legally require to be only to used only when main beam is operated (switched with main beam) and be of driving light beam pattern.
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Saffy on March 20, 2008, 10:14:08: and besides the legals (the official lighting regs can be found online btw) the low mounting position and beam pattern of a proper fog lamp is designed to exploit the clear area found below foggy road conditions (fog never goes all way to ground), otherwise the lamps are just illuminating the fog and giving a useless white out.

the reg's for front fog lamps...
http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_11.htm#nsch6requirementrelatingoptionalfrontfoglamp
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 21, 2008, 03:41:05: Quote from: Boddle on March 20, 2008, 08:20:30
Just because you are not aware of it doesn't mean there isn't a law. IF you have purchased a set of lights which claim to fog lights (not driving lights) they will come with should instruct you to height and distance from the edge of vehicle for Fog lights.
Any light mounted not mounted in that zone legally require to be only to used only when main beam is operated (switched with main beam) and be of driving light beam pattern.

I did and they didn't. As I said, it's something to do with how they are wired up (thanks for the link Saffy), it seems you can use them in place of dipped beam if they are less than 1200mm from the floor. Well that's 4 feet :?

You can use them at any height if they either come on with main beam or with a seperate switch as worklamps.
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Boddle on March 21, 2008, 08:21:31: Yes but if they are to be use whilest driving they need to be attached to mainbeam, worklamps are only to be used when stationary.
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Jake on March 21, 2008, 15:35:39: We have constant wired spot lights on the Jeep at work.
The lights are Warn and have dip/main beam built into them
When the car is on dipped lights the spots are on but not hugely bright (like having a second set of headlights).
Flick to main beam and the spots come alive and totally outshine the main head lights.
Looks cool too although people do flash to tell us the spots are on
Then we give them a friendly flash back to say thanks ;)
:D
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 22, 2008, 04:08:18: Quote from: Boddle on March 21, 2008, 08:21:31
Yes but if they are to be use whilest driving they need to be attached to mainbeam, worklamps are only to be used when stationary.

Agreed, unless they fully conform to the regs for fog lights.
Title: Re: Spot lights as dipped driving lights?
Post by: Nobber on March 24, 2008, 23:38:34: perhaps you should ask your insurance company if they will cover you for having spots on with dipped beam?