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BigWheels



Member Since: 21 Mar 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1405

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Garage says LightForce 170s need better wiring than OE...
...and 100w bulbs only legal for off road.

True or false?

I have a LightForce wiring kit that can be fitted.
What bulbs come with LF 170s when bought? I want them for road use. Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender
Post #326831 28th Apr 2014 8:40pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20480

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100w afaik, mine are 100w spots too. Road legal, so long as it's switched correctly and front mounted not on the roof.
I think that is the way it is, open to advice though.
You can either have it switched via stalk or switched via stalk and a switch too for independent use age from dipped beam headlights and main beam.
100w bulbs put into headlights aren't legal though.
Post #326834 28th Apr 2014 8:47pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

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This is an urban myth about maximum wattage of bulbs in headlights.


Under vehicle lighting regulations


8. Wattage–

(a) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986:

No requirement

(b) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, first used before 1st April 1986:
30 watts minimum


They can be mounted on the roof as there is no legal requirement on vertical position.

This can be checked here



Brendan
Post #326841 28th Apr 2014 9:13pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
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England 
why don't someone make a higher wattage bulb for headlights that's e marked , brighter is ok as long as they set up right ,

hids are brighter so why can't we have a brighter bulb ?
Post #326844 28th Apr 2014 9:19pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
leeds wrote:
This is an urban myth about maximum wattage of bulbs in headlights.


Under vehicle lighting regulations


8. Wattage–

(a) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986:

No requirement

(b) A motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or a motor bicycle combination, first used before 1st April 1986:
30 watts minimum


They can be mounted on the roof as there is no legal requirement on vertical position.

This can be checked here



Brendan


i think there is some reg that they can only work on high beam ( spotlights )
Post #326845 28th Apr 2014 9:21pm
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BigWheels



Member Since: 21 Mar 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1405

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Thx Brendan.

Considering a Lazer bar (as British made) for roof mounting & 2x 140s LF for rear (independently switched).

Are Mantec roof bars the best choice for mounting lights on? Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender
Post #326850 28th Apr 2014 9:46pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
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Whilst there's no maximum wattage for main beam lights, the legal problem comes with e-marking. There are very few properly e-marked (as opposed to just having a printed sticker from China) bulbs available above 65w. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #326853 28th Apr 2014 9:52pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20480

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Mantec roof bars are pre drilled for lights, may need to enlarge though. Thumbs Up
Post #326858 28th Apr 2014 10:02pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

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Whilst there is no legal maximum on the wattage of a headlight bulb it would not be exactly wise to put a much higher wattage bulb in a standard headlight.

Reason being that wiring/switch/relay/bulb holder etc would have been designed to work on the bulb wattage supplied with the vehicle.



Brendan
Post #326869 28th Apr 2014 10:21pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

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According to their website, the Lightforce 170 in the OP is designed for 100w bulbs, so the wiring and switching would be designed to suit Confused Interestingly though, the spec sheet suggests that they are supplied with either 55w or 70w H1 bulbs.

http://www.lightforce.com/products/170-striker/170striker Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #326875 28th Apr 2014 10:32pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

United Kingdom 
If you read the spec sheet the 170's come with a 100 watt Xenophot bulb as standard.

The UK distributors just lists the 100 watt bulb with the 170 lamps. However they do list a range of replacement bulbs from 20 to 100 watts

Yes it is confusing the way that they mention E mark information.


Brendan
Post #326889 28th Apr 2014 11:14pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20480

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"If you read the spec sheet the 170's come with a 100 watt Xenophot bulb as standard."
Identical to Roolites too. Thumbs Up
Imo anything less than 100w as spots is pretty pointless.
Post #326890 28th Apr 2014 11:43pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

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I must admit I'd assumed that the different spec was for the European market Confused

Steve, I'm surprised you're so casual about 100w bulbs given the concern you've shown about e-marking on other ones! Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #327032 29th Apr 2014 6:43pm
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