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Lost for Words

Member Since: 18 Jun 2015
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire
Posts: 200

The trouble is that the largest market for auxiliarly lighting is probably those who want it "just for show". Such people often champion as much "power" as possible and the raw lumen figures therefore play straight into the manufacturers hands.

The problem has been accentuated with LEDs - they produce their light in a (roughly) 180 degree spread, but most of it is produced in the 90 degrees or so directly in front of them, and the "hotspot" (if one could still call it that) is also generally several degrees off centre. The upshot of this is that if you stick an LED, facing forwards, in a reflector in the traditional position, most of the light doesn't hit the reflector at all (hence reflector facing LEDs are coming into use) - so you can get a great lumen rating, but maybe 80% doesn't go where you want it.

Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

10th Nov 2015 1:06pm

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

K9F wrote:
Eric, diffusers work a treat converting beam patters! Several manufacturers including Roo and Lightforce sell them too! Available in spot, combo or wide beam patterns.

I believe all that, but presume your LightForces are E marked?
My point is that if you want to wire the ARBs up as driving lights, no matter how good diffusers may be, they still will have to be E marked in order to be road legal. The China man statement that it is not necessary anymore to buy euro lights doesn't stand the test I think. If a driving light is not E marked, it can only be wired up as an off road light and used like that.
No doubt Brendan could confirm or correct me.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

10th Nov 2015 2:40pm

Lost for Words

Member Since: 18 Jun 2015
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire
Posts: 200

To be legal, yes, they have to be E marked, but, in practice, these are only for use with main beams and so as long as one A) is careful and considerate, not blinding oncoming traffic, and B) ensures they aren't active during any testing (either by means of a switch or simply disconnecting them), it doesn't actually matter.

Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

10th Nov 2015 3:03pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Optional main beam headlights in the UK have to be type approved to be road legal. These days that means E marked.

Also they have to be wired through the main beam switch as well to be road legal.

Non type approved driving lights can be fitted to a road going vehicle but they must only be used off the public highway.

As a reputable company we can only recommend/sell items for use on the public highways that are LEGAL. Other companies may fudge around the legality of lights with comments such as they are not E marked but will pass a UK MOT, the MOT is irrelevant, no valid E mark on obligatory lights then the lights are ILLEGAL. Optional driving lights are not obligatory so do not have to be E marked but can not be used on the public highway.

Can you have as many E marked driving lights on a vehicle as you like? No! Put aside the legal requirement of not dazzling oncoming traffic etc. There is the beam peak intensity reference number which should be engraved on the front of the headlight lens, it is typically a number such as 12.5 or 17.5. The maximum total of such numbers is 100. Now this lot is buried in EU technical regulations, not easy to find or easy to explain.Basically it is a measure of the brightness of the hotspot in a lights beam pattern. A higher beam peak intensity reference number does not necessarily mean a better light, a better beam pattern or a brighter overall light

Brendan

10th Nov 2015 10:30pm

LoveTheMud

Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Weybridge Surrey & Pontefract West Yorkshire
Posts: 411

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

and here was me hoping to put together some Camel Trophy esk quad roof rack lights and, since i have no space left for additional switches, just wire them into the high beam... hmmm

will have to think of another accessory for the pretty girl

Mike

17th Nov 2015 10:10pm

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