A Random Thought On Lighting

Jagnumpty · July 20, 2018

Daylight running lights Vs side lights.

I know that the former are compulsory in some countries and merely acceptable in others (eg. the UK).

I also know that the latter are pretty much compulsory universally.

But are they interchangeable?

Can I dispense with sidelights if I fit DLRs?

Old Peter · July 21, 2018

Hi Jan,

One of the things about lights is that the MOT can be quite severe on even minor changes.

My s type's lights were a little poor and I examined possible solutions. Halfords fitted new bulbs with 20% stronger lights. The 2007 s type does not have fog lights at the front which was the basic reason I had the lights updated.

The car then goes for its MOT -- everything perfect EXCEPT for the lights on which it registered a failure. Luckily, my mechanic who I have used for 16 years was present at the MOT and immediately corrected the lighting issue.

Moral of the story - leave the lights to experts.

Regards,

Peter.

Jagnumpty · July 21, 2018

Hi, Pete.

What did the tester give as the specific reason for the failure?

Old Peter · July 21, 2018

Hi Jan,

"Offside headlamp aim too low".

They had been perfect til I took the car to Halfords for two new bulbs.

Regards,

Peter.

Jagnumpty · July 21, 2018

In other words nothing to do with my question.

Fortunately I have enough LED strips to make them into one set of DLRs and one of sidelights or 2 individual units each side for one or the other.

I've been meaning to pop into one of the local testing stations and ask them, but I always forget why I want to talk to them when I'm passing 🤡

Jagnumpty · July 21, 2018

Dun't harf jabber, dun't ee?

Anyhoo: I checked with one of my local testing stations and it turns out that DLR and sidelights must be separate. This is to permit the DLR have a lower brightness when you turn on the sidelights after lighting up time.