Need more light..... don’t we all?

petefish · Jan 9, 2018

I live high up in the Pyrenees and my Monday commute to the uk starts with a 3 mile drive down an unlit mountain.

I have put the brightest bulbs I can in but need more.

Constraints...... I have a 2007 110 xs so have ac. I park in a car park at the airport with a max height of 210cm so anything on top must be very low.

Thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Pete

KISSMYAURA · Jan 9, 2018

I did not want to put lights on my roof so I did this, portable daylight.
I have no street lighting where I live and am in dense woods so had a similar challenge to you.
The LED headlights make a big difference as well, but the light bars are amazing, only needed one really, could have got longer ones but wanted to mount inside the A bar
They have a SPOT-FLOOD-SPOT split along the length so best of both worlds, you can have them all spot or flood up to you.

KISSMYAURA · Jan 9, 2018

You could always fit a full width light bar, that sits just in front of and at the top of windscreen, does not stick out higher than main roof height.
they are only 50mm high anyway.

nobber · Jan 9, 2018

Why does living on a mountain make your lights dim? Or in the woods? In fairness, have you thought your electrical system may be broken, or you may need your eyes tested? Using living on a mountain or in the woods as an excuse to fit possibly illegal and dangerous headlamps is a bit much guys dont you think?

KISSMYAURA · Jan 9, 2018

nobber said:
Why does living on a mountain make your lights dim? Or in the woods? In fairness, have you thought your electrical system may be broken, or you may need your eyes tested? Using living on a mountain or in the woods as an excuse to fit possibly illegal and dangerous headlamps is a bit much guys dont you think?

Nope!

nobber · Jan 9, 2018

crack on then stevie wonder.

Al2O3 · Jan 9, 2018

nobber said:
Why does living on a mountain make your lights dim? Or in the woods? In fairness, have you thought your electrical system may be broken, or you may need your eyes tested? Using living on a mountain or in the woods as an excuse to fit possibly illegal and dangerous headlamps is a bit much guys dont you think?

+1
I would have thought the lack of other light would create a greater contrast from yours. ie your lights would appear brighter. The opposite to driving in the current 4pm halflight, where headlights are a nightmare for an hour until it gets dark.
Do you have a passenger? For the short journey down the mountain, get a 2 million candle rabbiting lamp to plug in to the 12v socket. They could hold it out the window to illuminate those tight bends. They'll want a ski glove on this time of year.

90jc · Jan 10, 2018

Another vote for the led bars shown in earlier posts, i have driven vehicles with them fitted and its like driving in daylight. Best mounted in front not on roof. Loads of model's to choose from so you will find one that fits your needs.
Its not that the mountain or the woods make them dim, op is saying they feel they could use more/ better quality light to make the journey more pleasant and possibly safer, (early morning's in woods/remote roads =animals on road etc and any number of possible hazards so it makes perfect sense to upgrade the lights if you are able to. It also makes driving less tiresome on longer journeys and will keep your eyes working properly for longer.
illegal or dangerous? Only if they are used with dipped beam, as long as they are wired correctly so that they turn off when driver selects dipped beam and they are used responsibly then they are both safe and legal. (See construction and use legislation) An option to have them off all the time is a good idea though, just turn them on for high risk roads (such as mountain roads or woods) when no other cars are around or for off road.

Good lights are as important as brakes and tyres, if you cant see it you cant stop for it so why not improve?
Roads round me deer wait on sides and just wander/ run out of bushes as you approach, good lights give you some valuable extra reacting distance, so you can brake lightly/ just lift off and stop it becoming a hazard at all, crap lights mean people are standing on brakes at last second leading to a whole range of problems.

Sorry for going on a bit, had sone time to kill.

nobber · Jan 10, 2018

My lights are standard and are more than enough, bulbs wear out, I would try replacing them first.

petefish · Jan 11, 2018

Thanks guys. Will get a light bar and ‘A’ bar as I have narrowly avoided deer and boats not just on the mountain road but also the main roads, which are also unlit.

Suggestions for A bar suppliers or I have seen a bar that hand giwn from under the bonnet.

Have AC so that restricts what I can buy.

Regards,

Pete

KISSMYAURA · Jan 11, 2018

petefish said:
Thanks guys. Will get a light bar and ‘A’ bar as I have narrowly avoided deer and boats not just on the mountain road but also the main roads, which are also unlit.

Suggestions for A bar suppliers or I have seen a bar that hand giwn from under the bonnet.

Have AC so that restricts what I can buy.

Regards,

Pete

ebay cheap

Discokids · Jan 12, 2018

Try looking at the wiring to the headlights, not sure how newer models work but older defenders have rubbish wiring / no relays hence the boomslang kits. On a side note - can anybody recommend any good headlights? I'm after complete lights for my rebuild but not really interested in paying out loads of dosh for something illegal.

KISSMYAURA · Jan 12, 2018

Have a look at my ones, they were not expensive, very happy with them.
UK RHD spec E marked etc, MOT compliant, 2 / 3 year warranty, direct fit etc.
A you may be aware after market HID lights are not road legal in UK.

As they have internal drivers, they compensate for any poor voltage / deviation etc and use much less power, just remember to 'downgrade' fuse!
More here:
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/td5-90-project.301491/
Lots to choose from etc

Discokids · Jan 12, 2018

Cheers, look good on yours, I'm going for a more traditional look but sure I'll find something.
Yes, HID was what I was thinking of earlier, but couldn't remember what they were called. I don't want those.

KISSMYAURA · Jan 12, 2018

You can get reproduction 7" LED headlights, so they will look like a normal headlight etc
You have a few choices
Standard
with drl pilot (small side light),
with integrated indicator,
Either choice just looks like a standard landy headlight.
Try searching for Triumph / Jag / Jeep classic LED headlights, (also check out harely davidson or other classic bike 7" headlights, of course you will need a pair!)
Just make sure whatever you buy is UK MOT compliant, spec RHD and E marked.
Beware the Chinese crappola ones!

My advice for what its worth is avoid LED bulbs replacements for headlights, not reliable and they get way too hot.

However having said that these are not too bad and seem to perform longer than most.
https://vintagecarleds.com but they are not cheap!

the bad ones are the ones with bits of waffy copper and fabric heat sinks hanging out the back, or even worse built in cooling fans!

leeds · Jan 14, 2018

To be road legal in the UK all obligatory vehicle lights have to carry a VALID APPROVAL mark under UK Vehicle Lighting Regulations.

AN approval mark is not what most people consider to be an E mark. E + number in a circle is a country code.

Headlights which are just marked DOT, SAE and E + number in a circle are NOT road legal in the UK.

Headlights which are DOT compliant do not meet UK and European standards.

Headlights where the LED halo turns amber and indicate when you put on indicators will be ILLEGAL in the UK. The chances of those lights having the correct light function code on is minimal hence ILLEGAL. UK VLR states only ONE front indicator per side at the front of a vehicle. Have a look at HGV/double decker buses/cars with just factory fitted lights. ONLY one indicator per side.

Fit a LED cluster in place of a filament halogen bulb, that is an unauthorised modification which will void the original approval mark hence illegal with possible insurance implications. Halfords, Ring Automotive etc states that their LED bulbs are for OFFROAD/INTERIOR USE ONLY.

What does an APPROVAL MARK consist of?

Country Code E + Number in a circle
Amendment or Regulation Number
ACTUAL Approval Number
Light Function Code typically HCR for a headlight
Peak Beam Reference number on headlights
PL for a plastic lens on headlight
Arrow on headlights for LHT.

If it does not have these markings on the headlight lens it is NOT road legal

leeds · Jan 14, 2018

Improved lighting for mountain/wooded area use with danger of animals darting out.

Consider say a pair of Lazer Lamp ST4 bumper mounted but angled out slightly. This will give a good spread of light close to the vehicle and better chance of spotting that suicidal sheep.

For mountain/wooded area driving you need good illumination for about 50-100 metres. Stopping distance at 60 mph is about 70 metres.

Brendan

nobber · Jan 14, 2018

Just because they are UK road legal does not make them legal when you fit them to your vehicle, this is not a loop hole, there is no gray area, the regs are quite specific.

KISSMYAURA · Jan 14, 2018

Interesting, the ones I have are UK fully legal, due to my work i cannot risk not having a fully legal and compliant vehicle.
Around June 20177 I had a very interesting chat with a kent traffic cop about it, I pulled up at Ebbsfleet international to pick up the Mrs, turned off my lights.
He wandered over and asked me to turn them on again, then off he checked them when off and said they are fine.
He explained that they are having a purge on after market HID lights, and joint op with Vosa / now / DVSA in kent.
I work in a related field so we got chatting, I explained about the indicator half halo, and that I am either going to disconnect either the FF indicators and or the halo's ( Road lighting regs 89, sc7). he said technically I should.
The partnership op with DVSA has a focus on window tinting, HID lights, tyre sizes etc.

Truck passed its MOT Friday last week.

nobber · Jan 14, 2018

An mot is no indication of legallity, neither is a chat with a traffic cop, what kind of lights have you got?

Need more light..... don’t we all?

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