12 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

I've been thinking about designing my own lights over the past few weeks and am pretty sure thats the route I'm going to take, however I need to know what the rules, regulations and legalities are?

What does the MOT require? Do they have to be E-marked? As that would blow my plan right away!

Any certain distances things should be away from each other?

I'm planning on using LEDs, I read in an old post by DK Lawson that I you have to use a solid state relay with LED indicators due to the small current they draw, how would this work with normal indicators up the front? Do I have one of each relay, or will the solid state relay cater for both?

Any links to places where I can find info would help, I found this from a previous thread, but most of it didn't make much sense to me!

By the way, my cars a 1976, which I believe will have an affect on what I can do?

[dan__wright]

not sure but if you planning on including the rear fog in it it has to be >= 30CM from brake lights.

[The Matt]

not sure but if you planning on including the rear fog in it it has to be >= 30CM from brake lights.

As far as I know the only requirement for the fog light is that it has to be either centred or on the drivers side (if you only have one) + it has to have a seperate switch with a dash light. The fog light is also only a requirement on cars newer than a certain age (can't remember what off the top of me head). Look at a Pug 206 next time you see one in the fog!

E markings, well they should be marked, but not all testers would look for one! :fear:

[The Matt]

and on some cars they are contained in the main light cluster (like on my 306) right next to the stop/tail lights! :wink:

[Jammy]

Am not sure I will include the fog light yet in with the main cluster, I know mine doesn't need one (I think its '89 they had to have one), but its nice to know that I can be seen in low visibility!!

At the end of the day, if I ring my MOT testing centre, and they don't mention anything about E-markings then I can do pretty much anything?

[pikey7]

They should be e-marked to pass homologation. However, as your car won't need to pass homologation you *may be able to get away with it. Technically they will be "for off road use only" if not e-marked, and it is something that the MOT man should check for (under the "check all lights are unobscrured and function correctly" part), but I've never heard of one that checks for the mark. Your choice... (and gets me off the hook! :grin: )

If anyone has a copy of the Bosch Automotive handbook, there is a good diagram for the legal heights and placements of lamps in there. Unfortunately, mine's in Sweden.......

[minimole]

i thought the fog light had to be at least 100mm from the brake light to avoid confusion.

[The Matt]

306 clusters

[The Matt]

206 lights

[Jammy]

Just to stop this turning into another 'where you can and can't place a rear gof light', the fog light must be 100mm between the light emiting surfaces of the lamps, when looking straight at the back, and no more than 1 metre above ground level.

Ok, so theres no special requirements for the reverse light other than the ones about the circuit its attached to, and requiring to be on an illuminated switch if not attched to the gear lever?

I spose I'll wait for DK Lawson to answer the question about the relays.

One more question, aside from using PCB board, is there anything more flexible I can attach LEDs to? Something that would follow the curvature of the rear panel more?

[The Matt]

the only thing I can think of is the stuff they use on the back of the dash in the later minis??

[Jammy]

Yea I was thinking exactly the same thing!

[The Matt]

lol, great minds!!! :smartass:
either that or we are both wrong!