11 replies to this topic

[tomBERTfrancis]

Hi all was planning on fitting a set of cibie oscars onto a italian job spotlight bar and was wondering if I have to have one spot on the top and two fogs on the sides or if I could just fit all spotlights and no fogs?

[nicklouse]

Fit whatever you want. But make sure they are wired correctly for whatever you fit.

Different light have different requirements.

[CityEPete]

I think it all depends on the switching, you can have them all on as spot lights as long as they come on with full beam only or dipped beam as long as they are dipped and height adjusted to suit, if they are wired and angled as fogs then they need to go off when you switch the headlights off so as they can't be used on their own in a chav stylie they also need a telltale inside the car to show they are on, if you put them on their own switch and dip them they can be classed as driving lamps afaik.

Edited by CityEPete, 25 May 2015 - 05:13 PM.

[Blatherskite]

Lights need to have the CE-mark, and there are wattage restrictions on the bulb (don't remember what they are :-( )

[Ethel]

The main issue with spots is that they go off, when the headlights dip.

[tomBERTfrancis]

So i assume it would be okay to have all spots on the bar if I wire them up to a separate switch on the dashboard they will be for show mostly anyway.

[nicklouse]

So i assume it would be okay to have all spots on the bar if I wire them up to a separate switch on the dashboard they will be for show mostly anyway.

Spots have to be switched with an illuminated switch and can only come on with main beam.

[Dan]

None of these lamps require a tell tale on the dash or in the switch, the existing main beam warning is all that is required for spots and front fogs don't need one at all.

You cannot change what type a lamp is by wiring it differently. A lamp is physically built as either a fog lamp or a spot / driving / auxiliary main beam lamp. Each has different wiring requirements under law.

Spot / driving lamps must be wired to be extinguished by the dip switch at the same time as main beam

Fogs can be independant of all other lights providing they are mounted within the same positioning rules as dipped beam headlamps (this precludes mounting them on an Italian Job style bar I think). If not they must only be used while the dipped beam are on and so it makes sense to wire them like that.

None of these lamps can be wired into the existing wiring (even LEDs I would say), you must create new circuits and use relays for any tie in to existing wiring.

Front fogs must be mounted in pairs. Spots must be mounted symmetrically, so you can fit an odd number so long as one is on the centre line.

Fogs must have a method of setting the beam angle. Not automatically or anything, just with a screw like the headlamps.

[CityEPete]

I knew you didn't need a tell tale for spots but thought fogs did, only rear then, my brother had a fail for it once although he had no indicator tell tale either, lol.

[mk3 Cooper S]

Are 3 lights legal . I was under the impression not?

[Ethel]

You can find the regulations online, but the IVA manual is as easy and readable as any - link in our pinned topic.

 

I may well be wrong, but I think you can have  single/odd numbers of lights, but it depends on location and whether they are additional or alternative to headlights.

[Mini 360]

Legally I have no idea, but aesthetically, I do....they ruin the front end look of a Mini