ADR / DOT headlight help!!!

[suggy126]

All ADR or DOT gurus please help

I'm trying to find out the rules regarding to headlight upgrade / changing on an 89 GQ patrol that used to have sealed beam headlights. I want to do some mod's to the headlights, i currently have 100/90 watt headlight bulbs in 7" round crystal assemblies running through relays, i want to know why HID are supposadly illegal on vehicles when done after market?
Is it because HID have such an intense light or is it because they don't really curve up to the left like factory lights should?

Any help would be appreciated.

[murcod]

HID head lights all seem to use optics (ie, lenses) to focus the light beam (plus stuff like self leveling and high pressure headlight washers). If you simply fit an aftermarket kit into a reflector headlight you don't have any of these features. That ends up causing huge amounts of glare to oncoming road users.

PS: I'm reasonably sure your current set up would also be illegal (100/90 globe) IIRC the max wattage for low beam is 60W.

[suggy126]

Ye i know my current setup is illegal using bigger bulbs, they don't showup as obviously as HID though. The reason for the question though is i can get LED headlights for my truck and i'm trying to find out what rules might apply to them.
Any ideas?

[Ferwoaza]

Basic rule of thumb for external lights on a vehicle is if they are NOT ADR approved, they are not legal.

With LEDS, I haven't heard of any leds's having enough output to warrant being a headlight.

I know for taillights etc if you just put an led bulb in, it is not legal, you need to change the entire light to an ADR approved one...which costs $$$.

Previously working for Jaycar Electronics, I did a lot with LEDs, and all of my interior lights are LED, but none external.

Unless of course you ment HIDs

Which are illegal as a hi/low beam unless it was from factory. In spotlights is a different ball game however. If your after more light, just get the spotties and go.

[murcod]

There are LED's out there that are easily bright enough for headlights - I've got some Cree R2 flashlight modules that would easily shine far enough for a decent low beam (if you used say four in each headlight.) Oncoming motorists wouldn't like the glare, but lighting the required distance wouldn't be a problem.

[Moph]

All the detail for HID or LED headlights / spotlights is in this thread:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic156778.php

Up to date as of March 2009 so presume it's still applicable? Will get ya started anyway. Here's my condensed post from that thread:

Under ADR13, filament headlamps are exempted from the requirements of Appendix A which specifies dipped beam lights (passing lights / low beams) must be self-levelling (automatic or manually controllable from driver's seat) - see Section 5.3 below.

HID's are not filament lamps and therefore are not exempted from the requirement to be self-levelling. While Appendix A Section 6.2.2.2 allows manually operated levelling devices operated from the driver's seat, Appendix A Section 6.2.9 states that manually operated is NOT acceptable for gas-discharge bulbs. Hence you MUST have automatic self-levelling headlights to have HIDs as your main lights.

Further, Appendix A Section 6.2.9 requires gas discharge bulbs to have a headlamp cleaning device installed.

ADR46 states that driving lights (additional lights above and beyond standard passing beams and main beams) do not have to comply with ADR46, and as driving lights are not dipped beams they do not have to self-level.

So you can legally have:

1) Halogen (filament) all round without self-levelling
2) Halogen (filament) low beam + HID high beam without self-levelling
3) HID low + high beam with auto self-levelling and headlamp cleaning devices
4) Driving lights can be HID or halogen, non-self levelling but the sum total of all main-beam lights (ie factory high beams, NOT including additional driving lights) cannot be more than 225,000cd.

For vehicles fitted with filament headlamps, the requirements of the following paragraphs in Appendix A are not applicable:
- 6.2.6.1 (vertical orientation for dipped beam);
- 6.2.6.2 (Headlamp levelling) and
- 6.2.6.3 (Measuring procedure).

6.2.6.1. (stringent criteria that must be met with regards to vertical orientation)
6.2.6.2. Headlamp levelling device
6.2.6.2.1. In the case where a headlamp levelling device is necessary to satisfy the requirements of paragraphs 6.2.6.1.1. and 6.2.6.1.2., the device shall be automatic.
6.2.6.2.2. (provision for manually operated levelling devices, controlled from driver's seat, that are not applicable to HID lights due to App A 6.2.9 below)

6.2.9. Other requirements
... Dipped-beam headlamps with gas-discharge light sources shall only be permitted in conjunction with the installation of headlamp cleaning device(s) according to Regulation No. 45. In addition, with respect to vertical inclination, the provision of paragraph 6.2.6.2.2. shall not be applied when these headlamps are installed.

6.1.9.1. The aggregate maximum intensity of the main-beam headlamps which can be switched on simultaneously shall not exceed 225,000cd, which corresponds to a reference value of 75.

Even if you can self-level your driving lights you'll struggle not to exceed 225,000cd using HID high beams. Lightforce 170 Strikers are 350,000cd for the pair and they're 100W halogen...

[bushy555]

...and ADR 77 and ADR 78 cover everything about HID "head lamps", ie, headlamp reflector focal points and projection, beam pattern, Euro markings, bulb projections and pattern, max of 35 watt, max of 4500 kelvin etc etc.

[bazzle]

All ADR or DOT gurus please help

Is it because HID have such an intense light or is it because they don't really curve up to the left like factory lights should?

Any help would be appreciated.

HID can have any shape pattern the designer wants. Most have what is called a 'Z" beam, some are the same as early semi sealed halogen etc.
It is all controlled by the lens and the shadow mask.

Bazzle

[suggy126]

check this out http://www.jwspeaker.com/catalog/forwar ... _8700.html
They're high/low LED 7" inserts, this is what i was talking about.

[murcod]

Nice. But you might want to see them in action before committing.

I'd imagine HID's would be a lot brighter (going by the Lumen ratings) - possibly even your current globes would be?

[fazza81]

Phillips lighting have just supplied 7inch LED head lights to be released in 2011 Kenworth prime movers.

These will be avail aftermarket with full ARD approval in about 6 months or so at a cost of around the $500 - 600 a light I would guess.

Cheers
Glenn