other people's headlights

[Innovator]

As far as I am aware there is NO maximum wattage for head light bulbs as described in the Construction and use Regulations, only a minimum which is 3OWatts.

Wattage–

(a) A motor vehicle with four or more wheels first used on or after 1st April 1986:
No requirement
(b) A three-wheeled motor vehicle, not being a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986–

(i)having a maximum speed not exceeding 50 mph:.
15 watts minimum
(ii)having a maximum speed exceeding 50 mph:.
No requirement
(c) A motor vehicle with four or more wheels first used before 1st April 1986:
30 watts minimum

However I do seem to remember that there is also a requirement for the headlights to be correctly adjusted so they do not dazzle.

[chrisryder]

interestingly enough, i noticed my mums clio had a headlight out today. popped to halfords for a new bulb, £9.99! extorsion! well it would have been if i didn't have a trade discount card. £3.50ish. bargain!

[Nuffles]

As far as I'm aware there is a maximum wattage for 'driving' lights (fog lights) i.e. lights which stay on all the time, and it's around 50-60W. There doesn't appear to be a maximum power rating for lights hooked up to your main beam, however, as they (shouldn't) cause anyone else any problems as you dip your lights when other people are around. This is how I had mine set up on the Land Rover through a relay tapped into the main beam wire going to the offside headlight (400W of spot lights + 120W of headlights) and I never had any problems with the fuzz. If you wire in a switch so any extra lights are either off, or on with main beam, then I'm almost certain you won't get into any trouble with the law.

[robbiesmith]

I am constantly amazed by the levels of expertise on this site - it's positively educational.

I do get alarmed when people post misguided but well-meaning advice though as this could lead to some poor soul getting a fine and points, (although this doesn't seem to apply to this thread).

Thanks for all your knowledge.

[mike.perry]

In that case I can keep the 130/100W H4s on my Traveller.
On modern cars why is it always the headlight bulb in front of the battery which blows. I have to hang upside down with a mirror to change it, then my glasses keep falling off and I still can't see what I am doing. It's no wonder people never bother changing them

[robbiesmith]

So true, Mike it can be nightmarish.

Back in the 80s most cars had warning lights on the dashboard to tell you when a bulb was not working. Why has this feature disappeared from today's cars?

[Innovator]

I am sure most modern (ish) cars do have warnings of bulbs out. This is one of the reasons that you an not put in LED "bulbs" in place of normal bulbs without a resistor kit.

The very latest cars tend to ue LED`s everywhere except the headlights (but that is coming.....). LED`s tend to last a long time and you generally cant just change an LED, it is a whole PCB.

[mike.perry]

The only car I have owned which I can recall having a bulb failure warning was my Rover SD1. Unit no 337 ref C2.

[RogerRust]

I've just fitted new Philips X-treme Vision lamps to my Volvo they are standard H7 55W lamps but are much brighter than the standard ones. The fact that my lamps are not dim now seems to reduce the amount of dazzle from others.

I've also bought a pair of the same type of bulb in H4 fitting for the MG but haven't fitted them yet.

[les]

Should make daylight driving much safer!