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Lighting for SVA
planetester - 18/3/06 at 08:57 PM

Ive just discovered that I have wired my headlights to come on only when the ignition is on, its quite easy to put it on always live but will tha SVA man pass it 'as is'


ady8077 - 18/3/06 at 09:15 PM

Hi

Headlamps can only be on with the ignition, but your side lights and hazard light need to be able to work without the ignition

Adrian


planetester - 18/3/06 at 09:19 PM

Hi , I can use the hazards, sides & flash with the ignition off, the headlights with ignition on & the rear hazard with the headlights on


thanks


nitram38 - 18/3/06 at 09:34 PM

Are you sure about the headlights being off?
All of the cars I have owned over the last 23 years have all had headlights that you can switch on without ignition.
Even my brake lights will come on without ignition.


stevebubs - 18/3/06 at 09:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
Are you sure about the headlights being off?
All of the cars I have owned over the last 23 years have all had headlights that you can switch on without ignition.
Even my brake lights will come on without ignition.


When you turn the ignition off on most cars, the main dipped headlight goes out to be replaced just with sidelights.


planetester - 18/3/06 at 09:56 PM

I must admit that most cars I have seen will allow the headlamps on with the ignition off, the only one that didnt was the sierra which had a silly dim/dip system Which had a dim headlamp (not sidelight)with the ignition off & a normal headlight with the ignition on


graememk - 18/3/06 at 10:04 PM

my lights go off but you can turn them back on again


omega 24 v6 - 18/3/06 at 10:36 PM

Through recent events at work I am assured that only the hazard warning lights are a legal requirement in this country. They must work regardless of whether the ign is of or on and must show a tell tale signal as well (naturally).
Someone on here had probs at sva with them being through the ign recently.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=39685


nitram38 - 18/3/06 at 10:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by omega 24 v6
Through recent events at work I am assured that only the hazard warning lights are a legal requirement in this country. They must work regardless of whether the ign is of or on and must show a tell tale signal as well (naturally).
Someone on here had probs at sva with them being through the ign recently.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=39685


Side lights must work aswell.
Originally they were called parking lights.


Chippy - 18/3/06 at 11:04 PM

Mine can be turned on with, or without the ignition being on.

quote:

"the only one that didnt was the sierra which had a silly dim/dip system Which had a dim headlamp (not sidelight)with the ignition off & a normal headlight with the ignition on"

"
planetester the above not quite right.
The Dim Dip system, works when you have side lights on, and the ignition on. If the ignition is of, side lights are just parking lights.
Which by the way is how I have wired my lights on the (ish)7

[Edited on 18-3-06 by Chippy]


planetester - 18/3/06 at 11:22 PM

Chippy

It was a few years ago, stupid idea, I still cant understand the sierra wiring diagram for the dim/dim, ripped all the wires out & just wired the relays to work when the switch earths them

thanks


omega 24 v6 - 18/3/06 at 11:55 PM

I can't see anything in the SVA manual that says sidelights must operate when the ign is off (section 9.1 article3) only that a single switch should control all position lights.In the reason for failure column there is no mention of ign on or off.
But in section9.1 article 7 it does say (in the procedures and standards column) "with the ign on or off" and in the reason for fail column "does not operate with the ign both on and off.
I'm not saying that somewhere else there is a regulation other than this, and when we were told about it a work a few of us found it very hard to believe.


nitram38 - 19/3/06 at 12:19 AM

It is pretty simple really. Side lights are low wattage lamps that you should leave on in unlit roads.
You do not want to leave your ign key in to do that do you!
Lots of modern cars have the ability to leave the indicator stalk on so that only one side of your car's sidelights are on while parked.
Again this is for un-lit roads and to save your battery.


omega 24 v6 - 19/3/06 at 10:16 AM

I'm with U fully on everything your saying but the question is Is it a legal requirement. My understanding is that it is not and that's why we have reflectors on cars,trailers,caravans etc that could be left at the side of the road.
I reckon personally that sidelights should be able to be put on regardless of ign switch.


NS Dev - 20/3/06 at 09:55 AM

am I being stupid but why not just make everything (except the engine!) operable without the ignition on?