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Wiring savage light switches and iva.
Jenko - 21/7/13 at 08:00 AM

I decided to use savage switches throughout the build....so the lights have three separate switches....side lights, main beam and full beam. Some questions:

Can someone clarify what needs on when full and main beam are on...I.e. do the sides remain on?
I've designed the wiring, but would also like to see how others have done this.
Do the lights need to be illuminated....by this, the full beam has a blue led, but if it's not on should the led still be lit even when it's dark, or do I need additional warning lights?


Im sure there will be more questions about this!.

P.

Sloan85 - 21/7/13 at 08:42 AM

I've yet to pass iva but so not sure if I've done this right (please correct me if I'm wrong!) but I have wired mine so dipped only come on when sides are on. Not sure if this was a requirement but I didn't want to be driving at night, put on dipped and not sides, and have nothing lit up at the rear. Main can come on at any time.

The telltales only work when the lights are on - dipped telltale doesn't light up if pressed when sides are off.

Fog light and telltale only light up when dipped and therefore when sides are lit up. If sides are turned off when dipped and fog are on, everything including telltales turns off.

If the light isn't on, the telltale shouldn't light up - that's my understanding. I've seen some people modify their circuits with resistors so when sides are pressed all telltales light up very faintly, but when pressed they are bright. Not sure how this would work at IVA but its something in planning in doing over the winter once I'm on the road.

loggyboy - 21/7/13 at 09:08 AM

It simply needs to be clear, the IVA wording is something along the lines of 'must not cause the driver confusion'. In other words if you have a warning light thats blue or any other colour thats clearly labeled 'main' or 'main beam' or has the correct logo/pictogram, there's nothing to stop you having an illuminated switch, either permanently on or when sides are switched on.
As for sides and mains etc, it makes sense to have them as sloan described, but no requirement (except fog). One thing to consider is if you have a shared main/dipped bulb ie H4, then manufacturers design there switches to disable the dipped when the mains are permanently switched on, as the twin filament bulbs wont last long with both on.

[Edited on 21-7-13 by loggyboy]

Smoking Frog - 21/7/13 at 09:35 AM

If you make the lights work similar to your tin top you want be far wrong. So sidelights remain on when headlights are on. As loggyboy rightly says you don't want high and low beam on at the same time. Can't help with circuit design, have not used these switches but upload a pic of yours. The switches do not have to be illuminated when dark, you do not need additional warning lights. Bare in mind I'm no expert and have yet to pass my IVA.

scimjim - 22/7/13 at 08:02 AM

Not IVA perhaps (?) - but for subsequent MOT you need "tell-tales" for main beam and rear fog light.

loggyboy - 22/7/13 at 08:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by scimjim
Not IVA perhaps (?) - but for subsequent MOT you need "tell-tales" for main beam and rear fog light.


You need them for IVA too.

Dick Axtell - 22/7/13 at 08:48 AM

My IVA tester was quite clear regarding Savage switches - if its "on", it has to be illuminated. Rear fog light has to be controlled thru main light switch, so your live feed should come from the appropriate side of the main light switch. Suggest you keep to usual automotive sequence of : side lights > dipped headlights > main beam.

Reverse light seems to be independent, as far as I've deduced from IVA regs, but switch illumination still applies.