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Road Legal Lighting
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BigHealey



Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:58 pm    Post subject: Road Legal Lighting Reply with quote

Hi Folks,
On our 1939 Morris 8 Series E we have the solenoid dip headlight setup so the O/S lamp goes out - question is, is this legal and would it pass an MOT? If not would a pair of solenoid dipping lamps pass?

And on to the rear lights, avoiding lamps on the rear wings, would a pair of Lucas ST51 lamps, one either side of the number plate suffice, or are lamps required further outboard?

I have though about magnetic rear lights that could be removed and unplugged, has anyone done anything similar? TIA, Dave
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Phil - Nottingham



Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 1252
Location: Nottingham

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

No it is not legal since about 1950 you must have 2 dipped headlights. Best to convert both to double filaments. You can get the double contact bulholders and round headlamp bulbs quite cheaply


However many MOT inspectors do not this and will pass the car anyway.

My 1939 Rover 16 never had double dips till 1997 but had passed its MOT's I ahve converted now as it is dangerous with one headlight or in teh Rover 16 case a single n/s pass lamp

There is more on this in SEARCH I think
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Not applicable to your car because of age, but Switch and Dip is still permissible on a pre 1931 vehicle.
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You may find it difficult to achieve good focus on both main and dip if you use double filament bulbs. It might be better to fit solenoids in both lamps.
It has more techinal charm than double filaments too. Very Happy

Peter
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47p2



Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 2009
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think from a saftey point you would be better with two dipped and main beams.

The rear lamps should be fine, my P2 has that setup
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Kelsham



Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 349
Location: Llandrindod Wells Powys

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi I recently took a 1938 BSA scout for a test. It had been off the road for forty years. I wired it so the nearside head light remained on dip all the time and only the offside changed. It passed .
regards Kels.
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Phil - Nottingham



Joined: 01 Jan 2008
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Location: Nottingham

PostPosted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Probably becuase he did not noitce the difference! Its barely perceptible on mine there are 2 filaments!
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WLC4EVA
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

.
You asked 'And on to the rear lights, avoiding lamps on the rear wings, would a pair of Lucas ST51 lamps, one either side of the number plate suffice, or are lamps required further outboard? '

I couldn't see an answer, here's the only one I can find.

'Lamps required by regulations to be fitted to a vehicle to indicate its presence and width when viewed from the rear. They must show a steady red light to the rear, visible from a reasonable distance. '

And
Note: The precise position of obligatory side and rear lamps is not part of the inspection, but check visually that the lamps are at about
i. the same height, and
the same distance from the side of the vehicle

http://www.ukmot.com/1-1.asp#Text_top

Kind Regards, WLC
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4100
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Somewhere on the forum is a thread I posted some years ago asking exactly the same question about my 1939 Morris 8 series E. I took it up with VOSA to see what their position was regarding "original spec equipment" versus the current lighting law.

They were quite clear that the cut off was as 47 p2 stated pre 1931, so I am adding a second dipping reflector.

When my Morris was on the road it had the later Lucas headlamp mods, so was not a problem, (I am reverting to the original lamps in the restoration) it did retain the single rear D lamp mounted on the number plate and this was never questioned at MOT time.

Dave
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Nic Jarman



Joined: 05 Oct 2008
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Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dave, how is your series E coming along?
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Nic

At about a 1/10th of the speed I had hoped for!!!

I will update the thread on it !

Dave
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Nic

At about a 1/10th of the speed I had hoped for!!!

I will update the thread on it !

Dave
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captain bobo



Joined: 02 Feb 2012
Posts: 43
Location: South West Cambs

PostPosted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi, new to the forum and reading posts of interest (such as this one).

A previous owner of my 1937 Daimler 15 Mulliner Sports Saloon made a small (but effective) change to the lighting. It had 2 lamps, one with a dipping solenoid. A "passing lamp" was also selected when the driver activated the main beam.

He added a second matching passing lamp & rewired the system so as to have 2 pairs of headlamps. One pair act as dipped beam lights. When main beam is selected, the other pair light up and the dipped pair extinguish.

It temporarily confuses the MOT testers, but gives reasonably effective lighting for an old car!

Best wishes, Dave B
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NONORT



Joined: 26 Apr 2012
Posts: 55
Location: Southampton

PostPosted: Sat May 26, 2012 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't know if this legal or not but the bullnose morris I work on has a single red light to the rear and a window which lights up the number plate. This is how the car left cowley in 1924. On the wings are reflectors which would show red to approaching cars the width of the car. I don't know if this is an after market fitting or not. Plus we hook a couple of bicycle led lights set for constant light to the hood for peace of mind. A dirt cheap fix at four quid each available in many super markets.
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4100
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Sat May 26, 2012 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NONORT wrote:
Don't know if this legal or not but the bullnose morris I work on has a single red light to the rear and a window which lights up the number plate. This is how the car left cowley in 1924. On the wings are reflectors which would show red to approaching cars the width of the car. I don't know if this is an after market fitting or not. Plus we hook a couple of bicycle led lights set for constant light to the hood for peace of mind. A dirt cheap fix at four quid each available in many super markets.


As the vehicle is pre 1931, one rear light is legal.

Dave
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