Spotlights

[Bill_qaz]

Fitted two spotlights with three position switch
off
Momentary: flashes spotlights, only if ignition on regardless of lights
On: only if main beam is active, dipping headlights turns off spotlights

Screenshot_20240229-143202_Gallery.jpg (153.37 KiB) Viewed 555 times

[MikeNash]

Spotlights are a very useful addition. I wired mine directly with the main beam headlights so they all came on and off together, the reasoning being that when I wanted maximum lights I got it.

[myoldjalopy]

7-12-2010_092.jpeg (81.64 KiB) Viewed 520 times

[Bill_qaz]

Very good picture but actually all four are the same size 7"
Need a different bug

[MikeNash]

I suppose, Bill, you're running with the usual 55 watt spotlight bulbs so you're pulling some extra 8 or 9 amps when they're on. Not wanting to digress but have you (or anyone else) tried fitting LEDs to spotlights?

[svenedin]

I suppose, Bill, you're running with the usual 55 watt spotlight bulbs so you're pulling some extra 8 or 9 amps when they're on. Not wanting to digress but have you (or anyone else) tried fitting LEDs to spotlights?

My wiring loom is the elderly original. I fitted LEDs in place of halogen headlight bulbs. On dipped they're good but on full beam they are absolutely outstanding. So much so that I have given up on the idea of fitting spotlights. I was out with friends in the car and they could scarcely believe how good the full beam was on a dark country road. Possibly even better than the LED headlights on my modern Audi. I bought the CDRC "Ultimate" H4. Rather expensive but they are a straight swap for a halogen bulb with no changes to wiring and no extra ballast/control unit. Fitting is as simple as changing a bulb. https://www.dynamoregulatorconversions. ... s-shop.php

Stephen

[Bill_qaz]

I suppose, Bill, you're running with the usual 55 watt spotlight bulbs so you're pulling some extra 8 or 9 amps when they're on. Not wanting to digress but have you (or anyone else) tried fitting LEDs to spotlights?

Yes 55w bulbs, not tried led but have seen many with poor beam pattern as reflectors are not designed for led array.

Stephen
I am running an alternator and built separate loom with relays so wiring not a worry. The connection to main beam is only a relay trigger so low current draw.

[myoldjalopy]

Very good picture but actually all four are the same size 7"
Need a different bug

I believe its a type of jumping spider, Bill. Not that I know much about such things, but the picture 'jumped out' at me when I saw it!

[Bill_qaz]

Very good picture but actually all four are the same size 7"
Need a different bug

I believe its a type of jumping spider, Bill. Not that I know much about such things, but the picture 'jumped out' at me when I saw it!

Brilliant, hopefully it only jumped out as an image not for real

[svenedin]

I suppose, Bill, you're running with the usual 55 watt spotlight bulbs so you're pulling some extra 8 or 9 amps when they're on. Not wanting to digress but have you (or anyone else) tried fitting LEDs to spotlights?

Yes 55w bulbs, not tried led but have seen many with poor beam pattern as reflectors are not designed for led array.

Stephen
I am running an alternator and built separate loom with relays so wiring not a worry. The connection to main beam is only a relay trigger so low current draw.

Fair enough. That’s all far too clever for me but even if I knew what I was doing with electrics it’s too modified. I can put my car back to sealed beams in a few minutes.

Stehen

[Bill_qaz]

I suppose, Bill, you're running with the usual 55 watt spotlight bulbs so you're pulling some extra 8 or 9 amps when they're on. Not wanting to digress but have you (or anyone else) tried fitting LEDs to spotlights?

Yes 55w bulbs, not tried led but have seen many with poor beam pattern as reflectors are not designed for led array.

Stephen
I am running an alternator and built separate loom with relays so wiring not a worry. The connection to main beam is only a relay trigger so low current draw.

Fair enough. That’s all far too clever for me but even if I knew what I was doing with electrics it’s too modified. I can put my car back to sealed beams in a few minutes.

Stehen

If you have changed your bulbs for leds then you haven't got sealed beams?
What does too modified mean?

20240307_150355.jpg (873.38 KiB) Viewed 426 times

[svenedin]

Yes 55w bulbs, not tried led but have seen many with poor beam pattern as reflectors are not designed for led array.

Stephen
I am running an alternator and built separate loom with relays so wiring not a worry. The connection to main beam is only a relay trigger so low current draw.

Fair enough. That’s all far too clever for me but even if I knew what I was doing with electrics it’s too modified. I can put my car back to sealed beams in a few minutes.

Stehen

If you have changed your bulbs for leds then you haven't got sealed beams?
What does too modified mean?
20240307_150355.jpg

I did have sealed beams but to fit LEDs I bought the reflector assemblies and globes for halogen bulbs (H4). Even so, it is still very easy to put back to original.

Too modified for me is what I should have said. I try to only do modifications that I could undo very easily (reversibility). Fitting an alternator, changing to negative earth and altering the wiring would be too modified for me. I like dynamos. I actually genuinely think dynamos are marvellous things. They keep on going long after an alternator has become scrap and even then, the dynamo can be refurbished. I still have the original 1969 dynamo for my car and the original starter motor. I am lucky that there is a specialist in dynamos and electric motors not far from me. They first overhauled my dynamo in 1989 I think.

Stephen

[oliver90owner]

Fitting LEDs to reflectors designed for incandescent car headlamps is actually illegal and should result in an MoT failure. Likely not noticed by the tester, but would be if checked by VOSA.

It obviously makes no difference for spot lamps, as the dipped beam shape is never going to be an issue with auxilliary lamps. Fog lamps may well be in the same situation as the headlamps.

I fitted 100W (or maybe more powerful) halogen bulbs in my Hella/Marschall/Cibie spots. The 130?W versions did not have a long life. Sadly, the Hellas were only used for lamping, in later years and are currently stashed away somewhere in the garage.

[Bill_qaz]

Fitting LEDs to reflectors designed for incandescent car headlamps is actually illegal and should result in an MoT failure. Likely not noticed by the tester, but would be if checked by VOSA.

It obviously makes no difference for spot lamps, as the dipped beam shape is never going to be an issue with auxilliary lamps. Fog lamps may well be in the same situation as the headlamps.

I fitted 100W (or maybe more powerful) halogen bulbs in my Hella/Marschall/Cibie spots. The 130?W versions did not have a long life. Sadly, the Hellas were only used for lamping, in later years and are currently stashed away somewhere in the garage.

For driving lights/spotlights I believe the rules are:
They should be mounted in pairs equally spaced around the centre-line of the vehicle.
The maximum lawful power of each lamp should not exceed 55 watts.
They can be used as driving lights in association with the headlights main beam and should be arranged to go off when driving on dipped headlights.
A switching arrangement can be fitted so that they can be switched off separately to the headlights, although this is advised and not a definite requirement.
They should be aimed so as not to cause annoyance or dazzle to other road users.

[stuupnorth]

hi all
Just a wee reply with regard to led bulbs in Morris minor
i was under the impression that you could fit them as the MOT
manual states that you can if the vehicle is pre April 1986

i saw this
https://www.garagetalkonline.co.uk/news ... d-lighting
also
The DVSA says: ‘Vehicles first used before 1 April 1986 are not required to use type approved ‘e’ marked headlamps. Therefore, converting a halogen, or other headlamp on such a vehicle to use LED bulbs would not be in contravention of the regulations.’

[svenedin]

hi all
Just a wee reply with regard to led bulbs in Morris minor
i was under the impression that you could fit them as the MOT
manual states that you can if the vehicle is pre April 1986

i saw this
https://www.garagetalkonline.co.uk/news ... d-lighting
also
The DVSA says: ‘Vehicles first used before 1 April 1986 are not required to use type approved ‘e’ marked headlamps. Therefore, converting a halogen, or other headlamp on such a vehicle to use LED bulbs would not be in contravention of the regulations.’

Yes this goes round and round and round, here and on the Facebook groups. I had my car MoT'd with LED headlight bulbs in November 2023. It passed and the tester even commented on how good the LED bulbs are. They won't be missed or ignored because the MoT test includes a beam pattern test!

I am anti modification but I do drive on narrow, pitch black, country roads and I am not getting any younger. LED headlight bulbs have given me more confidence to drive the Morris at night and greatly contributed to safety. At my local MMOC branch meeting this week only 2 out of 20 or so members drove their Minors to the evening meeting. The reason given was that it was too dark on the country roads and the Minor headlights too poor. I did drive my Morris to the meeting, top down incidentally and it was absolutely freezing but quite exhilarating!

Stephen

[stuupnorth]

hi again
just to i agree about the lights not being great for driving on back road (of which there are plenty i use up here in the north east Scotland and when it gets dark very quickly once the 'clocks go back')
so as a safety point I'm all for it and in fact have them fitted to mine because of that
please excuse to bad pic and untidy garage

[myoldjalopy]

"At my local MMOC branch meeting this week only 2 out of 20 or so members drove their Minors to the evening meeting. The reason given was that it was too dark on the country roads and the Minor headlights too poor."
I don't really understand this. I have been driving bog-standard Minors for decades now and have never been afraid of driving lanes at night. My parents had a Minor and I don't remember them ever saying "Oh we better not take the car out now, its just got dark!" People drove at night all the time 'back in the day', so what has changed? Too many potholes?? Or have we become overly timid and conditioned by 'health and safety'? It sounds similar to people fitting disk brakes because "Minor drum breaks are no good" etc. I can see the benefit of better lighting, but to be afraid to go out with standard lights seems a bit odd......

[Myrtles Man]

People drove at night all the time 'back in the day', so what has changed?

Probably this:-

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motori ... ght-glare/

[svenedin]

"At my local MMOC branch meeting this week only 2 out of 20 or so members drove their Minors to the evening meeting. The reason given was that it was too dark on the country roads and the Minor headlights too poor."
I don't really understand this. I have been driving bog-standard Minors for decades now and have never been afraid of driving lanes at night. My parents had a Minor and I don't remember them ever saying "Oh we better not take the car out now, its just got dark!" People drove at night all the time 'back in the day', so what has changed? Too many potholes?? Or have we become overly timid and conditioned by 'health and safety'? It sounds similar to people fitting disk brakes because "Minor drum breaks are no good" etc. I can see the benefit of better lighting, but to be afraid to go out with standard lights seems a bit odd......

Potholes, unexpected traffic calming measures, elderly drivers, old windscreens with numerous fine scratches that accentuate the dazzle from oncoming traffic, far more traffic, 4x4 vehicles oncoming at speed and taking more than their fair share of the road and so and so on!

Stephen