Spotlights - LTSA rules / advice???

[Jacko]

Am looking at getting some spotlights for the vx. Both for on road night driving use, and off road.

Can't make much sense of the LTSA website, does anyone know the rules on how many lights are allowable?

I was thinking 2x spread beam lights and 2x long range spot beam lights mounted along the top of the bullbar.

Idealy would have a separate switch for each pair of lights, and would also have them wired through the high beam circuit. (Ideally have the spread beam lights on when low beam is used and have both the spread beam and the spot beam lights come on when high beam is selected).

Does this sound about right? Any other ideas?

Cheers.

[flyingbrick]

mine had no problems getting a wof like this.





I think the only thing is to make sure the lights have their own switch.

[mudbugga]

You're only allowed a total of 4 lamps to operate when on main beam, & the lights have to be able to be turned off from drivers position.
Lights mounted on a light bar on the roof are considered "cosmetic" and therefore doesn't matter, they not a wofable item.

So you could have 1 pair of lights mounted on the bullbar or as many as you want on the roof.

[Swamped]

When I went for a warrant the people had a big winge about my spots not being tied into the main lights or the high/low beam circuit as you can flick em on whenever you want. Which is understandable. I just take the lights off each warrant. The VTNZ guy said I could have them set up as they were if I had A cap for them the light couldn't go through, like an opaque diffuser i'm guessing. I was looking at getting two pencil beams and two spread type lights also as replacements but I'd have to take em off driving through the bush or put em in some protective housing as my old ones always got damaged offroad.
Would you benefit much from better headlamp bulbs for your normal lights??

[mudbugga]

For lights on the bullbars, they have to have a on/off switch separate from the headlight switch, and the lights have to be controlled by either the low beam or park lights (in the case of fog lights) or high beam (in the case of spotlights).
For the lights on the roof it does't matter - they not a wof item. You can wire them in whatever way you want.

That was what we've been told by the LTNZ inspector that comes and inspects our w/shop.

ps. If there are lights on the bullbars/bumper, they must work or be removed.

[dazza85]

With my last warrent the 2 sets on the front of my truck (2 on bumper 2 on bull-bar) had to all be working and the center of the light on the wall has to be at the same height or less than the height of the light fitting and directly in-front or to the left of the fitting.
He said that they should be setup so that they only work when on high beam but had no problem with the small ones that are on all the time regardless of if the main lights are on or not.
I run these (little 50w spots ) to make me more visible during the day

A question for those with them mounted above the cab ...
How do they survive off road ??

[flyingbrick]

A question for those with them mounted above the cab ...
How do they survive off road ??

No idea- but on my truck it meant that i could not enter some parking buildings and top speed (especially noticeable up big hills) was greatly reduced due to all the extra drag.

on top = shit IMO unless you can make them removable for daily driving.

[Taz]

A question for those with them mounted above the cab ...
How do they survive off road ??

Depends on what sort of tracks you do. Obviously anything with trees can and will create problems. You will find that cheapies crack the lenses pretty quickly unless you can rig them to fold down or have decent protection, but your still adding height.

No idea- but on my truck it meant that i could not enter some parking buildings and top speed (especially noticeable up big hills) was greatly reduced due to all the extra drag.

on top = shit IMO unless you can make them removable for daily driving.

You want wind resistance you should try one of those big fark off ali factory roof racks. When Diesel was still cheap it used to add $20 each way going to and from the coast.

[flyingbrick]

A question for those with them mounted above the cab ...
How do they survive off road ??

Depends on what sort of tracks you do. Obviously anything with trees can and will create problems. You will find that cheapies crack the lenses pretty quickly unless you can rig them to fold down or have decent protection, but your still adding height.

No idea- but on my truck it meant that i could not enter some parking buildings and top speed (especially noticeable up big hills) was greatly reduced due to all the extra drag.

on top = shit IMO unless you can make them removable for daily driving.

You want wind resistance you should try one of those big fark off ali factory roof racks. When Diesel was still cheap it used to add $20 each way going to and from the coast.

look at the pic i posted. lol. they were on a big fark off aluminum roof rack.

[Taz]

look at the pic i posted. lol. they were on a big fark off aluminum roof rack.

Now your just showing off haha. Must have scrolled past those pics a bit fast. Pretty solid chunk of metal to be pushing in the wind man. Good luck with that

[flyingbrick]

Nah i took it off and sold it. Gained like 15kph going over the bombays to auckland

[gary_in_nz]

i was told by the local wof dudes that all forward facing lights have to be in the headlight circuit and controlled so that you cant have them on when on low beam/dip.

[Heath]

just checked my bull bar lights (fitted when I got the truck) and they dont have an off switch seperate to the light circuit. Had a brand new WOF too, maybe the garage wasnt too worried about it (slightly dodgy maybe).

Never mind I'll see how I go with the next WoF and worry about it then.

[Rural53]

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/vehicles/get-your-lights-right.html

The WOF manual appears to not mention driving lights http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/certifiers/virm-in-service/general-04-v3a5.pdf
My understanding of the recent rule change is you can have roof mounted driving lights, it is just illegal to use them on the road.

[mudbugga]

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/vehicles/get-your-lights-right.html

The WOF manual appears to not mention driving lights http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/certifiers/virm-in-service/general-04-v3a5.pdf
My understanding of the recent rule change is you can have roof mounted driving lights, it is just illegal to use them on the road.

Yup that's it in a nutshell.

[kiwipete]

The WOF manual appears to not mention driving lights http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/certifiers/virm-in-service/general-04-v3a5.pdf

I wonder if one can say they are Work or Scene lamps, here is the description in the above document re these lamps under Table 4-15-1. Lamps that are not cosmetic lamps; Other lighting equipment not requiring inspection.

Work lamps
White or amber high intensity lamps that are not necessary for the operation of the vehicle but are designed to illuminate the area around the vehicle or the vehicle itself.
Scene lamps
Work lamps designed to provide a fixed or movable beam of light to illuminate the area around the vehicle or the vehicle itself.