Con&Use Regs, Vehicle Lighting

[grahamdance]

Just a quickie....

Whats the maximum wattage of a headlight buld on a car? I'm sure C&U regs says 100W, but I can't find it anywhere on the net

Cheers

[tvrgit]

55W dip, 60W main beam

[cooperman]

So get those 100/80 bulbs out of that Rover for this weekend! I'll keep mine in though, then I might have a bit more of a chance against you!

[gilbertd]

55W x2 for dipped beam, no restriction for main. The only problem is that with half a dozen 100W spots in addition to your main beam headlights, you think you've gone blind when you have to dip them!

[JWB]

Or you dazzle yourself with the reflections from road signs!

John

(130Watt PIAA Spot lights used as headlights)

[gridgway]

I thought there was an age dependence in the regs, ie different before/after a certain year?
GRaham

[davidra]

So if you buy those 160w H4 globes, are they illegal even if properly aligned? They work a treat in the coon-tray

[streaky]

Anyone ever had a MOT failure for wrong wattage bulbs? - Streaky

[grahamdance]

It would appear that for cars first used after 01/04/86, bulbs have to be BS- or E-marked. Anything first used before that date is exempt.

So you can use high-wattage bulbs, so long as they've got the right markings. Where's my felt tip pen...

[tvrgit]

grahamdance said:

It would appear that for cars first used after 01/04/86, bulbs have to be BS- or E-marked. Anything first used before that date is exempt.

So you can use high-wattage bulbs, so long as they've got the right markings. Where's my felt tip pen...

Exempt as in "they don't have to be e-marked but 55W is the max dip beam"

As you say - the catch for more modern cars is that (I think) high-wattage bulbs aren't e-marked - hence why they are sold "for off-road use only" to get round the regs.

[bond-007]

So theres nothing to stop me putting 130 w high beams in so long as the dip is 55w?

[tvrgit]

as long as they are e-marked... but i don't think they can be e-marked if over 60W main beam (might be wrong about that last bit though)

[jwb]

I would put any bulbs in you like and F.T.L. Just make sure they are properly aligned. My 1995 Citreon Ax had 100W PIAA bulbs and it past the MOT.

JB

[falcemob]

streaky said:

Anyone ever had a MOT failure for wrong wattage bulbs? - Streaky

It's not part of the test

[Philbes]

My car has plastic headlamp 'glass'. Would higher than 60 watt bulbs cause a heat/melting problem?

Edited by Philbes on Saturday 16th September 18:39

[davidra]

Philbes said:

My car has plastic headlamp 'glass'. Would higher than 60 watt bulbs cause a heat/melting problem?

Edited by Philbes on Saturday 16th September 18:39

YES - this is a common problem.

Also other potential problems: Wire melting (not thick enough), fuses blowing, relays unable to cope.. but mostly 160w can be handled fine, esp on 90''s cars

[Fiskkeeper]

instead of higher wattage go for Xenon blubs. get the white ones not the silly blue ones though.
xenon lights are 60/55w (at least mine are) but provide as much extra light as sticking a set of spotlights on as well as normal halogeon lights. brilliant in my old MG, its only got a baby alternator so i wouldnt want huge power blubs.