Parking Lights
Discussion
Position lamps are typically 5 Watts a piece, assuming one at each corner plus a registration plate lamp and you're looking at 25 Watts total. Divide 25 by the voltage (12) and you're looking at 2 Amps. Your 80 Ah battery will last around 40 hours from fully charged to completely flat, though it will be around 32 hours if you want to start the engine assuming a current draw of 300 Amps for 6 seconds by the starter motor.
The parking light system on my Skoda Octavia is switched via the indicator stalk with the ignition switch off, so you can select left or right side.
It activates the front and rear sidelights only - no number plate lamps illuminate.
I parked outside a mate's house the other night, and I was slightly concerned about the darkness of the parking spot, and the proximity to a junction - albeit in the middle of a housing estate, so for the first time I used them.
They were on for 6 hours (with a draw of 10 watts), and when I returned to the car, the starter motor spun with no discernible difference in speed at all to normal, so for that period of time, I would imagine that the current draw from the battery was negligeable, and that if I had left them on for, say, the entire night, there would have been no problem come the morning.
HTH
It activates the front and rear sidelights only - no number plate lamps illuminate.
I parked outside a mate's house the other night, and I was slightly concerned about the darkness of the parking spot, and the proximity to a junction - albeit in the middle of a housing estate, so for the first time I used them.
They were on for 6 hours (with a draw of 10 watts), and when I returned to the car, the starter motor spun with no discernible difference in speed at all to normal, so for that period of time, I would imagine that the current draw from the battery was negligeable, and that if I had left them on for, say, the entire night, there would have been no problem come the morning.
HTH
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
The parking light system on my Skoda Octavia is switched via the indicator stalk with the ignition switch off, so you can select left or right side.
It activates the front and rear sidelights only - no number plate lamps illuminate.
I parked outside a mate's house the other night, and I was slightly concerned about the darkness of the parking spot, and the proximity to a junction - albeit in the middle of a housing estate, so for the first time I used them.
They were on for 6 hours (with a draw of 10 watts), and when I returned to the car, the starter motor spun with no discernible difference in speed at all to normal, so for that period of time, I would imagine that the current draw from the battery was negligeable, and that if I had left them on for, say, the entire night, there would have been no problem come the morning.
HTH
My Astra has this too, where you push the indicator stalk to operate what side of the car you want to be lit once the ignition is off. I've only used it once or twice while parked for a short period of time if in a badly lit street or possibly narrow road. Not sure I would trust using them all night though. It activates the front and rear sidelights only - no number plate lamps illuminate.
I parked outside a mate's house the other night, and I was slightly concerned about the darkness of the parking spot, and the proximity to a junction - albeit in the middle of a housing estate, so for the first time I used them.
They were on for 6 hours (with a draw of 10 watts), and when I returned to the car, the starter motor spun with no discernible difference in speed at all to normal, so for that period of time, I would imagine that the current draw from the battery was negligeable, and that if I had left them on for, say, the entire night, there would have been no problem come the morning.
HTH
Loose Chippings said:
s p a c e m a n said:
Do aftermarket led lights draw less current, therefore can be left longer?
Do they work with their own battery? Presume they don't work off the cigarette lighter socket or you would have to leave keys in the car when parked! s p a c e m a n said:
Loose Chippings said:
s p a c e m a n said:
Do aftermarket led lights draw less current, therefore can be left longer?
Do they work with their own battery? Presume they don't work off the cigarette lighter socket or you would have to leave keys in the car when parked! s p a c e m a n said:
Nooo, you can get led replacement bulbs for standard lights. Infact a lot of newer cars have led bulbs instead of filament.
Sorry, misunderstood, thought it was an after market light that was being talked about, not just the bulb.Also to the poster who asked which light you should switch on, it should always be whatever side of the car is in the middle of the road, not the kerbside one.
Loose Chippings said:
Sorry, misunderstood, thought it was an after market light that was being talked about, not just the bulb.
Also to the poster who asked which light you should switch on, it should always be whatever side of the car is in the middle of the road, not the kerbside one.
Thanks Also to the poster who asked which light you should switch on, it should always be whatever side of the car is in the middle of the road, not the kerbside one.
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