[AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

[Ken Knierim]

Steve, thanks for the link. My Google-fu is apparently weak; I haven't seen
that this website before.
I will say that I've seen city buses (through whatever contract company has
it lately) and refuse trucks (City of Phoenix, Town of Gilbert) running
retrofit LED lamp assemblies (they use a lot of Peterbilt trucks, some new,
some not) which helped me get started on this path; several are listed as
DOT compliant on heavy trucks (noting that they don't claim to be OK on
passenger vehicles using the same lighting equipment). What I've read in
that document link you sent (so far in my reading) lumps trucks, buses and
passenger vehicles all together.

I also spent a fair amount of time aligning the lights better than they
ever were with the old halogen and incandescent lamps (of which were
dubious quality on a good day). I purchased a cheapo light meter for the
project as well (Urceri MT-912) and will see if it's calibrated enough to
verify light standards at the distances in the document. I do believe that
any inspection depends on attitude of the individual and blinding a police
officer isn't a good start to it so I've been careful to make sure the aim
point is not offensive. I wish the new vehicles would fit this description
but they don't always.

Thanks again,

Ken in AZ


On Sun, Jan 19, 2020 at 8:15 AM Steve W. <swilliams268 at frontier.com> wrote:

> Ken Knierim wrote:
> > Steve,
> >      The Hella's have DOT stamped in them. That part is good. The LED's
> > are claimed to be legal as well but cannot find any sort of
> > documentation. Figured that out after I had them installed...
> > Based on the number of HID lights here, I need more information on local
> > legality and our illustrious state's information is not forthcoming.
> > Back to asking someone I know and trust about local legality. I
> > primarily use it for offroading anyway but I still need to get back and
> > forth...
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Ken in AZ
>
> Federal laws cover the lighting and states that any lamps other than the
> OEM approved light source are illegal. None of the LED retrofits are
> legal for highway use in the US. Doesn't matter what the packaging says.
> That is part of the standard that says each lamp housing must be
> designed around a particular light source. IE you make a reflector that
> uses a halogen lamp, that is the only legal replacement lamp for that
> housing.
>
> The states generally don't enforce it though, however if you were to
> drive past a cop and your lights blind them, you will get cited. Then
> they may take a closer look.
>
> This is the full code. If you want to know the federal stance on it.
> https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=se49.6.571_1108
>
> --
> Steve W.
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>
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