[AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

[Phil Auten]

Speaking of aiming of headlights, the largest number of vehicles in this 
part of Texas that blind me at night seems to be 3/4 and 1 ton pickups 
pulling loaded stock trailers. Their lights may be perfectly aimed while 
unloaded, but the loaded trailer changes the aim of the headlights 
significantly. I don't know how to correct this, unless the owner 
realigns his headlights while loaded. Of course, that screws everything 
up when they are unloaded, a "catch 22".

Phil in TX


On 1/19/2020 2:15 PM, Ken Knierim wrote:
> 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 
> <mailto: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.
>     _______________________________________________
>     AT mailing list
>     AT at lists.antique-tractor.com <mailto:AT at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>     http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.antique-tractor.com/pipermail/at-antique-tractor.com/attachments/20200119/b83db027/attachment.htm>