I saw a funny the other day, too. A Golf where the centre brakelight flashed. It seemed to be flashing all the time, except when braking when it came on properly. At least, I assume it was braking, because he was stopped at a hilly junction, but there were no other lights to suggest an application of the centre pedal... Surely somebody wouldn't have been so daft as to deliberately modify their rear lights in this way...?
Back to your example. I'm surprised it's legal merely to flash a light from red to yellow when operating indicators and sidelights together. I know it's practical and workable, I'm just surprised it's legal. But it sounds like an OEM has done it, so I suppose it must be. It'd be worse when using foglights and indicators - going from bright red to bright yellow. I'm not sure that's enough variety to catch the attention of a following driver. All too often the change from "off" to "brake lights" isn't, so I don't think I'd like to rely on a mere colour change. And that's before we even consider the issue of colour-blindness! Also, given your priority order, wouldn't this mean that you lose the rear sidelights when the reversing lights are on? Thereby suggesting to other drivers that your car is facing the other way? What about your number plate light? Is that separate, or built-in? Often manufacturers use the same taillight bulb to illuminate the plate. I did buy a few boards to experiment with LED lights - 48 bright white SMD LEDs pre-soldered to a board and with all the power circuitry already fixed in and ready to run at 12v. (Other sizes are available - from 6 up to 64+ LEDs). They're being sold on ebay as being suitable for replacing interior lights and come with adapters for a number of different bulb types. I was going to try them behind various spare lenses (brake, sidelight etc.) to ensure they're bright enough before doing anything drastic like actually fitting them. Pity it's not as easy/straightforward to do the indicators - the loading is different so the flasher unit would think the bulb has failed. But it would save me having to make up huge fibreglass boxes to encase the rear of the rear lights, as well as solving a few problems with bad connections due to using 40 year old bulb holders etc. Question - how legal would this be? Given that I'd be fitting them behind existing lenses which still carry E-marks..... For the number plate, I managed to get replacement bulbs which incorporate 13 SMD LEDs arranged to shine in all directions. These will fit in the existing bulb holder as a direct swap for the original tungsten item. I haven't got round to fitting these yet either. TonyV. On Feb 20, 10:35 am, "Jim Hearne" <[email protected]> wrote: > The mention of lights reminded me. > I was behind a car the other day in the dark that had LED rear lights > (factory, not OEM), didn't recognise the make/model. > It used the same section of the rear light for sidelights as indicators. > When the indicator was flashing it went from dim red (sidelight) to bright > yellow. > > The lead me to think, what would be the minimum number of sections you'd need > for rear lights if you used different colour LEDS to meet the regs. > > The 2+2 rear lights use the same bulb for sidelights and fog so i guess you > can combine those. > > I think probably 2. > > Section 1. Brake lights only. > Section 2. Sidelights (dim red) , Fog lights (bright red) , reversing lights > (white), Indicators (Yellow) in priority order. > > Any thoughts ? > > Jim -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Quantum Owners Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/quantumowners?hl=en IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As Is" basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. Neither the Quantum Owners Club nor the individuals associated with the Quantum Owners Club or in the preparation of the above information shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained within this or related message(s).
