LED conversion help on car

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 15:06:47 +1000, "Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com>
wrote:


Not necessarily, particularly if the brake lights of the hatchback have failed.

Maybe you would only have to prove a defect in the lamps? I must get
onto QT to see what they say on this. I once made a set of flashing
brake lights to be told they are not legal (could be confused with
turn indicators) Most would remember the electronics mags having
circuits for those. Now I just make 100% sure to check that the lamps
comply. I would urge others to do the same for the sake of their
insurance.

Al

2003 insult page awaits your contribution
http://kwakakid.cjb.net/insult.html
 
John G wrote:
"Trevor Wilson" <trevor@rageaudio.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f3a046e@news.comindico.com.au...

"Albm&ctd" <al_bmandctd@connexus.net.au> wrote in message
news:3f39caa3.4815354@news.individual.net...
On 12 Aug 2003 07:15:14 -0700, agw@woodtech.net.au (Andy) wrote:



I was involved on the tail end of a commercial project quite a few
years ago that involved manufacture of led lights for the transport
and mining sectors. From what I saw the concept was simple - series
resistors and a bunch of leds. From memory the hardest part was the
design of the lens. The ADR's were faily critical when it came to
light output versus view angle. The type of leds used and the design
of the lens (to refract the light properly) were a major issue.

Andy

I wonder how insurance would go if you had homemade or kit brakelights
and someone ran up your arse. If they didn't comply with ADR's then I
imagine shit would hit the fan. As far as I know you can still buy
lights for trailer etc that do not comply and they are OK to sell as
long as you don't fit them. I call this "bong law" :)

**I don't see where the problem is. For several reasons:

* If someone runs into you, they're in the wrong, regardless of the
operational status of stop lights.
* Rego checks do not include the brightness and visible angle of tail
lights. They're only interested if they work or not.
* LED stop lights are about 300mSec faster than incandescent. If anything,
they're safer, for that reason.


Only if they meet the brightness and visible angle specifications.
And I am not saying they can't but nor can an amature say the do.
And it will cost you $500 in testing to find out for sure.

Rob
 
Chris Hoffmann wrote:
In article <3f39568f$1@news.comindico.com.au>, trevor@rageaudio.com.au
says...

"Albm&ctd" <al_bmandctd@connexus.net.au> wrote in message
news:3f38c7eb.5595421@news.individual.net...
On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 21:23:04 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
trevor@rageaudio.com.au> wrote:

And perhaps they go through an approval process? Do you know what
ADR's are?

**Of course I know. However, there are some points you need to understand:

* The OP is not designing and releasing a new vehicle onto the Australian
market.
* All one needs to do is satisfy the demands of the mechanic who inspects
the vehicle at rego time. He/she will not know, nor care about the lights,
as long as they work.

As I understand it, if you make *design* changes to your vehicle - in my
day it was stuff like changing your engine from a 6 cyl to a V8 - you
were required to put your car in 'over the pits' for a complete
engineering inspection.

Technically, and probably in the eyes of the law if it came to it,
changing incandescent bulbs for LEDs is a design change and so would
attract the same requirement for a proper inspection.

Generally, I agree that the risk of getting caught out for changing
bulbs for LEDs is quite low, if a situation arose where the law and
technical scrutiny were involved then you'd have nothing to stand on.
That's not the problem at all. Your insurance may be voided.

Rob
 
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 16:53:17 +1000, Franc Zabkar
<fzabkar@optussnet.com.au> put finger to keyboard and composed:

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 01:24:16 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
trevor@rageaudio.com.au> put finger to keyboard and composed:

You think that the RTA (here in NSW) will worry about some stop lights?

Who knows? Bureaucrats can get picky about the most trivial things.
For example, my car once failed a rego check because the rubber pad on
the clutch pedal was worn.

In any case, curiosity has gotten the better of me, so to settle this
question I'll telephone the RTA.
I called the RTA's technical number (1300 137 302) and was told that
it was illegal to fit LED lights to vehicles that were either not
fitted with them as standard equipment, or did not have them as an
option. The fellow stated that if I wished to modify a vehicle in this
manner, my work would need to be inspected by an engineer who would
confirm whether the modification complied with ADR13. The body which
issues ADRs is the Federal Office of Road Safety, so it looks like
this requirement is a national one.


- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email.
 
"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@optussnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:3eh3kv0ic132ea9hru1t7uo89i0gpjqrbu@4ax.com...
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 16:53:17 +1000, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@optussnet.com.au> put finger to keyboard and composed:

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 01:24:16 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
trevor@rageaudio.com.au> put finger to keyboard and composed:

You think that the RTA (here in NSW) will worry about some stop lights?

Who knows? Bureaucrats can get picky about the most trivial things.
For example, my car once failed a rego check because the rubber pad on
the clutch pedal was worn.

In any case, curiosity has gotten the better of me, so to settle this
question I'll telephone the RTA.

I called the RTA's technical number (1300 137 302) and was told that
it was illegal to fit LED lights to vehicles that were either not
fitted with them as standard equipment, or did not have them as an
option. The fellow stated that if I wished to modify a vehicle in this
manner, my work would need to be inspected by an engineer who would
confirm whether the modification complied with ADR13. The body which
issues ADRs is the Federal Office of Road Safety, so it looks like
this requirement is a national one.
**Pretty much the answer I expected. Do you REALLY think anyone at the RTA
will worry about some LED tail lights? Have you SEEN some of the autos
getting around town lately? I'll betcha almost none of those turbo-charged
monstrosities would pass any ADRs, WRT emissions etc.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
 
On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 10:31:28 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
<trevor@rageaudio.com.au> wrote:

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@optussnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:3eh3kv0ic132ea9hru1t7uo89i0gpjqrbu@4ax.com...
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 16:53:17 +1000, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@optussnet.com.au> put finger to keyboard and composed:

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 01:24:16 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
trevor@rageaudio.com.au> put finger to keyboard and composed:

You think that the RTA (here in NSW) will worry about some stop lights?

Who knows? Bureaucrats can get picky about the most trivial things.
For example, my car once failed a rego check because the rubber pad on
the clutch pedal was worn.

In any case, curiosity has gotten the better of me, so to settle this
question I'll telephone the RTA.

I called the RTA's technical number (1300 137 302) and was told that
it was illegal to fit LED lights to vehicles that were either not
fitted with them as standard equipment, or did not have them as an
option. The fellow stated that if I wished to modify a vehicle in this
manner, my work would need to be inspected by an engineer who would
confirm whether the modification complied with ADR13. The body which
issues ADRs is the Federal Office of Road Safety, so it looks like
this requirement is a national one.

**Pretty much the answer I expected. Do you REALLY think anyone at the RTA
will worry about some LED tail lights? Have you SEEN some of the autos
getting around town lately? I'll betcha almost none of those turbo-charged
monstrosities would pass any ADRs, WRT emissions etc.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Whoa let's Read it again Trevor.
Franc Zabkar's post
"I called the RTA's technical number (1300 137 302) and was told that
it was illegal to fit LED lights to vehicles that were either not
fitted with them as standard equipment, or did not have them as an
option. "

My Post at the beginning of this thread.
"I think you'll find whatever you make will not be legal."

Trevor Wilson.
"**Pretty much the answer I expected. Do you REALLY think anyone at
the RTA will worry about some LED tail lights? "

The RTA are saying they are not legal "illegal" indicating they do
worry about things like that. I said they would not be legal. How much
more convincing do you need?

Al
2003 insult page awaits your contribution
http://kwakakid.cjb.net/insult.html
 
On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 04:29:24 GMT, Chris Hoffmann <a@b.c> wrote:

In article <3f39568f$1@news.comindico.com.au>, trevor@rageaudio.com.au
says...

"Albm&ctd" <al_bmandctd@connexus.net.au> wrote in message
news:3f38c7eb.5595421@news.individual.net...
On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 21:23:04 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
trevor@rageaudio.com.au> wrote:

And perhaps they go through an approval process? Do you know what
ADR's are?

**Of course I know. However, there are some points you need to understand:

* The OP is not designing and releasing a new vehicle onto the Australian
market.
* All one needs to do is satisfy the demands of the mechanic who inspects
the vehicle at rego time. He/she will not know, nor care about the lights,
as long as they work.

As I understand it, if you make *design* changes to your vehicle - in my
day it was stuff like changing your engine from a 6 cyl to a V8 - you
were required to put your car in 'over the pits' for a complete
engineering inspection.

Technically, and probably in the eyes of the law if it came to it,
changing incandescent bulbs for LEDs is a design change and so would
attract the same requirement for a proper inspection.

Generally, I agree that the risk of getting caught out for changing
bulbs for LEDs is quite low, if a situation arose where the law and
technical scrutiny were involved then you'd have nothing to stand on.

Chris.
Well, I'm considering putting LEDs in as auxilliary brake lights - an
addition to the bulds that are already there. I have a 4WD that has
all the lighting down on the bumper but empty light assemblies on the
rear pillars. I was thinking of populating them with two LED brake
lights.

I guess this would be a contradiction of the rules, but it isn't
replacing current equipment only supplementing it? How could this be
seen as a safety issue? (providing you're not blinding drivers with
mega candella LEDS :) )

- Rob.
 

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