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Subject Topic: Additional reverse lighting Post Reply Post New Topic
16/9/2009 at 5:12pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 650 + Grand Cherokee
View cufcbarside's Profile View Profile   Reply to cufcbarside Reply   Quote cufcbarside Quote  
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Hi Team

is there any rules on putting additional lighting under the caravan for reversing.

we are thinking of installing two driving lamps via a switch in the van to light up the rear end when reversing onto pitchs in the dark.

anyone aware of any issues with this.

regards

CUFCBARSIDE

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16/9/2009 at 8:57pm
 Location: Leamington Spa
 Outfit: Lunar Ariane and Discovery 3
View Charlie Caravan's Profile View Profile   Reply to Charlie Caravan Reply   Quote Charlie Caravan Quote  
Joined: 15/9/2009

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There are some rules on reversing lamps. You're only allowed two and a maximum wattage of 21 Watts each. I'm not sure there are any rules on where they have to be fitted (distance from ground, from side of vehicle etc), none that I can find anyway.

Curiously, on a car, they don't have to be tested as part of the MOT. So your car shouldn't fail if they don't work. I've been stopped by "plod" in the past for a reversing light not working and when I told them it didn't need to, as it wasn't part of the MOT they relied on the "if it's fitted, it should work" argument. this is NOT the case with reversing lights though!



16/9/2009 at 9:28pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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look here for your information.if you put them on a manual switch on the dash do not think you will break the law.

www.ntta.co.uk/law/



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


17/9/2009 at 9:56am
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW
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I had the reversing lights on my car on a switch for 3 years (until the car died)
back OT, cant see why it would be any different to loading lights on the back of pickups/vans etc.

just make sure you turn them off when you are going forwards.

how are you going to power these? driving lights are 55W each, so will need a bit more power from somwhere.
you could steal it from the battery charging connection on the 12S, and run this via a relay from the reversing lights


17/9/2009 at 10:40am
 Location: Blackpool
 Outfit: Lunar 417 07 Volvo V70 D5
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 You would need a warning light on the dashboard to indicate that the lights were in use, an illuminated switch would be the easiest answer to that. As far as I can see, and I have checked several sources, there are no specific regs covering positioning, although common sense says that they shouldn't dazzle people. The wattage is a bit of a grey area, max on the highway is, as stated 21w and no more than two. It could be argued that your proposed lights are for off.road use only, and the regs don't apply, equally plod might say that they are capable of being used on the highway and therefore are illegal. A tip I was given many years ago, from a HGV driver, was to use your hazard lights when reversing in the dark. Combined with normal reversing lights I have found that this does give a pretty good view to the rear. 

 Hope this is of some help.

  Pete



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Don't panic!
Hit it with a pointed stick!
Nostalgia's not what it used to be.


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17/9/2009 at 10:43am
 Location: Co. Antrim
 Outfit: Bailey Pegasus Milan & Terracan
View Stressed Al's Profile View Profile   Reply to Stressed Al Reply   Quote Stressed Al Quote  
Joined: 03/9/2003

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I just get the wife to stand outside and illuminate the pitch with a torch! 17

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Al







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