Daytime running lamps?

[MrKiwi]

I dunno about Chch, but I had the idea to do the same in jafa land and was told this was not warrantable.

DRLs have to turn off automatically when the headlight comes on. They can't be controlled by a switch.

I have daytime running lights fitted to my bike, have been on for 3 years now. Never failed a wof...

[chasio]

I dunno about Chch, but I had the idea to do the same in jafa land and was told this was not warrantable.

DRLs have to turn off automatically when the headlight comes on. They can't be controlled by a switch.

In which case you can call them driving lamps. The only thing with driving lamps is that the switch has to be illuminated (or that may be interpreted as having an indicator light, perhaps). I got an illuminated switch from Jaycar and wired my LED's through that.

[f2dz]

I have daytime running lights fitted to my bike, have been on for 3 years now. Never failed a wof...

Not surprising, especially if you get it checked at a workshop rather than the VTNZ, who aren't that lenient.

In which case you can call them driving lamps. The only thing with driving lamps is that the switch has to be illuminated (or that may be interpreted as having an indicator light, perhaps). I got an illuminated switch from Jaycar and wired my LED's through that.

I'm not sure what the distinction is between daytime and driving lamps. All I know is that I had two small LEDs mounted to the front of my old bike that turned on when I started it, along with my headlight, neither of which I could turn off, and I was told to remove them by a VTNZ testing officer for the aforementioned reason.

[Gremlin]

In which case you can call them driving lamps.

There is no category called driving lamps... http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...ycles/lighting

[R650R]

Posted a link earlier but there are three options on what to call your lights or what VTNZ will decide they are...

1) Daytime running lamps - must not be on when headlamp is on... Light must a bright source/noticeable but not illuminate the road surface (so pretty much only the specifically designed led strip light DRMs)

2) Position indicator lamps - to show how wide your vehicle is, can be on all the time but must be a fairly weak light, something more of a decorative level.

3) Fog lamps - Must be switchable and only used in poor visibility, must be mounted below main beam level, there is a specific light pattern requirement too.

Really it seems fit what you may but just be carefull where you get wOF'd and don't attract attention of fail the roadside attitude test and you should be right...

[NordieBoy]

Mine are #2, out on the hand guards, 3w, 15mm dia or so.

[chasio]

There is no category called driving lamps... http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...ycles/lighting

Which just goes to show there are lies, damned lies and TradeMe listings.

Posted a link earlier but there are three options on what to call your lights or what VTNZ will decide they are...

1) Daytime running lamps - must not be on when headlamp is on... Light must a bright source/noticeable but not illuminate the road surface (so pretty much only the specifically designed led strip light DRMs)

2) Position indicator lamps - to show how wide your vehicle is, can be on all the time but must be a fairly weak light, something more of a decorative level.

3) Fog lamps - Must be switchable and only used in poor visibility, must be mounted below main beam level, there is a specific light pattern requirement too.

Really it seems fit what you may but just be carefull where you get wOF'd and don't attract attention of fail the roadside attitude test and you should be right...

In that case I must have fitted fog lamps, with a fog lamp warning device. The beam pattern wasn't tested, but they are spots and I angle them down so they don't dazzle. However, the beam is not terribly wide.

But as noted many times above, if you're not being an obvious PITA no-one seems to care. If I had a WOF station complaining about them, I'd just find someone sensible instead.

That said, all power to MrKiwi

[Big Dog]

There is no category called driving lamps... http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...ycles/lighting

Perhaps he means http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...osition-lamps?

[Flip]

My Road King has day running lights.

They are not fog lights. They have their own switch but turn off on high beam.

The wof wanker always makes an issue of them but they are standard and the bike is type approved so he get knotted.

[chasio]

Perhaps he means http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...osition-lamps?

Ah but I also have another small pair of LED's fitted as forward facing position lamps, and only 1 pair is allowed.

I do note the requirement is that position lamps are of "low intensity", which is helpfully not defined. So a pair of 10W LED's is fine, then? I am sure they would say not, but without a definition of low intensity, how can we know?

[Gremlin]

I do note the requirement is that position lamps are of "low intensity", which is helpfully not defined. So a pair of 10W LED's is fine, then? I am sure they would say not, but without a definition of low intensity, how can we know?

I'd rather it's not defined, keeps it open to judgement, and hard for anyone to argue it's not legal. My big LED lamps consume 72W for the pair at full power. The updated model uses even more. Yep, 10W is low power in my book

[BMWST?]

Equivalent 5 w would be low intensity imho

[NordieBoy]

My little 3watters are miniscule then.
In the words of Checkpoint Plod, "Those lights are brilliant!"

[BMWST?]

My little 3watters are miniscule then.
In the words of Checkpoint Plod, "Those lights are brilliant!"

5 w tungsten I mean

[Erelyes]

Bear in mind that pretty much any LED lamp (or combo of LEDs) is going to send less than the quoted power (i.e. 3W) to the LEDs, they have resistors in 'em to 'protect' the LEDs. It's complicated...

Even with some resistors in there turning power into heat they'll still be brighter though, a 3W LED will outperform a 5W halogen easily.

I have some various wattage 'T10 wedge' (5W5 / 5w parklight) LED's that I got online, taking photos to reflect their performance is hard, but might take a vid at some stage.