High beam/driving light question...

[dylan8]

Hi guys,

I have a 2001 MK4 Bora, and have a set of driving lights fitted in the lower bumper which i run on a separate switch.

I'm wondering if its possible to hook them up so there independent of the high beam when you push the high beam arm away from you (to put them on for long period of them), but when you pull them towards you (to flash someone say) they also turn on with the high beams?

So what I'm really asking is, is there separate 'switches' for forwards and backwards on the high beam arm? as i don't want them coming on with my 'long period' high beams unless i use the driving light switch i installed.

Confusing? yes i know, sorry.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Dylan

[Stan]

i think flash is a momentary on position of the light switch - as such you can have the spots on with high beam via your switch, but cannot flash them unless the switch is on - in which case you risk leaving them on during sustained high beam use.
i short - i dont think so....one of the auto elec gurus may show me up here...lol

[dylan8]

I know how do do them so the driving light switch is off (so it an still operate completely separate to the high beam if i wish). but i cant work out if it'll only work on the flash stage of the high beams and not the sustained high beams.

Its doing my head in haha. might just bite the bullet and take the steering arm cover off and have a look one sunny afternoon...

[Gravey]

just be aware than inappropriate use of driving lights is an offence in most states....ie flashing someone with your driving lights, using them when there is no fog/heavy rain. That's why the oem lights are on a aseperate switch - you only need to use them in certain conditions I wouldn't call flashing someone and blinding them off the road because they forgot to turn their highbeams off, appropriate use

[dylan8]

just be aware than inappropriate use of driving lights is an offence in most states....ie flashing someone with your driving lights, using them when there is no fog/heavy rain. That's why the oem lights are on a aseperate switch - you only need to use them in certain conditions I wouldn't call flashing someone and blinding them off the road because they forgot to turn their highbeams off, appropriate use

yeah I'm aware of that no fog no fog lights one (as already told this by a local people office who insisted it was ok for him to have his on but not mine?) anyways...
But is it illegal to have them to the flash? driving lights are just a addition to high beams is the way i understood it. But thanks, i will go do some checking.

[blutopless2]

But is it illegal to have them to the flash? driving lights are just a addition to high beams is the way i understood it. But thanks, i will go do some checking.

yes its illegal to use them to flash someone. they are not an addition to highbeam lights, they are intended for use during foggy conditions only whereas highbeams are not.
in vic its a $180 fine for using them at any other time.

[gavs]

That only applies to foglights. Driving lights refer to either standard or aftermarket units added into the OEM wiring harness for the purpose of normal driving, either on the low beam or high beam. By adding aftermarket driving lights that are wired into the highbeam circuit, it is illegal to flash them for an un-necessary reason, the same as it is to flash your normal high beams.

On a side note, it is also illegal to sound your horn unless it is "to alert a fellow road user to a dangerous situation", which means anyone who sounds their horn in a non-dangerous situation is breaking the law. I digress....

Being a former 4x4 owner with aftermarket driving lights, i know of vehicles that are sometimes covered in lights,

For this vehicle to be deemed roadworthy, although there is a total of 8 driving lights facing forwards (4 across the roof, 2 on the bullbar and the original high beams) only 6 forward facing lights are allowed to be connected.

In other words dylan, unless you have fog lights, then it is fine to wire up your driving lights to the high beams, so long there is the facility for them to be switched off independently of the high beams. Driving lights are used on the high-beam circuit to add further illumination to the road and are completely legal to be turned on, so long as you don't use them un-necassarily. Generally driving lights will have a "pencil beam" whereas fog lights will be a "blob". If yours are a "blob" then they're not driving lights, they are fog lights.

Hope this helped

[dylan8]

Thanks guys. They are driving lights, i had the choice of fog and driving and went driving, also the globes have been upgraded to a whiter light. Like gavs said, they are a 'pencil' beam, they go like 300m or something made (mine are pointed at the ground to much unless im on a full tank of fuel and boot load though)

i get most of the legal issues, i just wanted to know if they are hooked up to the high beams, can i use them as part of the flash, and not as the sustained switch...

[gavs]

Simple answer, yes, but they still have to be switchable on that setting so that you have the choice from inside the cabin for them to come on with the flash or not.

Just don't ask me how to do it.......

[dylan8]

Thanks mate. i think google and having a play with the car is what is needed