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Registered Member #902
Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1040
hi all, today I got a panel light saying my brake light was out, and sure enough one of them was. I had thought about upgrading to LEDs for a while, but decided to wait until I needed to. I go to three stores to find an LED variety of my size bulb, only to note on the package that it wasn't approved by U.S. Dot. I just bought a normal pair for now. I've looked online, and I can't seem to find a U.S. DOT approved replacement! The bulbs I currently have are standard 7443's, but I really wanted to upgrade to LEDs for my lights for a few reasons: one, they turn on much faster than incandescent - faster so that at highway speeds (particularly 70 MPH on average here in Dallas) you give an extra 25 feet or so of warning. Also, they use less energy and I plan to start running more gear in my car, so I want to free up any alternator current I can - and the lights would add up
so does anyone here know of a U.S. Dot approved set? I know that many cars come new with LED tail lights.
Registered Member #30
Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706
As far as I know, no aftermarket LED bulbs are approved by any transportation agency, in the UK or America. They're all "not for highway use". To get approval, the whole taillight has to be designed from the ground up as a LED fixture, because the optical characteristics of LEDs are so different to filament lamps.
Maybe you can get aftermarket LED taillight assemblies from some ricer supplies store, but I don't imagine they'll be exactly DOT approved either.
In practice, the cops probably won't ever notice as long as you use the right colour But if your state has an annual vehicle inspection, LED bulbs might fail that. I couldn't possibly suggest taking them out for the inspection and putting them back in afterwards...
Fascinating fact: In the UK, LED bike lights are technically illegal. Only filament lamps are approved for road use. But the police promote the LED systems as part of cycle safety! Our city has a police bike patrol, and they all use the LED lights. So does any cyclist with half a brain, because they're so much brighter and more eye-catching.
It's a case of the letter of the law vs. the spirit.
Registered Member #2028
Joined: Mon Mar 16 2009, 08:13PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 319
If it's worth doing it's worth overdoing:
Im not shure if its that much of a problem if they're not approved, after all they do have to open the taillight and remove the bulb to discover it. You can get pulled over for having a broken brakelight, but i seriously doubt you will be pulled over for having brakelights with a slightly misajusted shine. On my Passat i have two aftermarket headlights mounted to the front, and they both have halogen bulbs rated at more than twice the allowed power. It has never been notified on the annual inspection.
I guess its all a matter of wether or not you would feel comfortable knowing your bulbs are ilegal.
Fascinating fact: In the UK, LED bike lights are technically illegal. Only filament lamps are approved for road use.
That's easily the stupidest thing i've heard in a long time.
Registered Member #96
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061
actually filament bulbs are also illegal under new EU rules.
so if you get pulled over for them (about as likely as winning the lotto) you can mention this and chances are they will let you off.
Most of the time they only hassle cyclists for not having any lights. Or helmet for that matter.
I got hassled a while back about it, because i just had my EL on only and they said it wasn't bright enough. So... click "OWWWW!!! <blink> <blink> OK on your way now.."
:)
I did have an idea, what about installing a "blown bulb" sensor, so if it happens again the LED takes over. Some light is better than none right guys?
-A
"Bother" said Pooh, as he installed four 100W LED bike lights...
Registered Member #902
Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1040
In Texas, we have annual inspection requirements and if it is seen by the inspector then he can flunk it - maybe I'll just wait on the matter for now, as I might be able to get a new tail light body designed for LED in the future as I do hate the way it looks right now... but getting a trailer hitch is still a higher priority for me
Registered Member #30
Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706
Renesis wrote ...
On my Passat i have two aftermarket headlights mounted to the front, and they both have halogen bulbs rated at more than twice the allowed power. It has never been notified on the annual inspection.
I've been to Norway in the winter... you need those!
Registered Member #2028
Joined: Mon Mar 16 2009, 08:13PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 319
Steve McConner wrote ...
Renesis wrote ...
On my Passat i have two aftermarket headlights mounted to the front, and they both have halogen bulbs rated at more than twice the allowed power. It has never been notified on the annual inspection.
I've been to Norway in the winter... you need those!
Ever pissed off a norwegian timber trucker at night? You'll be blind for days
Yeah i definately need them, especially considering the amount of light in the cars stock lamps. With the specified 55W bulbs i measured just below 10V over the bulb, i could just as well be taping a flashlight to my dashboard .
Registered Member #1837
Joined: Tue Dec 02 2008, 02:20PM
Location: NYC
Posts: 65
If your brake lights are also your directional indicators you may have to make additional mods. The lower wattage could cause your flasher to work at super fast speed or not at all. (Surely your panel light would remain on at the least) You may have to change your flasher or possibly waste off some power with an appropriate resistor to keep things rolling smoothly down the highway.
Registered Member #2463
Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546
The reflector asembly, and lense for auto tailights have have a DOT spec number here, made for the bulb number. Cant see how a socket replacement would ever work because those incands are prefocussed
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About Car Tailights - hopefully upgrading to LED
But if your state has an annual vehicle inspection, LED bulbs might fail that. I couldn't possibly suggest taking them out for the inspection and putting them back in afterwards...
. 
