<VV> Chuck Kubin - illegal lights in Corvairs

[James Davis]

Sealed beans headlights have not been required since 1974 by 
FHVSS.  What is required now is that each type light be submitted for 
approval.  If that light or reflector is approved, the manufacture 
must cast the letters DOT in the reflector lens.  Any type of bulb 
may be used; as long as, it is approved for use with that reflector 
and does not exceed 55 watts total draw on low bean and 55 watts per 
light on high beam. Operation with more than four forward facing 
head, driving, or fog lights on at the same time is 
illegal.  Specifications for approval (cutoff, width, spread in 
lux/sqmeter, max and min, are specified).
It all seems reasonable to me.  I manage to see quite well with my 
Sylvania extra vision sealed beams (which are DOT approved)  with all 
the old guy eye problems. :-)  I have yet to burn one out in five 
years.  I always operate my Covairs with the headlights on.
Jim Davis

At 01:03 PM 1/26/2006, Tony Underwood wrote:
>At 04:32 hours 01/26/2006, JVHRoberts at aol.com wrote:
>>
>>It's interesting, the E code headlights are illegal in most states, at  least
>>they used to be.
>
>It's illegal in NC to take a cow up in a hot air balloon.   Who cares?
>
>That archaic lighting law that dated back to the '30s was still 
>mandating that everything have sealed beam lights...  NOT because it 
>outlawed better lighting, but because it outlawed everything but 
>sealed beams which were at that time the best available.   Trouble 
>is, NOBODY ever bothered to update the regs until they were so far 
>out of date that even the Federal Government finally had to wake up 
>and do something.
>
>I never saw anybody have any troubles with getting a car inspected 
>here because it had better lights than it came with, as long as they 
>worked properly.
>
>
>tony..