Maximum Wattage for Headlamps

[vannut]

Thought I'd post this separately so it's easy to find.

There was some confusion on a recent thread about maximum wattage allowed for headlamps, and there is a common misconception that you are only allowed 55 watt bulbs.


Schedule 4 of the Road Vehilces Lighting Regulations 1989 states


8. Wattage-
(a) A motor vehicle with four or more wheels first used on or after 1st April 1986: No requirement

(c) A motor vehicle with four or more wheels first used before 1st April 1986: 30 watts minimum

However, it also states:

5. Markings-
(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b), (c) or (d): An approval mark or a British Standard mark

(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986: No requirement

(c) A three-wheeled motor vehicle, not being a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986 and having a maximum speed not exceeding 50 mph: No requirement

(d) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination: No requirement

There is in fact, no regulation as to maximum or minimum wattage for headlamps, (other than that vehicles used before 1st April 1986 require 30 watts minimum) HOWEVER, on any vehicle used after 1st April 1986 the bulbs must carry an approval mark i.e. kite mark or ec marking, and you will struggle to find high wattage bulbs with an approval mark.

The offence you would commit is using bulbs without a type approval mark, for which Plod would have to a) know this information, and b) remove your bulbs to check, and it would probably only result in a bit of advice or a vehicle defect rectification notice anyway, unless the lamps were adjusted in a way that they caused dazzle, which is a separate offence and would make any difference what wattage your bulbs were.

The good news is, if your van is pre 1986 the only stipulation is that your bulbs must be at least 30 watts, there is no maximum limit!

Full schedule can be found here:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_1 ... _9.htm#end

[BigNeil]

that is not confusing at all !!!!!

[vannut]

that is not confusing at all !!!!!

Basically if your van was used before 1st April 1986 you can use any bulbs you like, and if it was used after 1st April 1986 you can use any bulbs you like as long as they have got an approval mark.

[thunderider]

so were can i get some 80/100 wats from,cant find ay anymore

[gazza]

i used to have two pairs of raydot fireball 100 watt spots on my capri, big battery and alternator - lit the rode up a treat! going back to dip was like using side lamps only great fun if the oncoming berk wouldnt dip, i have had folks nearly running off the road with a blast of 400w spots - the standard 55w headlamps seemed a bit redundant with theses babies

[rabbit]

Can get them on order from Carspares, Nechells, Birmingham. Also got some high wattage rally blue. Also they can get HID lamps, real windscreen melters. Rabbit...