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ZL1AJG > TECHNI 18.08.04 12:37l 76 Lines 3526 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 050782ZL1AJG
Read: GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: fog light fog.
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<VE2PAK<W1NGL<WU3V<ED1ZAC<ZL2TZE<
ZL2AB<ZL1AB<ZL2BAU<ZL1UX
Sent: 040818/0843Z @:ZL1UX.#20.NZL.OC #:17420 [Hamilton] FBB7.00i $:050782ZL1AJ
From: ZL1AJG@ZL1UX.#20.NZL.OC
To : TECHNI@WW
>
> Hi Patrick and others,
>
> I've seen a couple of people referring to "rear fog lamps" and have been
> wondering what they are as I have never heard the term here in New Zealand.
>
> Could someone enlighten me (and perhaps others)?
>
> Here some people have extra headlights, yellow in colour, which they use in
> foggy conditions. Whether they work better in fog or whether they're just
> another sales gimmick I really don't know.
>
> 73 David.
The "rear fog light" is not new. BMW has had them on the 5 series, and the
Morris Marina had them too. Several "cafe tractors" (read 4x4 SUV's) have
them also. The theory is that when going into a fog bank the tail lights.
The lights, being brighter, will be seen at a greater distance to avoid a
rearender (multiple pile ups in the UK & US show how disastrous these can
be.)
Many new vehicles have the very low (and bright) lights usually mounted
below the bumper. It seem's that all & sundry have these on all the time
when lights are required. They should however be used in foggy conditions
as the lower light position & spread reduces the glare from the white
stuff. The rear fog tail-lights (high intensity, similar to the brake
light in strength/candela/watts or whatever) should be connected to the
foglight switch on the dash.
It is high time the Highway patrol stamped out this indiscriminate use of
these lights, (anyone up for developing a fog sensor?)
Long distance driving lamps (driving/spotlights) are of course only on
under the control of the headlight switch. The current regs require them
to be linked to the dip switch, so they are on when the headlights are on
high, off when on dip. They may have also a separate isolating switch
before the dip switch. They are NOT able to be operated when the
headlights are off.
I had a pair of these beauties on the front of my old Ford Fairlane
compact ('63 vintage). It was also fitted with a tachometer, as well as an
ammeter (centre 0). I remember watching the tacho one night (at idle)
No lights: 800rpm idle, approx 5amps charge,
Park lights , rpm little change , charge around 2 A.
Low beam: 700 rpm, -2 A (discharge).
High beam 600 rpm, -10 A (discharge)
+ driving lights : -28 AMPS discharge, RPM 480 - 500 and almost in danger
of stalling.
The alternator was definitely struggling! A burst on the gas up to 1500 -
2000 rpm gave a 1 amp charge. (these were Hella 100 W each, actually
printed on the back of the sealed beam units "Aircraft Landing light. Not
for highway use", yet they were freely available from the auto
electricians) They drew about 17 amps when lit. ( I still have them, and
they both still go, although they are not on a vehicle at present.
Not a hope of outrunning these puppies at 85 mph (135 kph) and even more,
but I chickened out, at that (30 yrs ago).
The yellow colour was prevalent many years ago, and there were also yellow
headlight bulbs available for a number of years. There are still some
yellow glass fog amps (add-ons) available (K-Mart have/had them). At one
time I remember reading in a motoring magazine (late 60's early 70's).
that if you were going to tour the Continent, then the yellow bulbs in the
headlamps was compulsory. (Probably changed now, very likely)Cheers/73
- Allen, ZL1AJG @ ZL1UX
Cambridge, N.Z. RF72RC
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