default wrote:

On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 21:54:52 GMT, Ken Weitzel
wrote:

I'd strongly urge you to check before you install anything other than
the original incandescents. I'm very sure that most places we can't
change them without "breaking the law"

Take care.

Ken

And, what is the law?

Seems to me I see a lot of trucks with new LED signal/stop lights, and
I can get close enough to see no SAE imprimatur on them.

I have an interest in reducing my motorcycle's current usage - and
making myself more visible. LEDs can do it, but I wonder about the
legality (since the DOT has taken 30+ years to accept that halogen
lights are better than "sealed beams" and) I know LED's can make a
big difference in visibility. - seems to me it is just a matter of
waiting (should I live that long) untill the LED lobbyists pay more
than the incandescent lobbyists. And we, the people, might be able to
choose.

I think the bottom line is safety. LED's can do it better than
incandescents - but not in a cost competive way (if one happens to be
a detroit mogul) so, we have to wait until Detroit allows us this
safety feature . . .

Sealed beams were a great improvement over polished silvered iron
reflectors - in the 30's- - and so the law was passed - - Halogen
lights came along in the 60/70s and could project more usable light
where it was needed and not cause glare to oncomming headlights - so
the Europeans had them and the US had to wait until General Electric
could develop halogen (sealed beam) headlights (that threw more light
up in the air than directly ahead). unitl the 80's

When GE got out of the market - auto lighting was more or less for
safety. But there's sitll the spector of some nanny lobbyist out
there to make us safe (in the corporatetly acceptible way).

"I'm very sure that most places we can't
change them without "breaking the law"

Me too.

Then I see celebrities breaking the law. and president's since Nixon,
and presidents circumventing the Consitution since I was born and I
have to wonder what good is the "rule of law?" It is a matter of what
I can get away with - not what is legal.

So how bad can LED lights be?

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This sub-thread got me curious, so i looked it up found 49cfr564. Roughly
it says if it gives equivalent light (including color characteristics) and
is otherwise interchangeable with original it is legal. Thus halogen
lamps, LED's, induction lamps or whatever are OK.
--
JosephKK