Yes, I know I've had a bitch on here before about DIY headlight repairs, but
I swear it's getting worse year on year. Since the evenings have got dark
again, I've been blinded from the front and dazzled from the rear so many
times that I've lost count. This is either because headlight bulbs have been
fitted incorrectly, or the cretins behind the wheel don't know what the blue
light on the dash means ...

On top of this, on more than one occasion, I've almost run into the back of
a motorbike that's turned out to be a car with the offside tail light out.

Today, I had to drive to another town some thirty miles away, and for most
of the time it was more or less foggy. At least one in three cars was not
showing any lights. I think I saw about two that were actually using their
rear fog lights. Funny how drivers always manage to find the tiresome things
on a dark wet night when they are guaranteed to dazzle you, but never have
them on when it's full daylight and thick fog !

Anyway, on the return trip, as I passed the main county police headquarters,
a law car pulled out behind me. It had one headlight pointing into the
ditch, and the other up into my rearview mirror. If it's now reached the
point where even the coppers can't keep their own vehicles legal, we might
as well all give up ...

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to take
your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and certified to
change the wretched things correctly :-(

Rant over ...

Arfa

In article ,
"Arfa Daily" writes:

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to take
your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and certified to
change the wretched things correctly :-(

In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable
because you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to
them. That maybe why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Nov 25, 2:03*am, "Arfa Daily" wrote:
Yes, I know I've had a bitch on here before about DIY headlight repairs, but
I swear it's getting worse year on year. Since the evenings have got dark
again, I've been blinded from the front and dazzled from the rear so many
times that I've lost count. This is either because headlight bulbs have been
fitted incorrectly, or the cretins behind the wheel don't know what the blue
light on the dash means ...

On top of this, on more than one occasion, I've almost run into the back of
a motorbike that's turned out to be a car with the offside tail light out..

Today, I had to drive to another town some thirty miles away, and for most
of the time it was more or less foggy. At least one in three cars was not
showing any lights. I think I saw about two that were actually using their
rear fog lights. Funny how drivers always manage to find the tiresome things
on a dark wet night when they are guaranteed to dazzle you, but never have
them on when it's full daylight and thick fog !

Anyway, on the return trip, as I passed the main county police headquarters,
a law car pulled out behind me. It had one headlight pointing into the
ditch, and the other up into my rearview mirror. If it's now reached the
point where even the coppers can't keep their own vehicles legal, we might
as well all give up ...

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to take
your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and certified to
change the wretched things correctly * *:-(

Rant over ...

Arfa

The problem is not the replacing of bulbs.
It is the soft suspension of modern cars neccesitating headlight
adjusters that work from the dashboard which some people don't bother
with.

In message
,
harry writes

snip
DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to take
your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and certified to
change the wretched things correctly * *:-(

Rant over ...

Arfa

The problem is not the replacing of bulbs.
It is the soft suspension of modern cars neccesitating headlight
adjusters that work from the dashboard which some people don't bother
with.

Or rather they get adjusted *full up* and never put back.

SiL complains of poor night vision and usually sets his dipped beam to
high.

Night light dazzle can be an age/eyesight problem.

Concur on the dark evenings equals faulty lights syndrome. Does this
mean number plate recognition systems only work in daylight? Otherwise
it would seem a low cost fix: automated letter through post followed by
a penalty ticket if not put right.

--
Tim Lamb

In article , Tim Lamb
writes

The problem is not the replacing of bulbs.
It is the soft suspension of modern cars neccesitating headlight
adjusters that work from the dashboard which some people don't bother
with.

Or rather they get adjusted *full up* and never put back.

Isn't 'full up' meant to be the default, with switched departures from
the 'zero' position all being progressively further degrees of dipping
to compensate for increased loading in the rear? The headlights should
be manually adjusted (and hopefully MOT'd) with the setting at zero (or
highest) so that they can't dazzle due to switch setting error alone.

Concur on the dark evenings equals faulty lights syndrome. Does this
mean number plate recognition systems only work in daylight? Otherwise
it would seem a low cost fix: automated letter through post followed by
a penalty ticket if not put right.

Static ones are certainly illuminated with IR floods and you get the
plate lighting up with the on axis reflection, just like cats eyes.
Don't know about the mobile ones but it would be a bit of an omission if
they didn't have them too.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 09:43:08 +0000, Tim Lamb wrote:

Concur on the dark evenings equals faulty lights syndrome.

Just that the dark evenings mean lights are on and thus the duff ones
that have been duff all summer are now noticeable. For many commuting
wages slaves it'll be the first time the lights have been used since the
previous April...

Does this mean number plate recognition systems only work in daylight?
Otherwise it would seem a low cost fix: automated letter through post
followed by a penalty ticket if not put right.

I like that idea.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 02:16:37 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Gabriel wrote:

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable
because you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to
them. That maybe why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

And it would only get worse if people had to pay for someone to change a
bulb. Be better to ban street lights IMHO, then people may actually
notice that they have a head light out. With the level of street lighting
in some areas you can't tell if you have lights on or not apart from the
dash being lit.

Also bear in mind that to most people a car is something you put fuel in
and take to the MOT (if it requires one(*)). Servicing might happen at
the mileage intervals but nothing is checked or done by them between
MOT/servicing. Certainly the "weekly checks" of tyre condition,
pressures, lights, washer fluid etc isn't done by most.

(*) How many of these duff lights are on vehicles 3 years old and thus
not had an MOT yet..?

--
Cheers
Dave.

In article ,
Arfa Daily wrote:
DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam setting.
What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired and the new
unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be picked up until
the first MOT.

--
*Work is for people who don't know how to fish.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 25/11/2012 02:02, Arfa Daily wrote:
Yes, I know I've had a bitch on here before about DIY headlight repairs,
but I swear it's getting worse year on year. Since the evenings have got
dark again, I've been blinded from the front and dazzled from the rear
so many times that I've lost count. This is either because headlight
bulbs have been fitted incorrectly, or the cretins behind the wheel
don't know what the blue light on the dash means ...

On top of this, on more than one occasion, I've almost run into the back
of a motorbike that's turned out to be a car with the offside tail light
out.

Today, I had to drive to another town some thirty miles away, and for
most of the time it was more or less foggy. At least one in three cars
was not showing any lights. I think I saw about two that were actually
using their rear fog lights. Funny how drivers always manage to find the
tiresome things on a dark wet night when they are guaranteed to dazzle
you, but never have them on when it's full daylight and thick fog !

Anyway, on the return trip, as I passed the main county police
headquarters, a law car pulled out behind me. It had one headlight
pointing into the ditch, and the other up into my rearview mirror. If
it's now reached the point where even the coppers can't keep their own
vehicles legal, we might as well all give up ...

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Rant over ...

Arfa



Whilst I agree with your rant, it can also be medical issues that make
one more sensitive to being dazzled by oncoming headlamps. Certainly
that happened both to my partner and to me. Luckily I didn't get too bad
and treatment has resolved it entirely. The other day was the first long
(multi-hour) trip in all blackness for several months and, when I got
back home, it was worthy of comment that not one single oncoming
headlamp had dazzled.

As so many people need to be able to drive even when not 100% medically
fit, attacking the badly aligned headlamps is, nonetheless, the first
priority.

--
Rod

I see Halfords are now advertising a change your bulb service.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Arfa Daily" wrote in message
...
Yes, I know I've had a bitch on here before about DIY headlight repairs,
but I swear it's getting worse year on year. Since the evenings have got
dark again, I've been blinded from the front and dazzled from the rear so
many times that I've lost count. This is either because headlight bulbs
have been fitted incorrectly, or the cretins behind the wheel don't know
what the blue light on the dash means ...

On top of this, on more than one occasion, I've almost run into the back
of a motorbike that's turned out to be a car with the offside tail light
out.

Today, I had to drive to another town some thirty miles away, and for most
of the time it was more or less foggy. At least one in three cars was not
showing any lights. I think I saw about two that were actually using their
rear fog lights. Funny how drivers always manage to find the tiresome
things on a dark wet night when they are guaranteed to dazzle you, but
never have them on when it's full daylight and thick fog !

Anyway, on the return trip, as I passed the main county police
headquarters, a law car pulled out behind me. It had one headlight
pointing into the ditch, and the other up into my rearview mirror. If it's
now reached the point where even the coppers can't keep their own vehicles
legal, we might as well all give up ...

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to take
your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and certified
to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Rant over ...

Arfa

Bring back the 2CV system I say.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"harry" wrote in message
...
On Nov 25, 2:03 am, "Arfa Daily" wrote:
Yes, I know I've had a bitch on here before about DIY headlight repairs,
but
I swear it's getting worse year on year. Since the evenings have got dark
again, I've been blinded from the front and dazzled from the rear so many
times that I've lost count. This is either because headlight bulbs have
been
fitted incorrectly, or the cretins behind the wheel don't know what the
blue
light on the dash means ...

On top of this, on more than one occasion, I've almost run into the back
of
a motorbike that's turned out to be a car with the offside tail light out.

Today, I had to drive to another town some thirty miles away, and for most
of the time it was more or less foggy. At least one in three cars was not
showing any lights. I think I saw about two that were actually using their
rear fog lights. Funny how drivers always manage to find the tiresome
things
on a dark wet night when they are guaranteed to dazzle you, but never have
them on when it's full daylight and thick fog !

Anyway, on the return trip, as I passed the main county police
headquarters,
a law car pulled out behind me. It had one headlight pointing into the
ditch, and the other up into my rearview mirror. If it's now reached the
point where even the coppers can't keep their own vehicles legal, we might
as well all give up ...

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to take
your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and certified
to
change the wretched things correctly :-(

Rant over ...

Arfa

The problem is not the replacing of bulbs.
It is the soft suspension of modern cars neccesitating headlight
adjusters that work from the dashboard which some people don't bother
with.

In message , Andrew Gabriel
writes
In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable because
you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to them. That maybe
why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

I've been wondering whether the modern fetish for flashing lights to say
"Come On", "Thanks" and so on isn't causing lamp failures. I thought
that when you apply volts to a cold filament, there is a sudden rush of
amps.

Other hates are drivers who park, often just over the brow of a small
hill, on the wrong side of the road with the headlights on. Often these
are taxis waiting outside restaurants.
--
Bill

Bill wrote:

Other hates are drivers who park, often just over the brow of a small
hill, on the wrong side of the road with the headlights on. Often these
are taxis waiting outside restaurants.

Clearly what is needed is legislation that restaurants must be on the
correct side of the road and not situated near small hills.

In message , Arfa Daily
writes
DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Like Halfords maybe ????

Now that could be the beginning of a totally new rant?




Rant over ...

Arfa



--
Bill

In message , fred writes

Static ones are certainly illuminated with IR floods and you get the
plate lighting up with the on axis reflection, just like cats eyes.
Don't know about the mobile ones but it would be a bit of an omission
if they didn't have them too.


I recently fitted an ANPR camera for a customer, attached to their CCTV
system. They are amazing, even in bright sunlight there is next to no
image. As you say they have IR illumination and this is reflected back
from the number plate. The effect is outstanding, the filter in front
of the camera basically only allows the IR frequency of light through
and the number plate shows perfectly, day or night. The mobile ones do
appear to have IR illuminators too.
--
Bill

Bill wrote:

In message , Andrew Gabriel
writes
In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable because
you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to them. That maybe
why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

I've been wondering whether the modern fetish for flashing lights to say
"Come On", "Thanks" and so on isn't causing lamp failures.

Modern!??

Everyone was doing that in 1975. Probably before...

I thought
that when you apply volts to a cold filament, there is a sudden rush of
amps.

Other hates are drivers who park, often just over the brow of a small
hill, on the wrong side of the road with the headlights on. Often these
are taxis waiting outside restaurants.
--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."

Bill wrote:
In message , Arfa Daily writes
DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Like Halfords maybe ????

Now that could be the beginning of a totally new rant?

And how. I took my wife's car to Halfords (closest to work) and asked them
to fit a headlamp bulb. I was wearing a suit and didn't want to get mucky.
They ****ed about for twenty minutes and couldn't get it right then the
"bulb fitter" handed me the bulb and walked away. I followed him back into
the shop and asked for a new bulb and the money for fitting the bulb back.
Took moaning all the way up to shop manager level to get the cash refunded.
I wanted a new bulb because dickwad handled the bulb capsule with bare
hands.

Took the car to the garage where it is normally serviced which I should
have done first time. Fitted the Halfords bulb for free and it took them
about two minutes.

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article ,
Arfa Daily wrote:
DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam setting.
What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired and the new
unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be picked up until
the first MOT.

Putting the bulbs in upside down will alter the beam setting.

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

"Dave Liquorice" wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 02:16:37 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Gabriel wrote:

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable
because you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to
them. That maybe why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

And it would only get worse if people had to pay for someone to change a
bulb. Be better to ban street lights IMHO, then people may actually
notice that they have a head light out. With the level of street lighting
in some areas you can't tell if you have lights on or not apart from the
dash being lit.

The roads around here are unlit for about six miles in any direction. Still
get dicks who drive around with lights out. They try to make up for it by
using fog lights. I don't think they are unaware - they just don't give a
****.

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had both tail
lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver. She told me to
**** off and the police had already fined her do they wouldn't do it again.


--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

"Arfa Daily" wrote:
Yes, I know I've had a bitch on here before about DIY headlight repairs,
but I swear it's getting worse year on year.

I have to agree with you. It's also not helped by the general "can't give a
toss" attitude of the majority of drivers who think that unless they drive
around with fog lamps and main beam that their manhood will shrivel. It's
fairly common on country roads to be followed by some duck who refuses to
dip his headlights.

As to bulb maintenance you're right again. In any queue of ten vehicles at
least two will have one or more bulbs out. At least one will have bulbs in
but probably upside down.

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

polygonum wrote:
Whilst I agree with your rant, it can also be medical issues that make
one more sensitive to being dazzled by oncoming headlamps. Certainly

This sounds really ridiculous as I type it, but I've taken to driving
in
the dark wearing my prescription sunglasses. Even then I flick my
eyes from side to side to avoid the same piece of retina going to
sleep.

It could be because I only passed my test two years ago, but every
time I fill up with petrol when it's dark I walk around the car and
check
all the lights. I passed my test two years and one week ago, so I'm
no longer a probationary driver, so maybe I'll start getting slack and
lazy now.

JGH

Tim Streater wrote:
In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had both tail
lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver. She told me to
**** off and the police had already fined her do they wouldn't do it again.

How did you react to being told to FO ?

With mild disappointment that she didn't recognise the danger of serving
around in a car with one working light.

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:
Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam
setting. What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired
and the new unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be
picked up until the first MOT.

Putting the bulbs in upside down will alter the beam setting.

Which type of bulb can be fitted upside down if it matters? None I've seen.

--
*I got a sweater for Christmas. I really wanted a screamer or a moaner*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In message , Tim
Streater writes
In article ,
Bill wrote:

I recently fitted an ANPR camera for a customer, attached to their
CCTV system. They are amazing, even in bright sunlight there is
next to no image. As you say they have IR illumination and this is
reflected back from the number plate. The effect is outstanding, the
filter in front of the camera basically only allows the IR frequency
of light through and the number plate shows perfectly, day or night.
The mobile ones do appear to have IR illuminators too.

What about muddy ones or in fog? And was the customer hooked into the
database?

good question, I'm looking at it again next week, I'll review the
recordings and see how it coped. probably badly :-) Fog wouldn't
be a problem as I'm only looking at plates about 5m away and if it was
that thick then no one would be out and about anyway, I don't think
there has been any fog locally to check against though.

Database? This set up is only for video recording of the plates, to be
reviewed when they have an incident rather than a computer record being
kept. Although it is the same camera for both systems.




--
Bill

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:08:13 +0000 (UTC), Steve Firth wrote:

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had both
tail lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver. She told
me to **** off and the police had already fined her do they wouldn't do
it again.

I wouldn't like to be on that. I know that, in theory, once you have been
prosecuted for an offence you can't be tried (note tried...) for that
*same* offence. But in this case I think it would be a new offence of
driving without working lights at a different time/date.

Think I'd have noted her registration number and reported it.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:
Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam
setting. What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired
and the new unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be
picked up until the first MOT.

Putting the bulbs in upside down will alter the beam setting.

Which type of bulb can be fitted upside down if it matters? None I've seen.

Just about all of them if one is hamfisted enough. My local garage reckons
its one of the more significant causes of MoT failure.

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

In article o.uk,
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:08:13 +0000 (UTC), Steve Firth wrote:

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had both
tail lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver. She told
me to **** off and the police had already fined her do they wouldn't do
it again.

I wouldn't like to be on that. I know that, in theory, once you have been
prosecuted for an offence you can't be tried (note tried...) for that
*same* offence. But in this case I think it would be a new offence of
driving without working lights at a different time/date.


The was the driver round here, a few years ago, who was prosecuted for:
1. Not displaying obligatory front lights
2. Not displaying obligatory rear lights
3. not dilluminating his rear number plate.

The result was sufficient points for him to lose his licence. I think he
must have annoyed the police who stopped him.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:08:13 +0000 (UTC), Steve Firth wrote:

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had
both tail lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver.
She told me to **** off and the police had already fined her do
they wouldn't do it again.

I wouldn't like to be on that. I know that, in theory, once you have
been prosecuted for an offence you can't be tried (note tried...) for
that *same* offence. But in this case I think it would be a new
offence of driving without working lights at a different time/date.

Think I'd have noted her registration number and reported it.

And I am surprised that the police had not issued a VDR form (or whatever
they are now called).

--
Adam

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:08:13 +0000 (UTC), Steve Firth wrote:

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had
both tail lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver.
She told me to **** off and the police had already fined her do
they wouldn't do it again.

I wouldn't like to be on that. I know that, in theory, once you have
been prosecuted for an offence you can't be tried (note tried...) for
that *same* offence. But in this case I think it would be a new
offence of driving without working lights at a different time/date.

Think I'd have noted her registration number and reported it.

At least you would have had a reason to report her. Some **** reported me
for reckless driving on Friday. Plod have made the required visit but as
usual can do nothing about it (either against me or the ****). Time to call
in a favour as I did note the ****s no plate as he overtook me:-)


--
Adam

"ARW" wrote:
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:08:13 +0000 (UTC), Steve Firth wrote:

At the local garage recently someone pulled up in a car that had
both tail lights and one headlight out. I told the (woman) driver.
She told me to **** off and the police had already fined her do
they wouldn't do it again.

I wouldn't like to be on that. I know that, in theory, once you have
been prosecuted for an offence you can't be tried (note tried...) for
that *same* offence. But in this case I think it would be a new
offence of driving without working lights at a different time/date.

Think I'd have noted her registration number and reported it.

And I am surprised that the police had not issued a VDR form (or whatever
they are now called).

I wouldn't be surprised if, given the chip on her shoulder, she just
ignored them.

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/

In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:
Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam
setting. What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired
and the new unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be
picked up until the first MOT.

Putting the bulbs in upside down will alter the beam setting.

Which type of bulb can be fitted upside down if it matters? None I've
seen.

Just about all of them if one is hamfisted enough. My local garage
reckons its one of the more significant causes of MoT failure.

Right. Sounds like a good scam by them. Unless you live in an area of
idiots.

--
*I have a degree in liberal arts -- do you want fries with that

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 25/11/2012 10:37, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 02:16:37 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Gabriel wrote:

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable
because you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to
them. That maybe why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

And it would only get worse if people had to pay for someone to change a
bulb.


Halfords change them for free.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 14:14:08 +0000, Tim Watts
wrote:

Bill wrote:

In message , Andrew Gabriel
writes
In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable because
you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to them. That maybe
why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

I've been wondering whether the modern fetish for flashing lights to say
"Come On", "Thanks" and so on isn't causing lamp failures.

Modern!??

Everyone was doing that in 1975. Probably before...



Since cars have had electric lights at least!

I think there is still a clause in the Highway Code about not flashing
your lights as an invitation to proceed, but it's so common it's silly
to think people won't do it.

Also, if sounding my horn after 2200 has a fighting chance of averting
an accident, I sound it.



--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

On 25/11/2012 15:54, Bill wrote:
In message , Tim
Streater writes
In article ,
Bill wrote:

I recently fitted an ANPR camera for a customer, attached to their
CCTV system. They are amazing, even in bright sunlight there is
next to no image. As you say they have IR illumination and this is
reflected back from the number plate. The effect is outstanding,
the filter in front of the camera basically only allows the IR
frequency of light through and the number plate shows perfectly, day
or night. The mobile ones do appear to have IR illuminators too.

What about muddy ones or in fog? And was the customer hooked into the
database?

good question, I'm looking at it again next week, I'll review the
recordings and see how it coped. probably badly :-) Fog wouldn't
be a problem as I'm only looking at plates about 5m away and if it was
that thick then no one would be out and about anyway, I don't think
there has been any fog locally to check against though.

Database? This set up is only for video recording of the plates, to be
reviewed when they have an incident rather than a computer record being
kept. Although it is the same camera for both systems.




Interestingly, the Police ANPR cameras log every single number plate &
only flag up the ones without tax etc.

All the others are kept on a database. When looking for a local scrote
to arrest for not turning up at court, they interrogate the database for
his car reg & look for patterns of travel.

Once a pattern is established - they just wait in the right place.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:38:19 +0000, The Medway Handyman
wrote:

On 25/11/2012 10:37, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 02:16:37 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Gabriel wrote:

DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

In many cars nowadays, the headlamps are not user replaceable
because you have to remove other parts of the engine to get to
them. That maybe why so many cars now drive with a headlamp out.

And it would only get worse if people had to pay for someone to change a
bulb.


Halfords change them for free.

You mean optional fitting is included in the inflated price they
charge.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

On 25/11/2012 10:56, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Arfa Daily wrote:
DIY headlight bulb replacement should be banned. You ought to have to
take your car to approved garages where there is someone trained and
certified to change the wretched things correctly :-(

Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam setting.
What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired and the new
unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be picked up until
the first MOT.


It is quite easy to put a H7 bulb in incorrectly in many cars.
the locating mechanism isn't very good.

On 25/11/2012 13:54, Bill wrote:
In message , fred writes

Static ones are certainly illuminated with IR floods and you get the
plate lighting up with the on axis reflection, just like cats eyes.
Don't know about the mobile ones but it would be a bit of an omission
if they didn't have them too.


I recently fitted an ANPR camera for a customer, attached to their CCTV
system. They are amazing, even in bright sunlight there is next to no
image. As you say they have IR illumination and this is reflected back
from the number plate. The effect is outstanding, the filter in front
of the camera basically only allows the IR frequency of light through
and the number plate shows perfectly, day or night. The mobile ones do
appear to have IR illuminators too.

Its done to make sure the idiots that fit reflective coatings on plates
and other such junk get caught.

The Medway Handyman wrote:

Interestingly, the Police ANPR cameras log every single number plate &
only flag up the ones without tax etc.

All the others are kept on a database. When looking for a local scrote
to arrest for not turning up at court, they interrogate the database for
his car reg & look for patterns of travel.

Once a pattern is established - they just wait in the right place.


Took the kids to LegoLand (Windsor) this summer. One day, there was an ANPR
inside the entrance logging everyone. I thought that was bloody off.

Not sure if that part of the road was Legoland property (even more off) or
not.

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."

The Medway Handyman wrote:


Interestingly, the Police ANPR cameras log every single number plate &
only flag up the ones without tax etc.



That part ****es me right off.

They know who hasn't got tax, MOT, insurance. They had the law changed so
you need to declare a SORN if offroad, so the perps cannot use that as an
excuse.

So all they need to do is visit a fine on the registered keeper and take it
from there.


--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
Steve Firth wrote:
Changing a bulb for one of the correct type won't alter the beam
setting. What is more likely is the car has been damaged and repaired
and the new unit not adjusted correctly. If a new car, this won't be
picked up until the first MOT.

Putting the bulbs in upside down will alter the beam setting.

Which type of bulb can be fitted upside down if it matters? None I've
seen.

Just about all of them if one is hamfisted enough. My local garage
reckons its one of the more significant causes of MoT failure.

Right. Sounds like a good scam by them. Unless you live in an area of
idiots.

sigh You really are unable to get over my views on lead swinging teachers
aren't you? May I suggest that you find one of those therapists that you
Londoners seem to need so many of?

--
€¢DarWin|
_/ _/