A cursory research on the internet does not provide any clear answer to the
question of how to use the driving lights in conjunction with the
headlights. The law appears to vary depending on which state you are in.
Most of the information I find has to do with modern vehicles, many of which
have auxiliary lights from the factory. Eric may be right that it is
illegal in some states to use the driving lights with the high beams.
However, I don't understand the logic of that.
The Healey headlights, even on high beam, are nowhere near as bright as
modern vehicle lights. I wanted to use my driving lights as an auxiliary
light source at night to supplement what is available from the headlights.
Thus, on the automatic side of the switch I wired them to come on with the
high beams. The thought is, if I'm using high beams/driving lights at night
and meet oncoming traffic, I switch to low beams with the floor switch and
the driving lights go out, too. On a two-lane road at night without
traffic, what is the problem with high beams and driving lights together?
During the day, I can also turn on the driving lights manually to use as
daytime running lights if I choose while leaving the headlights off. I
usually do this only on two-lane roads to help oncoming traffic see me.
As someone who has done quite a bit of driving on back roads all over the
country between midnight and 6:00 am, I am convinced that high beams are
becoming useless. No matter where you are, or at what time of the night,
turning on your high beams is a guarantee that another car will appear on
the curve ahead of you. There is just too much traffic for high beams now.
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC USA
-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Eric (Rick) Wilkins
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 2:30 PM
Cc: AH Mail List
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Driving lights
That option might be fun, but is illegal in many US states. Proper wiring
will
switch the extra lamps off when the high beam switch is activated.
Wiring instructions come with relay kits sold at many car parts stores.
Cheers,
Wilko (CA)
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