"Auxiliary lamp positioning" NCT

garv123

One of the lads failed the NCT due to "Auxiliary lamp positioning"
He has a light bar mounted on the roof, on a separate switch. The tester said it has to be mounted below 1200mm, but all he has to do for the retest is disconnect the switch?

Now 4 of us have light bars in the same position all on separate switches to the lights and they all passed with no issues for at least 2 tests each in the same test centre.

They're used for off road driving on private land, thats why they're not connected to the full beams.

So is this tester right and the other ones just ignoring the lights on ours?
Also how can a light fail a test for being too high but pass if its not working Surely if its there and treated as an Aux lamp it has to work.

Toyotafanboi

It's on pages 57-60 of the test manual.

Never come across it myself, but the guidelines are there to be seen at least.

This, like everything else is somewhat at the mercy of the testers discretion but unfortunately sounds like its within the guidelines for failure. Sounds like an easy one to rectify though, pop the fuse out, visual retest, pass and pop the fuse back.

wonski

I believe if power is disconnected they are considered a "decoration" and as such are acceptable.

Silly or not at least you can easily fix that

CJhaughey

Its part of the Road traffic SI 1963:

44 Restrictions on height of front lamps.

44. (1) Every lamp (other than a lamp referred to in sub-article (3) of this article) which is fitted to a mechanically propelled vehicle or trailer and which, when lit, shows a light to the front of the vehicle shall be so fitted that—

(a) no part of its illuminated surface is more than 4 feet or, in the case of a goods vehicle registered before the 1st day of January, 1952, 4 feet and 6 inches from the ground, and

(b) (except in the case of a fog lamp) no part of its illuminated surface is less than 1 foot and 8 inches from the ground.

(2) In sub-article (1) of this article, "fog lamp" means a lamp fitted to a vehicle so as, when lit, to show a light to the front of the vehicle and intended for use only in fog or while snow is falling.

Mad_Mike

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It's on pages 57-60 of the test manual.

Yup, and here is a screenshot showing the dimensions etc




By the way, it also gives these notes which would seem to tie in with disconnecting the lights...

NOTES
1. Where both auxiliary lamps are found to be inoperative, this should not be considered a reason for
failure.
2. Where only one fog lamp is working reason for failure (i) applies.
3. A broken glass on an auxiliary lamp or fog lamp is not a reason for failure unless the crack or break is
large enough to insert a sheet of paper as used in the test.
4. Moisture / condensation in a lamp is not a reason for failure unless it obscures the illuminating surface
of the lamp.

Wishbone Ash

I know that when trucks go for the CVRT they have to disconnect the roof lights if fitted otherwise they won't pass.