Apr - Sevenoaks & District Motor Club

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Nothing Changes! Becoming aware of how expensive headlight units are for some cars prompted us to take a look at modern car lighting systems, only to discover that the old saying "there is nothing new" is probably true. When motor vehicles were first fitted with dipping lights the means of switching from high to dipped beam and back was mechanical, each light unit being pivoted downwards to attain a dipped beam. Perhaps that is why the phrase "dipped beam" came in for the lights were in reality "dipped". Things developed and over the years we had twin filament bulbs and in some cases "dual headlights", a pair of "main beams" and a pair of "dipped beams". Changing one C220 for another, but later model, we found the lighting system to be totally different and it didn't take too long to work out why headlight units for cars with such systems cost so much. Each headlight unit is best described as a light projector, each mounted in some sort of gimbal so that the projector can rotate both vertically and horizontally. Not sure of the detail but that is certainly the principle. The position of the projector is controlled by two suitable servos which in turn are controlled by a microprocessor. With the system in manual operation moving the control lever to "dip" and the servos move the projectors so they assume the "dipped beam" position. Switch to main and the servos rotate the projectors suitably upward. The microprocessor takes an input from the steering system so that if you steer the car to the left the servos rotate the projectors slightly left so the light beams look into the turn. Steer to the right and the same happens, the beams look into the turn. Presumably having a car on opposite lock is not something that came too high up the list of the lighting designer! Selecting the automatic light function does not just mean that the lights are turned on automatically when appropriate for in this mode the lights also dip and return to main beam automatically. it defaults to dip beam but once the car is travelling at 50kph providing the ambient light intensity is below a fixed level then it automatically changes to main beam. Come up behind another vehicle and a sensor detects a concentrated light source so the lights automatically dip. Exactly the same when a car comes the other way or the ambient light level increases when you do such as run into a street lit area from an unlit road. It is not quite foolproof for if running on main beam and there is a nice big white signboard the sensor picks up the reflected light and the lights dip. It is a bit disconcerting at first but you soon get used to it. You do have to take care when jumping into other vehicles to remember to both turn the lights on and to manually dip lights! Not too long ago it was noticeable that a number of the most modern cars had lights which had a distinct blue tinge. This was Xenon technology at work and now seemingly considered to be old hat for it is Led technology that is coming into the most modern cars. Initially only in the up market end but now even some modest hatchbacks now incorporate Led technology. No longer do cars have "side lights", so some things do change, they have "running lights" in the form of a strip of Led's. There is a Citroen hatchback where the "running light" on each front corner comprises of something like 10 individual Led's in a strip. Lighting on vehicles is subject to legal regulation with a requirement that all lights be "E marked". The marking has to be intrinsic within the light unit and will incorporate a number so, for example an individual unit could be marked "E10", the number indicating the capability of the unit. Add all the numbers together for the forward facing lights and as long as the total does not exceed 100 then you are within the law. If the total exceeds 100 and/or some lights are not E marked then you are outside the law. Obviously there are period exceptions but the E mark requirement has been in force for a great number of years so you have to go back a long way to gain the exception. Noticed how many "one eyed monsters" there are on the roads these days Changing a headlight bulb used to be a simple 30 second job but on many car this is no longer the case. Look in many modern car handbooks for "Changing light bulbs" and it will simply state "Take your car to your nearest dealer". There is one modern car where the workshop time for changing a main beam light bulb is 90 minutes for the front panel has to come off and a few other parts before you can gain access. No wonder that failed bulbs are not so readily replaced as was once the case. Modern vehicle lighting is undoubtedly hugely improved but in many cases it comes with a price of higher cost and complexity. JOHN SYMES
Sevenoaks & District Motor Club Annual General Meeting to be held at The Bell, Kemsing 20.30 Wednesday 17th April 2013 Agenda 1.Chairman’s Introduction 2.Present. 3.Apologies for absence. 4.Minutes of the previous AGM. 5.Chairman’s Report. 6.Treasurer’s Report: 7.Adoption of accounts / appointment of accountants. 8.Election of Officers: 9.Officers & Directors all resign as required. 10.All those resigning are prepared to stand again for the time being unless there are any other nominations for their positions. 11.Nominations for new committee members are welcomed. 12.Any Other Business.
Page 1 and 2: THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEVENOAKS
Page 3 and 4: Editorial It’s still horribly col
Page 5 and 6: Somerset Stages Rally SATURDAY 20th
Page 7 and 8: S&DMC SOCIAL EVENT CALENDAR (Contac
Page 9 and 10: BRANDS HATCH WINTER STAGES - 12 TH
Page 11: WHAT’S ON Sat 06.04.13 Tunbridge
Page 15 and 16: Starting with the Sevenoaks account
Page 17 and 18: There is a liability of £3,466 in
Page 19 and 20: Date Event Status Venue Organiser P
Page 21 and 22: Sevenoaks & District Motor Club Spe
Page 23 and 24: SEVENOAKS SPEED LEAGUE CALENDER 201
Page 25 and 26: SEVENOAKS & DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB SUM
Page 27 and 28: SEVENOAKS AND DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB S

Apr - Sevenoaks & District Motor Club

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?