brake light bulb keeps blowing

[Robotstar5]

You'll have to find me something that states that other than referring to headlights. There's nothing in the MOT manual that precludes the use of led replacement stop and tail lights in the original fitting.

Found this on one of the shops selling HID/LED etc.

5) Are these replacement bulbs legal?
Yes. Xenon or other replacement bulbs found on this website are rated at the same wattage as your existing bulbs and are fully e-marked. If you use your vehicle for off road, display or racing, higher wattage bulbs are available. LED bulbs and HID conversion kits are not strictly road legal as they cannot be E-marked, this does not apply if your vehicle has LEDs or HID's fitted as standard. Higher wattage bulbs are also not road legal. We therefore sell LED bulbs, HID kits and high wattage bulbs for off-road use only.

 

[pedrobedro]

It is in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 that all lamps are to be E marked (not CE as I stated earlier) AFAIK no aftermarket replacement LED lamps are E marked and as such are not for use on the road.

Basically the existing reflectors and or diffusers are designed to work with a (near) point source emitting light in all directions (a tungsten filament). If a LED source could have the same light distribution as the traditional lamp it was to replace I am sure the likes of Bosch would be marketing them with E mark approval.

LED bulbs are available in a 360° pattern with a bayonet fitting and bulbs are not E marked only the fittings they are fitted into. The DVLA regulations for IVA only state that a light should be E marked or be of equivalent quality.The HID in the other post are headlamps which are not relevant to brake lamp discussions.

 

[the snooper]

maplin also sell led replacement lamps and they also state they are not legal for road use

 

[pedrobedro]

I've asked my friend at the bike shop who was on the VOSA refresher course in Derby two months ago and tests bikes most days and the MOT ruling on LED is if it shows the right colour and flashes at the correct rate there is no reason to fail a vehicle for having LED bulbs even if it has failed segments in any of the bulbs, which he says he would probably not be able to see any way. Have a look on Autobulbs website where the not strictly legal quote came from and under specifications it says the bulbs are road legal, the HID and LED quote from their disclaimer is for headlights. They do H4 60/55watt LED but sell them as fog light bulbs to get around the legalities.

 

[RedOrZed]

My Yamaha FJ keeps blowing stop/tail blubs so I put LED ones in. A while back I got some that ran in a circle when they were on and flashed under braking! Marvellous fun A friend followed me down the A34 completely mesmerized, esp. as the FJ has two stop/tails and the circles ran in different directions

 

[the snooper]

My Yamaha FJ keeps blowing stop/tail blubs so I put LED ones in. A while back I got some that ran in a circle when they were on and flashed under braking! Marvellous fun A friend followed me down the A34 completely mesmerized, esp. as the FJ has two stop/tails and the circles ran in different directions

wait till plod is behind you you will be chatting to them