Re: [DML] Headlight high/low beams

["DMC Joe" <dmcjoe@xxxx>]

Walter,

The headlight switching design in the DeLorean was dictated by the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. This is the government agency that sets the
lighting standards for all motor vehicles sold in the US.

There is a rather complex explanation in the FMVSS spec book as to why this
lowbeam off switching is done, so I'll attempt to give you a simple
explanation.

If both the low beam and high beam lights are illuminated simultaneously the
low beams cause additional light to be reflected off the pavement and back
to the drivers eyes
causing the eye iris to reduce in size. When this happens long distance
visibility is reduced. Simply put "the narrower the beam of light, the
greater the long distance visibility."

"We're here to help you"

DMC Help / De Lorean Services / <dmchelp@xxxx>
Web Site: <www.deloreanservices.com>

----- Original Message -----
From: Walter <Whalt@xxxx>
To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 5:34 AM
Subject: [DML] Headlight high/low beams


> I have a safety question:
> Why do the low beams shut off when the high beams are turned on? Isn't it
> kind of stupid to run with half the lights off? The two inner bulbs are
> meant to be high beams only. The two outer bulbs have two filaments each:
> one for high beam, one for low beam. The Delorean wiring is configured to
> only run one or the other set of filaments, but not both at the same time.
> Why? Does this produce too much heat in the bulb to have it put out twice
> as much wattage?
>
> Walt Tampa, FL
@dmcnews.com
>
>