Light Action

[thor64]

Season's Greeting and what better way to start the new year than with electrical problems.
I have finally got around to fitting my lights, onto the new wings ( which don't have fixing holes). Also not having taken the lights apart before there were no tags to tell me which wire went into which connector. Working away I managed to fit my Lucas original sealed beam headlight (on the passenger side) and powered it up to see a lovely glow, inside, turning to a white fog. Luckily I have accumulated a few sealed beams. So I put in the other Lucas original sealed beam and it is working fine (for the moment). Onto the drivers side ( with only after market sealed beams units left) I wired it up and you guessed it another lovely glow turning to a white fog. Well, do I now try spending my Christmas money on another original Lucas stamped sealed beam or go Halogen? 
Onto the real problem; the side lights. I was hoping someone who is au fait with P5 3litre electrics might help. Turning the binnacle switch to ' parking lights' I get driver's side front and rear on and no power to passenger side front and rear, so not on. When I flip the switch to the headlight side I get all side lights front and rear. With the column switch is engaged all lights come on as they should. Does the switch have two feeds one for the driver's side and one for the passenger's side parking lights?  I hope it's not the switch as it is so difficult taking the binnacle apart and putting it together.

[lagain]

The light switch is working perfectly. If all the sidelights were left on for a while the battery would be flat, with just 2 lights it takes longer to flatten the battery, so not recommended !
With the headlights make sure that the earth is good, so all clean connections. Unless you are going for originality, how about LEDs ? There are threads about LEDs. The headlights are standard 7" as fitted to most British cars for decades and the Defender Landrover until it ceased production a few years ago.

[Sam Bee]

I too would recomments LEDs. If you fit halogen I would strongly recommend fitting a pair of relays to relieve the current through the light switches. In fact the LEDs fit into the same headlight bowl as a halogen bulb. Use the Warm White type, looks more original and does not blind people coming the other way but gives far better illumination than sealed beams.

[thor64]

Thanks for the information, that's a pleasant surprise. I did not think the 3 litre wiring was that sophisticated. Clever Rover. I am relieved that I don't have to be chasing another fault. I have not explored the LED light alternative and will take a look, I don't plan on doing much night time driving in her.
I did notice that there are  extra connectors , one on each side, on the front loom where the lights attach. They are not powered and wondered what they were for, possible hook ups to add fog lamps?   

[Phil Nottingham]

They are for the optional extra fog lamps - kit was included to connect them up to the switches and lights

[thor64]

Hi, that begs the question if I happen to have one spot light and one fog light is there information available on connecting them using the spare connectors?
As an aside I have now hooked up the boot lid mercury switch light which is functioning fine( it lights) , and I have searched old Take Fives, this forum and google for pictures of the orientation of this item. At the moment I have the bulb pointing down, that is when the boot is open it is pointing into the boot; not pointing up out of the boot (towards the number plate). Have I got it in the correct orientation? 

[Phil Nottingham]

The circuits are separate - each one can therefore have its own switch. The Lucas toggle switches are fitted in the pre-drilled holes in the underside of the instrument console on saloons (covered by the black vinyl) or in the underside of the dial pods of the Coupe (also pre-drilled). The internal loom cable tails are behind the instrument console on saloons and behind each pod on the Coupes.

Short kit added on cables connect the switches to the column lighting switch and the loom tails. No fuse or relays are included but both are really necessary to reduce the load and volt drop through the main lighting switch. It is not intended to have them on with the headlights - just the sidelights

[Phil Nottingham]

The boot light bulb should point up into the lid - towards to handle. This will protect it from luggage damage

[thor64]

Thanks for all the useful information. My main goal at present is to get the car MOT ready and on the road before spring. Just fitted the horns which I recommissioned. The passenger side one was difficult to do. Had to remove the top so it would squeeze in.  Locating the bolts at the back and tightening them was not easy. They are in and work fine (very loud). Only a few items to finish off now. She won't be a beauty queen but a drivable classic.