European Hiviz Laws ?

[Dan B]

spare bulb kit

Ever tried to actually change a blown bulb in any modern-ish car? I can't help feeling that particular law was created for a world where the 2CV was the state of the automotive art...

 

[andym]

How old is the directive? Directives compel national Law to be altered to meet certain aims within a time period. (Potentially several years) So there may yet be no reason for the UK to have adopted this a law like this.

I might be confusing this with a single market product directive standardising the warning triangle where these are required by national law.

Let's paint all the cars hi viz

How does that help them see you?

 

[yello]

The breathalysers law in France has been scrapped. There is no longer any requirement to carry them.

The wearing of high-viz is only required outside of towns, then only at night or times of poor visibility.

I read recently of proposed helmet law changes in Spain, but I'm sure that's been mentioned by someone on another thread.

 

[subaqua]

Ever tried to actually change a blown bulb in any modern-ish car? I can't help feeling that particular law was created for a world where the 2CV was the state of the automotive art...

yes and it took less time then it did in a 20 yr old car, resulted in less cut knuckles and working by touch as the whole unit comes out to give easy access. its easy on the skoda too

 

[Davidc]

well the harmonisation docs for voltage have been about for 10 yrs or more and we havent met them and have no intention of meeting them so nbot all EU requirements are adhered to. maybe the easy ones are? who knows? or maybe thoise who think we have freedoims eroded complain about things they don't need to. are you a daily hatewailmail reader ?

Voltage harmonisation isn't European, it's worldwide.

 

[subaqua]

Voltage harmonisation isn't European, it's worldwide.

Whats the voltage in the USA and whats the frequency ? not sure how that fits into the tolerance of +10%/ -10% for Europe which gives a voltage range of 207.0 -253.0 V in Europe . the Uk is governed by the ESQCR2002 which is +10%/-6% making the lower voltage 216.2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country#Table_of_mains_voltages_and_frequencies

have a read of CENELEC document HD472 SI . no mention of "the rest of the world" it is a EU document.

if you mean High Voltage then they may be close to harmonized but I am struggling to confirm an actual HV distribution worldwide harmonisation document exists . The IEC library doesn't seem to have one.

 

[andrew_s]

Ever tried to actually change a blown bulb in any modern-ish car? I can't help feeling that particular law was created for a world where the 2CV was the state of the automotive art...

I've always wondered what BMW drivers with HID/xenon headlights that cost £50-£80 per bulb do, or drivers of cars with sealed headlight units.
Do the police actually check that your spare bulbs fit your car?

 

[rich p]

Ever tried to actually change a blown bulb in any modern-ish car? I can't help feeling that particular law was created for a world where the 2CV was the state of the automotive art...

You're right there. The last time my headlight bulb blew (in England) I couldn't even find where the access was. It was under a mud-covered flap under the wheel arch which I ended up paying a garage to do.

 

[Davidc]

Whats the voltage in the USA and whats the frequency ? not sure how that fits into the tolerance of +10%/ -10% for Europe which gives a voltage range of 207.0 -253.0 V in Europe . the Uk is governed by the ESQCR2002 which is +10%/-6% making the lower voltage 216.2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country#Table_of_mains_voltages_and_frequencies

have a read of CENELEC document HD472 SI . no mention of "the rest of the world" it is a EU document.

if you mean High Voltage then they may be close to harmonized but I am struggling to confirm an actual HV distribution worldwide harmonisation document exists . The IEC library doesn't seem to have one.

IEC60038 defines worldwide standards for all voltages. My guess is that it'll never happen everywhere but most of the world will get there. The CENELEC standard is the specific one for Europe.

USA and Canada have an agreement going back ages for 120v at 60Hz, and Japan uses the same standard. No need to change. The EEA countries (EU plus Norway and Switzerland) signed up to the 230 at 50Hz figure from 1995, and the tolerances were set to take in all the nominal voltages in use at the time and get progressively tighter.

The EU countries acted in 1995, that's only because it made sense to move that way so it suited them to do so.

(Edited after I'd found the IEC standard as a PDF file, and to make it shorter. If you want the up to date version with the latest revisions you have to pay for it at the IEC webstore!)

 

[subaqua]

IEC60038 defines worldwide standards for all voltages. My guess is that it'll never happen everywhere but most of the world will get there. The CENELEC standard is the specific one for Europe.

USA and Canada have an agreement going back ages for 120v at 60Hz, and Japan uses the same standard. No need to change. The EEA countries (EU plus Norway and Switzerland) signed up to the 230 at 50Hz figure from 1995, and the tolerances were set to take in all the nominal voltages in use at the time and get progressively tighter.

The EU countries acted in 1995, that's only because it made sense to move that way so it suited them to do so.

(Edited after I'd found the IEC standard as a PDF file, and to make it shorter. If you want the up to date version with the latest revisions you have to pay for it at the IEC webstore!)

so not harmonized worldwide then cheers for the linky , will be able to get the whole standard for free from work from the tech indexes we pay handsomely for.

 

[Davidc]

so not harmonized worldwide then cheers for the linky , will be able to get the whole standard for free from work from the tech indexes we pay handsomely for.

They didn't make the 2003 target, but never were going to. I think most of the major economic powers are there, Oz moved a while ago.

Some of the less developed and poorer countries probably never will. I heard from a former colleague that Afghanistan tries to be in both the 120v and 230v groups, with the supply varying randomly between 100 and 260v at any frequency the utility fancies, with long periods of 0v as well.