Blackbeard

I'm adding a Light Bar and some KC Lights to my Jeep. I keep coming across KC Lights with 100 & 130 Watts, and have found a couple with 55 Watts. I'm looking for Driving Lights, rather than the Fog or Long Distance Lights.

What is the Max Wattage I can use for ON-Road Use? If I recall, our Stock Headlights are 55 Watts. Would 100 Watts be Street Legal, since they're Driving Lights, or is the term "Driving Lights", simply used for the Light Pattern that they emit?

Thanks for any and all info I can find on these, before I buy.

Cheers!

BB

ClaytonTheAggie

Per the Texas Transportation Code:
§ 547.305. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS. (a) A motor
vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other than a headlamp,
spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal lamp, or emergency vehicle or
school bus warning lamp, that projects a beam with an intensity
brighter than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that no part of
the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway at a
distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
(b) Except as expressly authorized by law, a person may not
operate or move equipment or a vehicle, other than a police vehicle,
with a lamp or device that displays a red light visible from
directly in front of the center of the equipment or vehicle.
(c) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a
red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless
the equipment is:
(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter;
or
(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp,
or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.
(d) A vehicle may be equipped with alternately flashing
lighting equipment described by Section 547.701 or 547.702 only if
the vehicle is:
(1) a school bus;
(2) an authorized emergency vehicle;
(3) a church bus that has the words "church bus"
printed on the front and rear of the bus so as to be clearly
discernable to other vehicle operators;
(4) a tow truck while under the direction of a law
enforcement officer at the scene of an accident or while hooking up
to a disabled vehicle on a roadway; or
(5) a tow truck with a mounted light bar which has turn
signals and stop lamps in addition to those required by Sections
547.322, 547.323, and 547.324, Transportation Code.
(e) A person may not operate highway maintenance or service
equipment, including snow-removal equipment, that is not equipped
with lamps or that does not display lighted lamps as required by the
standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Department of
Transportation.
(f) In this section "tow truck" means a motor vehicle or
mechanical device that is adapted or used to tow, winch, or move a
disabled vehicle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 380, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999.


§ 547.330. AUXILIARY DRIVING LAMPS PERMITTED. (a) A
motor vehicle may be equipped with no more than two auxiliary
driving lamps.
(b) An auxiliary driving lamp shall be mounted on the front
of the vehicle at a height from 16 to 42 inches.
(c) Auxiliary driving lamps may be used with headlamps as
specified by Section 547.333.




So, it's not how many watts, but how you aim it and when you use it. You are allowed 2 additional lamps with your low beams on the road in Texas, so if you have these on, turn fogs off and make sure these are aimed correctly.
Note the first red paragraph is talking about lamps other than headlamps and auxiliary lamps. Just make sure you aren't pointing them where any portion of the beam strikes the eyes of an oncoming driver and you'll be fine.

GoodysGotaCuda

I wouldn't run them on the street unless its a backroad or something where you can light it up. Seems like it'd be asking for trouble and fuss! I'd say 55w max though, anything more will piss people off in a hurry

hdrider

I hooked my driving light up to be on when my high beams are on... goes off when I go to low beam and no troubles.

Blackbeard

Thanks for the info, Shipmates! Greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

BB