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MG TD TF 1500 - Fog On - Spot Off

Have a matching pair of Lucas Fog and Spot lamps. The standard wiring diagram shows a single switch for the pair. I understood the spot was used to illuminate long distance and the fog to pick out the roadside kerb just in front of the car. This needs each to be independently switched. What are your views on using the two turn switches (TD) one for each lamp and not bothering about switching the panel lamps off. I am going to make up my own loom so can easilly incorporate the necessary wires. Have found a firm that will do the braiding for me - can thus get the lengths exactly right.

On a related theme there is a TD MK2 close to where I live and it has a superb lamp attached to the driver's side windscreen stanchion. It is chrome plated, mounted on a swivel and has a handle on the back. I think they were originally used to pick out signposts on lonely country lanes but they would be great when an idiot approached you without dipping his (or her!) headlamps.

Jan T
Jan Targosz

The lamp with the handle is called a spot light in the U.S. and was commonly seen on customised cars in the 1950s. You could power your fog lamp from the dip beam circuit and the spot lamp from the high beam circuit, then use the switch to supply earth to both.
George B.

The lamp with the handle is probably a Raydyoyt. Long ceased production but the Complete Automobilist and Paul Beck still have some. They are period and usefull, particularly the version with the rear view mirror which is what I have had for 30 years. Terry
Terry O'Brien

In regards to running both the fog and the spot AT THE SAME TIME with the heads, it will most likely be more than the dynamo can handle. The early TD's have only a 17 amp dynamo, while the later ones 19 amps. Add up all the wattage of the lamps you plan on using and divide by 12. If you get anything over the dynamos output, you asking for all the dynamo's able to deliver leaving nothing for the wiper, heater, battery charging, etc.

For the driving lamp, spot, I added a second three postion toggle switch to the back of the dash with just the handle showing. First position is off, second position causes the lamp to go on and off with the high beams, and third position is always on.

Your idea of removing the panel dimmer is okay, but there have been times I have used it. If you wanted to
leave the panel light switch in, perhaps you could subsitute at TF or MGA headlamp switch which also has two positions. You could use one for the fog lamp and the other for the driving lamp. However, you couldn't have both on at the same time.

G'day
Blake

Jan, what I did on my TF is wire the driving lamp to come on with the bright lights, to go off when I hit the dimmer (dip) switch. The fog lamp is wired in to the accessory switch on the dash. Both lamps are wired in with my turn signals, to blink in addition to the fender lights. Gets attention, people know you are turning, works good for me. Larry
Larry Brown

Larry,

You are in good company - used to have a Bentley that used two spots as the front flashers - this was standard.

Jan T
Jan Targosz

This thread was discussed between 15/04/2003 and 17/04/2003

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