1. What is homologation?

It is an approval or certificate stating that a product complies with the standards required in a given country. It is granted by authorized agencies. The homologation, or approval, number of a given type of lamp is stamped on its lens.

2. How to read homologation symbols?

2.1- This symbol states the type of lamp for which homologation is granted. The abbreviations stand for:
C- asymmetrical passing lights (dipped beam)
R- driving lights (main beam)
HC - asymmetrical passing lights with halogen bulbs
HR - driving lights with halogen bulbs
L - rear license plate illuminators
1, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6 - turn indicators in vehicles and their trailers
A - front parking lights (position lights)
R - rear lights (tail lights)
S1, S2, S3 - stop lights (brake lights)
B - fog lights
F- rear fog lights in vehicles and their trailers
AR - reversing lights in vehicles and their trailers
RL - daytime running lights in motor vehicles

Combined abbreviations are possible, e.g., CR, C/R, HCR, HC/R


2.2- Guide number, or candlepower reference mark, indicates the maximum luminous intensity of a lamp (see below, Question 4).


2.3- International homologation sign consisting of the letter "E" and number defining the country in which such approval was granted.


2.4- Individual homologation number for a given product.

3. What is IP protection rating?

IP (International Protection) class defines the degree of protection offered by the product housing from penetration by solid bodies (first number) and from penetration and damage by liquids (second number). Automotive lamps are tested for protection in specially equipped laboratories. The numbers stand for:

First number	Protection of product from solid bodies	Second number	Protection of product from penetration and damage by liquids
0	No protection	0	No protection
1	Bodies measuring > 50 mm	1	Drops falling vertically
2	Bodies measuring > 12.5 mm	2	Drops falling up to 15° off the vertical
3	Bodies measuring > 2.5 mm	3	Sprays
4	Bodies measuring > 1.0 mm	4	Splashes
5	Limited dust	5	Jets
6	Total dust	6	Strong jets
		7	Short immersion
		8	Prolonged immersion

4. What is guide number?

In a driving light, the principal characteristic is maximum candlepower, or luminous intensity, which is responsible for the lamp's range. The maximum candlepower of a driving lamp is indicated by its guide number (multiply the guide number by three to get an approximate maximum luminous intensity in thousand candelas). In most headlamps, the guide number is found to the left of the homologation number.

Perhaps regrettably, drivers cannot use unlimited-power lamps. To begin with, manufacturers are not allowed to make lamps with a guide number greater than 50 (150000cd), and besides the maximum luminous intensity emitted simultaneously by all driving lamps in a vehicle must not exceed 225000cd (for a total guide number of 75). Nevertheless, lamps exceeding that total can be used on closed roads (such as in rallies), and off public roads.

While driving on public roads, additional headlamps that exceed maximum allowed luminous intensity should be covered (covers available in our range).

A driver can use daytime running lights instead of passing lights from dawn to dusk in clear weather conditions. Daytime running lights do not provide sufficient illumination at night as passing lights do. Use of daytime running lights, which need less power, offers reduced fuel consumption and helps conserve battery power in the car.

Fog lights can be used in fog when visibility falls below 50 m and when driving at night on winding roads. They are designed to prevent their light from being diffused by fog and producing glare. Fog lamps are intended to best illuminate the area immediately in the foreground of the car, especially the road edge and shoulder. Traffic regulations and the lamps' limited range ahead of the car make them useful only as a supplementary source of light. By contrast, driving lights can be used at night to illuminate the road ahead. They can be used only when they do not blind other drivers with glare. The light beam they emit is powerful enough for you to detect an obstacle even as far as 350 m away!!!

9.1- Fog lights should be:

• Mounted in the front of the vehicle, symmetrically along its lengthwise plane of symmetry, not lower than 250mm from the road surface and not higher than passing lights; in passenger cars (cat. M1), not higher than 800mm; each light must be positioned no more than 400mm from the side contour of the vehicle; the distances are measured to the edge of the light surface in the lamp;
• Connected so that they could be used independently of passing lights and driving lights.

9.2- Additional driving lights:
• They should be mounted in the front of the vehicle in such a way that they can only be used in conjunction with parking lights;
• They should sufficiently illuminate the road at least 100m in front of the vehicle in clear weather conditions;
• Moreover, they should be automatically switched off when the headlights are switched from driving lights to passing lights (dipped).

9.3- Daylight running lights should be:

• Mounted in the front of the vehicle, symmetrically along its lengthwise plane of symmetry, not lower than 250mm from the road surface and not higher than 1500mm; each light must be positioned no more than 400mm from the side contour of the vehicle; spaced not less than 600mm (or not less than 400mm if the vehicle is under 1.3m wide);
• Connected so that they could not be used without rear lights; they should also be switched off automatically when passing lights or driving lights are turned on.

These are some connection diagrams [PDF]:
-additional fog lights diagram
-additional driving lights diagram
-additional daylight running lights diagram