Marchal driving lights

[deQuincey]

it was long time ago when i bought a single switch with light, same aesthetics as the rest of the instrument panel switches

my lower cover had an old switch for activating the water of the windscreen wipers installed by the PO when the right switch died, i solved that problem buying a NOS right hand lever with the function of waterpump switch included

so that was the right place for my new light´s switch, but the hole was too small for it:

first of all i installed the cover safely and strongly

i repainted it (matt black) a bit to cover the scratches of the keys in the lateral

seen in its place it goes well with the overall image of that area:

 

[deQuincey]

colum white prism light

as a collateral effect of this work on the driving lights, i found that my prism was there (good), but the bulb was not (baaad)

as it is not possible to find the support of this light i had to find a similar one and make a little magic:

and that is all, now it works:

 

[bill]

Nice work, DeQ! Improvisation is the mother of invention!

 

[deQuincey]

help relay and fuse specs

hello, as i intend to use a relay to command the new driving lights i will install an aerial fuse in the cable that comes from the battery positive, and then a relay

the question is:

i will use a 20/30 A relay

as to the fuse i am not sure, maybe 15 Amps ?

they are two lights 45Watt 12 v

thanks

edit: following the advise of Mr.porsche61: watts/12 +25%= approximate safe fuse = 100/12 + 25%= 10,4 (next available fuse = 15)

 

[deQuincey]

using the free terminal number 15

and from the switch in the steering column

 

[bill]

DeQ:To answer your question about fuses: each bulb is rated 45 watts @12 volts. Using the equation amps x volts = watts, you can plug in the values and come up with 45/12 = 4 amps (rounded up.) So, for both bulbs, you would need a total of 8 amps, call it 10 amps which gives you some cushion. A 15 amp fuse might be a little high.

 

[deQuincey]

DeQ:To answer your question about fuses: each bulb is rated 45 watts @12 volts. Using the equation amps x volts = watts, you can plug in the values and come up with 45/12 = 4 amps (rounded up.) So, for both bulbs, you would need a total of 8 amps, call it 10 amps which gives you some cushion. A 15 amp fuse might be a little high.

thanks bill

edit:

a friend has pointed out the fact that there are peak moments when you switch on the lights, thus a 25% extra is the right path, so 15 Ohms is the correct thing

 

[deQuincey]

some pics about the installation and final conection

pass the cables:

switch in the column

battery positive lead

picking the signal from out high beams relay

new ad hoc relay:

fuse is self mounted onto the relay base

front cables

relay positioned

no driving lights:

switch on:

 

[deQuincey]

.

 

[Stevehose]

Great looking and nice install of course!!

 

[deQuincey]

sorry i love them...

 

[Stevehose]

No apologies needed here

 

[deQuincey]

help homologation

can anyone help me with the identification of the homologation mark of my marchal lights ?

i am requested to present an homologation mark (usually is E4, E3,...)

but my marchals have only a sign: (A) 1413

see pic:

is this the homologation mark ?

 

[Mo Brighta]

Marchal Homologation mark question

Hello! I ran with Marchal headlights since a teenager, let's say since about 1971 or so. The larger size (US calls it 7 inch), I loved them to pieces! No nipples, but you can't have everything... Still, each single unit had a low beam reflector with H1 lamp, and a separate high beam reflector with an H3 lamp. I put relays in my 1972 2002 for each circuit, and ran both high and low together as Euro cars do. Sadly, they met their demise in the back end of a Honda. :sad:

So this thread caught my eye. Grabbed me by the you know what, is more like it... :lol:

On your question about markings- I have posed this question to my US lighting guy, see what he knows. He's been most helpful with my lighting questions, and is noted on many forums. It's Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy.

You likely already know, the directions call them "Cornering - Fog" lights, and the note about the nipples blocking glare for oncoming traffic makes perfect sense, since the lamps do not have a mask as newer lamps do.

I also love the installation, very original looking, and executed like a pro! Congratulations on the installation, it really adds to the car's abundant beauty and competent lighting equipment.


EDIT -- Just heard back from DSL.

Apparently these are being copied by a (guess who) Chinese firm, as you may expect.

I quote:
"Maybe the ones you linked are in fact NOS actual real Marchal. But the odds of finding actual real NOS Marchals is relatively quite tiny."

So, if these are the genuine article, undoubtedly they are a score! but ...

"Don't be quite so sure as all that...
http://www.primaautocraft.com/en/products_detail.asp?id=73
http://www.primaautocraft.com/en/products_detail.asp?id=74
"That is just two of _many_ variants on this lamp made by this guy in China. Visually, the lamps are beautiful and quite perfect in every way, and I mean EVERY way, right down to the correct inks and fonts on the labels on the backs of the reflectors, correct "MARCHAL" engravings in the metal parts, olde-tyme date stamps, correct terminals on the correct braided wire, exact-repro instruction sheets, etc.
But optically they are a complete zero. They light up, but they do not produce anything like a useful, usable, safe, or effective beam pattern."

I would love to analyze the beam pattern, see if they are 'Sacrebleu!' ou 'Formidable!'
Do you have any pics of their output pattern against a flat wall at night?
But, that's just me; I do not think they are any less beautiful.

And regarding the A1413, he says " these lamps pre-date the unified European code."
If you need an inspector's approval, I'd just pull the fuse and tell them the lights are 'For Show Purposes Only'.

Hope this helps!

 

[rsporsche]

Hello! I ran with Marchal headlights since a teenager, let's say since about 1971 or so. The larger size (US calls it 7 inch), I loved them to pieces! No nipples, but you can't have everything... Still, each single unit had a low beam reflector with H1 lamp, and a separate high beam reflector with an H3 lamp.

i had those lights on my mgb gt and my 1st 2002 ... marchal ampilux. i was under the impression that both lamps are h1

 

[rsporsche]

i just did an ebay search and found several people with multiple new sets of the nipple fog + driving lights ... like 10. sound like china to me.

 

[Stevehose]

Different than DQ's. DSL is incorrect, NOS Marchals are easy to find (as are Cibie's, Hella, Bosch et al), just look long enough on eBay or check with the European guys who deal in the vintage ones and pretty much any style is available in various degrees of condition and price. Yes the Chinese repros are out there, I almost bought some before I decided to find the real deal. That's twice now in the last week I've read him poo-poo someone else's lights (AMHIK).

i just did an ebay search and found several people with multiple new sets of the nipple fog + driving lights ... like 10. sound like china to me.

 

[Mo Brighta]

Amplilux

i had those lights on my mgb gt and my 1st 2002 ... marchal ampilux. i was under the impression that both lamps are h1

I still have one, it's definitely an H3 in the separate high beam dish at the bottom. The label shows bulb requirements for the low (arrow up) and high (arrow right) with max. watts for 6V, 12V and 24V. My first installation was in a 1962 VW Typ1, which had a 6V system. I found 6V bulbs, but they still lit up the night.

I believe it is spelled 'Amplilux' - I don't think I can find the box after 42 years... sometimes stuff just gets lost, you know?

And yes, I know the glass lens is missing, consequence of my unscheduled meeting with aforementioned Honda. The reflector shell is all I have left so I am hanging onto it. 'For Historical Purposes' of course, not because I hoard lighting stuff. Who would do that???

 

[deQuincey]

as far as i can tell, and with the help of mr. stevehose, i found my original NOS marchal lights in the netherlands in a well recognised expert in those old lights
they are no H bulbs, but old pre-iodine bulbs

there it comes the problem for homologation in spain

it seems that any light that you want to homologate in your car must have an E homologation mark

other countries, that respect classic cars more than this one, allow you to place period correct lights in period correct cars

 

[rsporsche]

I still have one, it's definitely an H3 in the separate high beam dish at the bottom.

I believe it is spelled 'Amplilux' - I don't think I can find the box after 42 years... sometimes stuff just gets lost, you know?

yes i misspelled it ... i found some on ebay tonight. interesting enough, one pair had h1 / h3 ... the others both had two h1.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-MARCHAL-A...Parts_Accessories&hash=item20cf8560fb&vxp=mtr

they were great lights