1

Truck-Lite User’s Guides

These guides provide detailed training and education
to help readers better understand harness and lighting
concepts that are relevant to specific installations, as
well as providing preventative maintenance techniques.
Truck-Lite’s Lighting and Harness User’s Guides make for
excellent training sources in a conveniently sized manual.

To request a printed copy of Truck-Lite literature, or to

download an electronic copy, check out Truck-Lite’s
website at www.truck-lite.com.

2
BASICS IN ELECTRICITY
- Definitions & Major Concepts
- Wire Calculations
4
- Useful Formulas

WHY LIGHTS FAIL

- Major Causes
- Tips For Longer Lasting Lighting Systems 12
- Chemical Impact On Lighting
- Product Pitfalls

STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS

- Federal Requirements
- Proper Light Specification
- Common Legal Questions 28
- ID Codes
- Regulation Charts

EVOLUTION OF LIGHTING
- Lighting Evolution
- Introduction to LED Lighting
- Future of LEDs
48
- LED Lifetime Systems
- Systems Approach

SUPPORT TOOLS
- www.Truck-Lite.com
- Laboratory Support 56
- Technical Support
- Industry Links

INDEX/ GLOSSARY 60
3
 BASICS IN
ELECTRICITY
SECTION OBJECTIVES
1. Definitions & Major Concepts
2. Wire Calculations
3. Useful Formulas

1. Definitions

A comparison between electrical energy and water

flow will be useful in explaining and understanding
electrical concepts, but remember — water and
electricity generally should not be mixed.

1. VOLT (Potential) V
The unit of measurement applied to the difference in
electrical potential between two points; that is, the
potential for electricity to flow.
• Usually referenced from “ground.”
• In water, voltage is roughly equivalent to the difference
in elevation from ground to a tank of water elevated
above the ground; the electrical potential is similar to
water pressure.
• The higher the potential (or elevation), the more force
the water is able to exert and the more likely it is to
flow.

2. AMP (Current) I
The unit of measurement applied to the flow of electrical
current through a conductor.
• The amount of current (electrons) passing through
a conductor or passing a point in a wire or other
electrical devices such as a light bulb.

4
3. OHM (Resistance) RΩ
As electrons flow through conductors, they meet
opposition due to the collisions between the flowing
electrons and the electrons and atoms of the conductor.
• This opposition to current flow, called resistance, is
measured in Ohms.

4. WATT (Power) P, W or Pw
The unit of power applied to the rate at which energy
is used.
• Power is the amount of work that can be
accomplished in a specified amount of time.
• Work is simply defined as converting energy from one
form to another, e.g., changing electrical energy into
light energy.

5. WIRE SIZE (AWG)

Because everything electrical depends on current flow,
the conductors that carry the electricity are a critical
part of any electrical system. The size of wires is
important to allow the proper flow of electrons.
• Resistance is opposition to current flow.
• Wires that are too small in diameter will oppose
current flow (this opposition is due to collisions of
electrons which do not have enough room to pass).
• These collisions convert electrical energy into heat
(if enough of these collisions occur, the wire could
overheat to the point of causing insulation melt-down
and/or catch fire).
• Wire sizes are measured according to the American
Wire Gauge (AWG).

Definitions continued on next page ->

5
 6. VOLTAGE DROP Vd
Voltage drop occurs when power is dissipated across a
component of the electrical system.
• In the case of a bulb or other lighting device, voltage is
dropped in the production of light and heat.
• Typically, the more current that flows through a
system, the higher the voltage drop will be.
• Voltage drop across a wire is undesirable, as it is an
indication that power is being wasted and heat is
being generated.

7. HORSEPOWER
To determine horsepower required to operate lighting
equipment, calculate the total power requirements of all
lamps (in watts). Then divide that total by a value of 746
(HP = P / 746).

INCANDESCENT LED
QTY LAMP TYPE TOTAL AMPS TOTAL AMPS
11 Clearance/Sidemarker/Identification 3.63 0.66
1 Licence 0.33 0.06
2 Tail (minor function) 0.96 0.05
2 Rear Clearance (minor function) 0.96 0.05
2 Stop (major function) 4.20 0.61
2 Turn (major function) 4.20 0.61
14.28 2.04

INCANDESCENT LED
P=VxI P=VxI
P = 12.8v x 14.28a P = 12.8v x 2.04a
P = 182.784 watts P = 26.112 watts

HP = P 746 HP = P 746
HP = 182.784 746 HP = 26.112 746
HP = 0.2450 HP = 0.0350

6
2. Wire Size Calculations

The length of wire in a circuit is a major contributing

factor to voltage drop. The table below may be
used to determine adequate wire gauge sizes
for specific lengths of cable when the amperage
(current) requirements are known.

• Everything electrical relies upon current flow.

• The conductor that carries the electricity is a critical
part of the system.
• Wire size is vital to allow the proper flow of electrons
(smaller diameter wire will oppose current flow).
• Constricting the room for electrons to pass within the
wire causes collision of electrons, which generates
heat inside the wire.

WIRE GAUGE REQUIREMENTS

TOTAL FOOTAGE OF WIRE FROM POWER SOURCE
TO THE MOST DISTANT ELECTRIC LAMP
24v 12v
System System 10’ 20’ 30’ 40’ 50’ 60’ 70’ 80’ 90’ 100’
2.0 1.0 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
3.0 1.5 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
4.0 2.0 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 16 16 16
6.0 3.0 18 18 18 18 18 16 16 16 14 14
AMPERAGE REQUIRED

8.0 4.0 18 18 18 16 16 16 14 14 14 12
10.0 5.0 18 18 18 16 14 14 14 12 12 12
12.0 6.0 18 18 16 16 14 14 12 12 12 12
14.0 7.0 18 18 16 14 14 12 12 12 10 10
16.0 8.0 18 18 16 14 12 12 12 10 10 10
20.0 10.0 18 16 14 12 12 12 10 10 10 10
22.0 11.0 18 16 14 12 12 10 10 10 10 8
24.0 12.0 18 16 14 12 12 10 10 10 8 8
30.0 15.0 18 16 12 12 10 10 10 8 8 8
36.0 18.0 16 14 12 10 10 8 8 8 8 8
40.0 20.0 16 14 12 10 10 8 8 8 8 6
* Values depict wire gauge

Wire Size Calculations continued on next page ->

7
 Example: A lamp is 38’ from the power source
and required 10 amperes. This figure, rounded
upwards to the nearest column heading given in
the table is 40’. The wire gauge in the 40’ column
corresponding to 10 amperes is No. 12.*

*Recommended minimum wire gauge size for stop

light and ground circuits.

Stop Ground
(red) (white)
Single trailer up to
50’ length 12 ga. 10 ga.
Double trailer
2-28’ lengths 12 ga. 10 ga.
Doubles trailer
10 ga. 8 ga.
2-40’ lengths
Triples trailer 3-28’
lengths 10ga. 8 ga.

*Compiled from SAE, TMC & Other sources.

8
VOLTAGE DROP PER FOOT

.180

E
10
AUG
.01

.00 E
.160

UG
67
20 G

GA

E
.140

G
5
AU
04
18

.0
G
.120
E
16 AU G 28
.100 G 00
14
.

GE
AU 18
.080
G
12 . 00
U GE
.060
A
.040
10 G 11 .00

.020

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

AMPERES

20 GAUGE WIRE

18 GAUGE WIRE

16 GAUGE WIRE

14 GAUGE WIRE

12 GAUGE WIRE

10 GAUGE WIRE

8 GAUGE WIRE

9
 3. Useful Formulas

V V - Potential in Volts (E)*

I - Current in Amps
R - Resistance in Ohms
I R
* E is the symbol for Electromotive Force
in Volts, as defined in Ohms Law.

V=IxR
Voltage (volts) = Current (amps) x Resistance (ohms)

I = VR
Current (amps) = Voltage (volts) Resistance (ohms)

R =V I
Resistance (ohms) = Voltage (volts) Current (amps)

Frequently stated as E = I x R

Power can be represented as P, W, or Pw.

a) Pw = V x I
Power (watts) = Voltage (volts) x Current (amps)

b) Pw = I x R
2

Power (watts) = Current (amps) x Current (amps) x Resistance (ohms)

2
V
c) Pw = R
Power (watts) = Voltage (volts) x Voltage (volts) Resistance (ohms)

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 a) Pw = V x I
3Ω Pw = 12 x 4
Pw = 48w
2
12v b) Pw = I x R
Pw = 4 x 4 x 3
Pw = 48w
4a 2
c) Pw = V R
Pw = 12 x 12 3
Pw = 48w

NOTES:

11
 WHY LIGHTS FAIL
SECTION OBJECTIVES
1. Major Causes of Failure
2. Tips For Longer Lasting Lighting Systems
3. Chemical Impact On Lighting
4. Product Pitfalls
5. Counterfeit Products

1. Major Causes Of Failure

Corrosion
Causes of Corrosion:
Water, dirt, salt, and any other road
contaminants can enter a lamp or
connector, providing an electrical
path which can vastly accelerate
corrosion.

Minimizing Corrosion:
Corrosion cannot occur when the
bulb is sealed within the lamp
housing, as they are in Truck-Lite’s
sealed lighting products.

Further Protection:
Connectors should be sealed with
non-conductive grease like electrical
contacts, circuit switches, and
junction boxes.

Purpose of Sealant:
To totally encapsulate the area to
protect it from the elements.

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Shock, Vibration, & Burnout
Major Causes of Shock & Vibration:
Trailers experience constant road pounding when
they travel down a highway. This pounding can cause
filaments in a bulb to distort and prematurely break.

In addition, shock and impact damage can be caused

by things other than road vibration. Some examples are:
-Loading a container chassis on to a truck chassis
-Dump truck loading or tailgate banging
-Loose mounting of cargo hardware
-Unloading operations
-Impact with stationary objects, e.g., poles or loading docks

Solution To Shock & Vibration:

Install a lamp designed with shock-mounted
mechanisms that cradle the bulb and absorb the
effects of shock and vibration that would otherwise
be transferred directly to fragile bulb filaments or LED
lamps.

Baseless Bulbs:
Suspended to endure heavy-duty applications better
than traditional S-8 non-shock mounted bulb units or
standard J-slot bulb sockets.

Advanced Technology - LEDs:

LEDs are rated at 100,000 hours of operation. They are
solid state, which makes them much less susceptible
to shock and vibration. The electronics of LEDs are
completely sealed in epoxy.
Inadequate Wiring & Cable
Suitable Wiring:
Wire size or gauge is very important; the use of a wire
gauge too small can cause dim or intermittent operation
or excessive voltage drop and presents a potential fire
hazard.

13
 Avoiding Excessive Voltage Fluctuation:
Suitable wiring can increase product life and safety. A
sealed, waterproof wiring harness system based on
electrical load of the vehicle should be selected.

Stranded copper wire should be used. Copper wire has

a higher current carrying capability than an aluminum
wire of the same size. It is also more flexible and less
likely to break.

Truck Light Offers Harness Systems That:

-Exceed industry standards
-Eliminate troublesome splices
-Seal out the elements
-Provide a common ground
-Last the life of the trailer

Excess Voltage
Excess voltage is a difficult problem for bulb life. Many
failures caused by voltage spikes are a result of load
dumps (such as starting the engine with the lights on).
Other sources of excessive voltage are heavy draw
electrical devices such as lift gates or welders. When
the units are turned off, they can create a backlash in
the form of a voltage spike.

Voltage regulators that are set too high can shorten the
life of a bulb, as can disconnecting the battery while the
truck is in operation.

A good way to protect the lights from voltage damage

is to not use heavy draw accessories or start the vehicle
when the lights are on.

Voltage should be checked regularly to ensure the

vehicle is operating within a safe range. One volt
beyond the designed voltage will reduce the expected
life of a bulb filament by more than 50 percent. LED
systems eliminate this problem.

14
Poor Grounding
Installing a lighting product and harness system that
uses an internal ground will help maintain an absolute
ground because it does not depend on the chassis
ground. Internal grounds will also help eliminate rust
and corrosion associated with chassis grounding.

Loss of Bulb Contact

In the traditional non-shock mounting bulb units and
the standard J-slot bulb sockets, corrosion and/or
loss of spring tension could cause a loss of contact.
With the inception of the sealed, baseless bulb lamp
and soldered connections, bulb contact is certain and
product life is further enhanced. Again, LED systems
solve this problem.

Physical Damage
To help prevent physical damage, the lens should be a
super-tough, high-impact plastic that is impervious to
heat generated by the bulb.
The lens and the lamp housing should both be
manufactured from a tough, durbable plastic, such as
polycarbonate.

15
 The 21st Century Lighting System

Studies have shown that, when sealed shock-mounted

bulbs and lighting devices are used along with sealed
wiring harness systems, product life can be extended
as much as 20 times beyond traditional unsealed bulb
units in heavy-duty and tractor/trailer applications.

It should be everyone’s goal to use an original

equipment part that lasts the life of the vehicle, or
requires little attention and minor cost after the initial
purchase. Today’s technology is capable of designing
and producing lighting products that can offer 500,000
to 1,000,000 miles of maintenance-free service for most
applications.

Product life performance can be extended and overall

costs of vehicle operations can be reduced by doing a
careful evaluation of the total vehicle lighting system,
its problems, and the methods used to control and
eliminate those problems.

16
2. Tips For A Lasting System

1. If at all possible, test probes should not be used to

puncture insulation while troubleshooting lighting failure.
If it becomes necessary, the hole from the probe must
be resealed. If the hole is not sealed, wicking action can
cause moisture to travel considerable distances inside
the wire, resulting in corrosion that has the potential to
destroy the circuit.

When correcting illumination problems, don’t simply

turn up the voltage output. Find the sources that caused
the failure to prevent more (and probably more serious)
problems. Over-voltage can quickly kill both lamps
and batteries. To prevent the loss of current carrying
capability, always replace trailer light cords with the
same, or better quality and gauge of wiring.

2. Under-voltage is often caused by poor electrical

connections. To correct this problem, don’t simply turn
up the voltage — find out the root of the problem for
efficient operation.

3. Do not immediately throw away lamps if they aren’t

burning. It is important to play detective when solving
lamp problems; determine that another source isn’t
the cause of your lamp failure. Testing the lamp with
a meter, power supply, or battery can help determine
the lamp’s cause of failure. The following are common
causes of lamp failure:

-a bulb with stretched or broken filaments most likely failed due

to vibration
-a yellowish, whitish, or bluish glaze on the bulb indicates a
rupture in the bulb’s glass envelope
-a dark, metallic finish indicates old age
-a black, sooty bulb indicates a poor seal in the bulb

17
 4. Treat the electrical system like you treat the chassis.
Lubricate sockets, pigtails, battery terminals and
connections with NYK-77 nonconductive anti-corrosion
compound. The purpose of the sealant is to completely
encapsulate and protect the electronics from corrosion
and other types of water damage. Any type of corrosion
preventive compound, such as grease, may be used, as
long as it is not carbon based.

5. Inspect the electrical system for proper ground

connections. This is a major cause of lamp failure,
especially when the trailer is used for a ground. When
the lamps are grounded through the lamp housing,
make sure there is a clean connection (that is, metal
to metal). A fifth wheel ground strap may be used for
added protection on the chassis ground system.

6. Loose, bare, or unsupported wires or fixtures should

be addressed immediately. Harness and wiring should
be on the underside of the top frame members, rather
than on the bottom where dirt and road splash connect.

% DESIGN VOLTAGE
50 60 70 80 80 100 110 120 130 140
x10,000 300
x5,000
% AMPS OR C.P.

275
LIFE FACTOR

x2,000
x1,000 250
ER

x500
OW

AV 225
x200 ER
EP

AG
L

x100 200
ND

x50
E LIF
CA

x20
E 175

x10 150
x5
x2 AMPERES 125
% AMPS OR C.P.

x1
100
AMPERES
100
LIFE FACTOR

x1
75 AV x.5
ER A x.2
GE
50 WER LIFE x.1
LEPO
25 CAND x.05
x.02
0 x.01
50 60 70 80 80 100 110 120 130 140

% DESIGN VOLTAGE

7. Heat is a major contributor to lamp problems. Lamps

must “breathe” or the heat buildup will shorten a lamp’s
lifespan. LED lamps have a lower power draw, which
can alleviate many heat problems. However, even a

18
cooler LED lamp can overheat if the lens is covered in
dirt. Keep your lamps clean and they will perform better
in the resulting cooler environment.

8. There are many household cleaning products that

are not compatible with polycarbonate lenses and
housing.

9. Always replace wiring, trailer light cables and

harnesses with an equal or heavier gauge of wire than
was originally used. Using a lighter gauge wire can lead
to problems. See pages 8 and 9 for wire gauge details.

10. You should never crank the truck with lights on;
voltage surge is hard on lamps. You should also avoid
needlessly using the hazard markers and clearance
lights. When parked at a truck stop or terminal yard,
save the lights by turning them off. Avoid parking
against the dock with the hazard markers, turn signals,
or tail lamps operating.

19
 3. Chemical Impact on Lighting

What Is It?
Almost all cracked parts are caused by incompatible
chemicals or cleaners. Although lenses are very durable,
they can crack due to the combination of stress induced
by the molding process and chemical acceleration of
the stress.

Typical Examples Include The Following:

-Lights on buses or vehicles that are frequently washed with
incompatible cleaners
-Lights near engines or exhausts
-Lights exposed to some soaps, body cleaners, lubricants,
paint, paint cleaners, antifreeze, washer fluids, brake fluid,
and hundreds of other chemicals

What Makes The Plastic Crack?

The chemical penetrates the plastic and unhooks the
long chains of molecules that make the plastic strong.
Anywhere that the plastic is under stress (like a lens
weld on a mounting hole) may crack.

Can Cleaning Solutions Be Damaging?

The use of solvents that are not compatible with
polycarbonate will result in the softening, crazing, and/
or cracking of the plastic part. Polycarbonate lamps
and mounting bases may be used under stress in their
normal applications (see chart on page 19).

20
4. Product Pitfalls

Truck-Lite has cataloged numerous problems that occur

in the field. Here are a few of the repeat offenders:

Over Tightened Mounting Screws:

After a while, polycarbonate will crack under stress. The
rule of thumb is to use the minimum torque possible.
Never use more than 20 inch-pounds.

Loose Brackets Or Undersized Grommet Holes:

Both of these issues can prematurely knock out
filaments.

Not Adding NYK-77® To Plugs Or Lights When

Installing:
Truck-Lite adds only enough NYK-77 for the lamp.
Additional NYK-77 should be used on the connection
end.

Note: This is not recommended for use with LED lamps

that use Fit ‘N Forget® connectors.

Continued Stretched Or Pulling (Especially

Sideways) Of A Cable On A Junction Box Or
Distribution Module:
This may eventually cause a disconnection or an
electrical short.

Using A Backup Light For A Dome Light Or Vice

Versa:
One will cause heat damage; the other is not legal.

Not Replacing Plugs Which Show Signs Of

Corrosion:
Even though they may work, they will promote rapid
pin corrosion on the new replacement light pin (plug)
connection.

21
 Using Incompatible Cleaners
Or Chemicals And Allowing
Them To Get On The Lights:
Lights will crack and fail.

Painting A Vehicle And

Allowing Paint Or Solvent To
Contact Lights Or Wiring:
Most paints (excluding water
based) are incompatible with polycarbonate lights. They
may also cause wires or cable insulation to crack.

Allowing Lights to Contact Insulating Materials (Like

Loading Dock Air Seals) While Energized:
Another variation of this is the placement of insulation
too close to contacts of the light housings. This can
result in heat distortion/damage and shorter life.

Failure to Orient Lights With the Word “TOP”

Properly:
This is important for a couple of reasons, including
the fact that the bulb life may be shortened by heat
or increased shock. The other reason is that it is an
obligation for legal compliance.

One Volt Beyond Designed Voltage Will Reduce

Expected Life Of A Bulb Filament By More Than 50
Percent*:
It is not always controllable, but the “rule of thumb” is
that vehicle voltages should be adjusted to the minimum
acceptable voltage for proper operation.

*See chart on page 18 for reference.

22
5. Counterfeit Products

The primary function of vehicle safety lighting systems

is to provide a safe environment for vehicle operators,
pedestrians, and anyone else that is in the vicinity of
vehicles. The reliance on lighting products make it
extremely important that buyers trust in the products
they are using.

Counterfeit lighting products are often reverse-

engineered look-a-likes of reputable brand name
products. Counterfeiters sometimes use identical
markings, part numbers, logos, and even packaging.
Imported knock-off products which resemble the look
or function of brand name equipment are becoming
more prevalent in the heavy-duty industry. In the case
of lamps, knock-offs are often designed without care for
patents or trademarks of the original lighting products.
It’s uncommon for knock-off lamps to meet FMVSS
safety regulations, and the number of existing product
violations in the domestic market is rapidly rising.

Do The Risks Outweigh The Rewards?

These products are designed to mislead customers
into believing they are buying the original brand, while
infringing upon copyright and trademark rights of the
original manufacturer. When counterfeit vehicle safety
lighting products are sold to customers who believe
they are getting dependable, durable solutions for legal
lighting applications, they are expecting the same road
safety, maintenance, service, and support levels of
brand names the products mimic.

Distributors of counterfeit products are subject to the

same legal penalties as the foreign manufacturers, and
in the case of direct import of the product, are classified
as the manufacturer of record on such products. If a
distributor or original equipment manufacturer contracts

23
 with a manufacturer outside of the United States to have
products shipped into their US facility, the distributor
or OEM retains all of the responsibility that a typical
lighting company would have. This includes certification
compliance and product liability. The United States
Congress and the National Highway Transportation
Safety Administration (NHTSA) employ dedicated
positions in support of enforcing actions against
noncompliant vehicle lighting products.

Supplying falsely marked counterfeit products not only

leads to damaged customer relations, but also has ties
to legal prosecution.

Non-Compliance Issues
Combination lamps and their basic photometry are key
areas of concern when it comes to counterfeit lamps.
Often, these combinations lamps lack basic advertised
functions, such as side-reflex or combination properties.
Additionally, the standard lighting requirements
necessitate that light output extends beyond specific
limits; counterfeit products typically do not meet these
requirements.

Lack Of Industry Know-How

The growing presence of Light Emitting Diode (LED)
safety lighting products in the heavy-duty industry
has caused an increase in the number of companies
that manufacture and export lighting solutions.
Manufacturing lighting products requires close
monitoring of production, and most utilize low-variance
standards with supplies and materials. Though they
often have some experience in the production of
electronics, many of these new sources do not have
the necessary experience in and understanding of the
heavy-duty lighting industry as it applies to safety, legal
requirements, product downfalls, and more—which
Truck-Lite can offer.

24
As a longtime member of the traditional heavy-duty
safety systems industry, Truck-Lite is familiar with the
specifications and legal requirements that drivers and
maintenance staff rely on. It is with that experience and
education that Truck-Lite designs and manufactures
many of the new products and product advancements
that are being copied and reproduced elsewhere.

Opportunities With LED Advancements

When incandescent bulb technologies were the only
light source capable of delivering the necessary
light output that is required for legal vehicles safety
applications, much of a lamp’s development could
rely on the standards of the internal light bulb and
its proven expectations. With the use of electrically
charged crystals, the appearance, color, and light
output of a LEDs varies from diode to diode—unless
the manufacturer has standards in place to ensure each
diode is grouped and driven properly. If diodes are
not classified and used based on their specific output
reading and bins, the resulting output can vary from
lamp to lamp.
Identifying Product Markings
Product brand, a manufacturer’s identification mark,

and the presence of a certification stamp are all key

indicators that your lighting products can be trusted.
Many off-market lighting products show no printed
signs of the manufacturer, and make it nearly impossible
to contact anyone in regards to product performance,
installation, compliance, or warranty support. Also, look
for certification notes on the lamp as evidence that the
lighting product was designed to meet the regulations
that your application requires.

25
 Prevention
The NHTSA regulates safety standards to ensure
certain levels of performance and safety, regardless of
the manufacturer. But, as an organization, the NHTSA
has no authority to address counterfeiting. Instead, the
authority belongs to the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office, the Federal Bureau of
Investigations, the Department of Justice, and Customs
and Border Protection to stop the potentially unsafe
product from import. Despite their best efforts, it simply
isn’t possible to keep all non-compliant products off
store shelves.

Buyers can do their part to combat the downfalls of

counterfeit products by inspecting lamps for product
markings and classifications, as well as inquiring about
the manufacturer at the point of sale.

The initial purchase of a vehicle lighting product—

whether it is in the original vehicle purchase, or the
costs of acquiring a replacement unit—is only the
beginning of the complete vehicle life cycle cost.
Any inferior products bring added costs and, more
importantly, vehicle downtime. The choice to invest in
a reputable brand such as Truck-Lite brings with it the
reliability that ensures you won’t be replacing lamps
prematurely.

The value that comes with peace of mind is hard to find

in an unmarked, non-compliant lamp.

26
NOTES:

27
 28’ Van Trailer Harness System
NORTH AMERICAN
STANDARDS &
SPECIFICATIONS
SECTION OBJECTIVES
1. Federal Requirements
2. Proper Light Specification
3. Common Legal Questions
4. ID Codes
5. Regulation Charts

1. Federal Requirements

Who’s who when it comes to lighting regulations?

DOT is the Department of Transportation. This

functions as a large governmental umbrella for anything
dealing with transportation, including the NHSTA,
FHWA, etc. The DOT lettering is often put on lights to
show that they conform to all government regulations.

NHTSA is the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration. They regulate lighting requirements for
all new road vehicles, with the exception of pole trailers
and converter dollies. Their regulations take precedence
over state regulations and they have the power to
implement fines, recalls, and new regulations. State
Enforcement agencies often use the NHTSA regulations
for their light requirements.

FMCSA is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration. They issue Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSR). These rules regulate vehicles

28
over 80” wide, such as commercial vehicles and buses.
Some of these deal with lighting and wiring. Most states
inspect vehicles using these standards.

FMVSS 108 is the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standard No. 108. This is the federal code (law) that
regulates lighting and performance requirements, as
well as the numbers and locations of lights on vehicles.
NHTSA publishes the 108 regulations.

CMVSS 108 is Canada’s analogous regulation

code, which is very similar to FMVSS 108. The primary
differences are that the CMVSS 108 requires daytime
running lamps and allows European headlamps, while
FMVSS 108 does not.

Transport Canada is the department of the

Canadian government which is responsible for
developing regulations, policies, and services of
transportation in Canada.

2. Proper Light Specification

When it comes time to order your next heavy-duty

vehicle, there are many decisions to consider. With so
many costs coming into play with applications other
than vehicle lighting, it is easy to justify cheaper, lesser
quality equipment. Despite being marginally cheaper
at the time of the initial purchase, purchasing basic
equipment is often more expensive in the long run.
To fully utilize industry improvements, to be sure your
vehicle meets all legal requirements, and to ensure that
the vehicle meets the expectations of maintenance staff
and vehicle operators, it is important to properly specify
the products being ordered for your vehicle.

There are two important points of interest that should be

considered prior to “spec’ing” a vehicle order.

29
 Fleet Vehicle Maintenance History and
Review
It’s important that Fleet and Maintenance Managers
review their fleet’s vehicle maintenance and warranty
data before specifying a new vehicle build. This data
can provide key insight into any specific areas of
concern, as they relate to your particular fleet’s vehicles.
An appropriate investigation can yield weak areas on
the vehicles, or areas that require special attention.
With this data in hand, Truck-Lite Sales and Engineering
Representatives can be called upon to provide
additional information in terms of product resources
that may aid in achieving your fleet’s best lighting in an
efficient full systems approach.

Once a specification has been ordered, it can be

beneficial to have your supplier present at the first
vehicle build to ensure that the specified equipment has
been installed, is installed properly, and will optimize the
benefits it offers.

Review Industry Developments

With the growing number of new LED technologies
being developed that enhance safety, improve product
efficiency and productivity, and provide greater
functionality than ever, it’s important that time is taken
to review the latest offering.

Haitz’s Law states that every decade, the amount of

light generated per LED package increases by a factor
of 20. This has proven true since Truck-Lite’s LED
offering that dates back to the early 1990s. Due to the
energy efficiency of LED lamps vs. incandescents—a
whopping 90% reduction—the U.S. Department of
Energy has provided additional funding to accelerate
the implementation of LED lighting. This has led to the
development of LED options for work lighting, interior
lighting, auxiliary lighting, and many more offerings
that had previously not been possible. As development
grows, lamp offerings become possible, smaller profiles,

30
sizes, and applications. Make sure you are taking
advantage of all of the technological advancements that
are available to your fleet.

3. Common Legal Questions

What lights do I need?

Browse the NHTSA charts (shown later in this section).
Truck-Lite Tech Support (888.562.5012.) can be reached
for additional questions. Note that states cannot require
different specifications than what is in 108, but they can
add regulations.

The vehicle has everything needed for 108, but the

State Police still gave me a ticket.
States can regulate anything not covered by 108, for
example, any accessory lights or lights in addition to
those in 108. Generally, the problem lies in these areas,
though sometimes, they simply make a mistake. If it is
the latter, Truck-Lite Technical Support can often write a
letter to clarify the issue.

Is it all right to mount a light at some angle? That is,

not “square” on the vehicle?
“Maybe.” You need to contact Technical Support for a
test in that position; otherwise, it can be questioned by
the NHTSA or enforcement groups.

31
 Can I ever use the Model 40 with the reflex reflector
ring legally?
Yes, on any vehicle under 80” wide, as an “extra” light
on vehicles over 80” (reflex is legal), or on vehicles made
in 1991 or earlier.

Is it okay to use a light for “side turn” that isn’t listed

for that function?
It is perfectly fine, because side turns are NOT legally
required. That said, be careful that it doesn’t violate
some state laws regarding color or location. If it is also
used as a side marker, that function must be listed on
the lens code.

Is SAE or DOT lettering required on lights?

No lettering is required by the NHTSA (108) except for
headlights and conspicuity tape. The Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Manual mentions that some lights should
be marked SAE but this is not enforced. Truck-Lite
marks all of their lights with SAE and/or DOT markings.

What is a combination marker/clearance light and

how do I mount it?
Simply put, it is one light doing the work of two. It must
be at a 45-degree angle (on corners) to be legal. It also
needs to be marked PC in the lens code. If there is a
question, contact Technical Support.

Are there special lighting requirements for vehicles

hauling flammable or explosive materials?
There are no special Federal requirements as 108
covers all over-the-road vehicles. Some states or
municipalities have regulations, but these cannot
supersede 108—they can only add to it. FMCSR and
the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) publish
requirements for wire protection, as well.

Truck-Lite’s sealed lights and wiring systems have been

tested to all known standards and certification. Reports
are available from Technical Support.

32
108 says that some lights must be mounted as “high
as practicable or as far apart as practicable.” What
is “practicable?”
The NHTSA has stated that the vehicle manufacturer
has the responsibility to choose the best mounting
location “in light of the particular design/configuration of
the vehicle involved” and they will not contest it unless
it is “clearly erroneous.” Recently, Canada has started
to enforce the word practical as meaning “capable of
being done.” In the case of clearance markers, not more
than six inches from the edge of the vehicle is practical.

I want to add some auxiliary lights like illuminate

signs, deceleration lights, or decorative lights. Are
these legal?
Yes, provided they do not render inoperative any
device in compliance with 108, negatively affect the
performance of required equipment, or create confusion
or misunderstanding of lighting signals. Always contact
the Technical Support if you have any questions.

What is the “12-Square Inch Rule”?

On December 1, 1991, the NHTSA made effective the
final ruling regarding the 12-Square Inch Rule. This
ruling requires that the total luminous lens area for a
stop and turn lamp must not be less than 75 square
centimeters (11.625 square inches) when used on
vehicles over 80” wide.

It must be noted that the Model 40 reflex reflector ring

cannot be counted as square inch lens area. When the
reflex ring is subtracted from the total 12-inch lens, it
leaves less than the 12-square inches that are required.

33
 4. Explanation of ID Codes

The SAE J759 Lighting Identification Code can be

difficult to interpret regarding clearance and marker
applications. This additional information may be helpful.

P2: Clearance Sidemarker and Identification Lamps

This marking is currently used for both “over” 80-
inch and “under” 80-inch vehicles. It has become the
standard for vehicles under 80-inches, but government
specifications (FMVSS-108) have never called out
increased requirements for the larger width. P2 is the
minimum standard for clearance, side marker, and
identification lights. All Truck-Lite devices meet this
standard, even if they are marked PC, P3, etc.

PC: Combination Side Marker and Clearance Lamp

or Identification for vehicles over 80-inches wide
To be used as a combination light, devices must be
mounted on a 45° bevel at the corner of a vehicle.
This allows clearance and side marker functions to
be combined in one light, and eliminates the need
for a second device. A PC light can always be used
anywhere a P2 light would have been used, but the
reverse is not true.

P3: Clearance, Sidemarker or Identification lights for

use on vehicles over 80-inches wide
A P3 designated lamp has higher light outputs than a
P2 rated lamp. It is legal wherever a P2 light would be
used. Because the federal regulations (FMVSS-108)
have yet to adopt P3, many manufacturers have not
made lights to meet the standard. Some of Truck-
Lite’s lamps do not meet this standard, and are marked
accordingly.

34
PC2: Combination Side Marker and Clearance or
Identification lights used on a vehicle over 80 inches
wide
PC2 Lamps meet an increased angle output, and
are designed as combination lamps. When used
as combination lamps, they must be mounted on a
45° beveled corner. Because the federal regulations
(FMVSS-108) have yet to adopt P3, many manufacturers
have not made lights to meet the standard. Some of
Truck-Lite’s lamps do not meet this standard, and are
marked accordingly.

Additional Points of Concern:

• Currently, the FMVSS-108 standard has recognized
only the standards that call for P2 or PC markings. The
other markings are for SAE recommended practices.
• The PC or PC2 lights offer the widest patterns of
visibility.
• FMVSS-108 does not require any of these lens
markings, with the exception that they accept DOT
lettering as certifying legal compliance.
• A good rule of thumb is to only buy lighting that has
the manufacturer’s name engraved on the lens and has
the SAE/DOT Identification Codes on lamps.

35
 Lighting ID Codes:

A Reflex reflectors
A2 Wide angle reflex reflectors
C Motorcycle auxiliary front lamps
D Motorcycle and motor-driven cycle turn signal lamps
E Side turn signal lamps—vehicles 12m or more in length
E2 Side turn signal lamps—vehicles less than 12m in length
F Front fog lamps
F2 Fog tail lamps
G Truck cargo lamp
H Sealed beam headlamp
HG Discharge forward lighting (headlamp)
HH Sealed beam headlamp housing
HR Replaceable bulb headlamp
I Turn signal lamps
13 Turn signal lamps spaced from 75 mm to less than 100 mm
from headlamp
14 Turn signal lamps spaced from 60 mm to less than 75 mm
from headlamp
15 Turn signal lamps spaced less than 60 mm from headlamp
16 Rear mounted turn signal lamps and front mounted turn
signal lamps mounted 100 mm or more from the headlamp,
for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
17 Front mounted turn signal lamps mounted less than 100
mm from the headlamp, for use on vehicles 2032 mm or
more in overall width
J590 Turn signal flasher
J945 Hazard warning signal flasher
J1054 Warning lamp alternating flasher

K Front cornering lamps

K2 Rear cornering lamps

36
L License plate lamps
M Motorcycle and motor-driven cycle headlamps—
motorcycle type
N Motorcycle and motor-driven cycle headlamps—motor
driven cycle type
O Spot lamps
P Parking lamps
P2 Clearance, sidemarker, and identification lamps
P3 Clearance, sidemarker, and identification lamps for use on
vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
PC Combination clearance and sidemarker lamps
PC2 Combination clearance and sidemarker lamps for use on
vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
Q Turn signal operating units—Class A
QB Turn signal operating units—Class B
QC Vehicular hazard warning signal operating unit
R Backup lamps
S Stop lamps
S2 Stop lamp for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall
width
T Tail lamps (rear position lamps)
T2 Tail lamps (rear position lamps) for use on vehicles 2032
mm or more in overall width
U Supplemental high-mounted stop and turn signal lamps
U2 High-mounted stop lamps for trucks 2032 mm or more in
overall width
U3 Center high-mounted stop lamp for passenger cars, light
trucks, and MPVs
W Warning lamps for emergency, maintenance, and service
vehicles
W2 Warning lamps for school buses
W3 360 degree emergency warning lamps
W4 Emergency warning device

Continued on next page

37
 Lighting ID Codes:

W5-1 360 degree gaseous discharge lamp—Class 1

W5-2 360 degree gaseous discharge lamp—Class 2
W5-3 360 degree gaseous discharge lamp—Class 3
Y Driving lamps
Y2 Daytime running lamps
Z Auxiliary low beam lamps

38
NOTES:

39
40
41
 Trailer Equipment Location
Requirements

42
43
44
45
 Truck, Bus, MPV Equipment
Location Requirements

46
47
 28’ Van Trailer Harness System
EVOLUTION OF LIGHTING
SECTION OBJECTIVES
1. Lighting Evolution
2. Introduction to LED Lighting
3. The Future of LEDs
4. LED Lifetime Systems
5. Systems Approach

1. Lighting Evolution

In 1879, Thomas Edison formally filed a patent request

for his light bulb invention, a rudimentary bulb that
utilized a carbonized bamboo filter that could last
around 1200 hours. This
invention paved the way
for universal domestic use
of electric light. Amazingly,
for nearly 75 years after
Edison’s patent, there was
very little technological
change in incandescent
lighting. There were minor
improvements to the
filament and support posts
material, but the general
design remained the same,
which meant, for nearly 75 years bulbs were extremely
susceptible to corrosion and vibration damage.

In 1955, two men, George Baldwin and Henry Grosser,

provided a solution to the trucking industry with the very
first sealed marker lamp. The idea of mounting a base-
less bulb in a resilient compound and sealing it in the
lamp allowed the light to have a longer lifespan — 10 to

48
15 times that of a conventional unsealed (bulb replace-
able) light. And, just like that, Truck-Lite was born.

Not long after the first sealed marker lamp, lighting was
taken in a vastly different direction when Nick Holonyak
took lighting in a dynamic new direction. While working
at General Electric in 1962, he developed the first practi-
cal visible spectrum (red) light-emitting diode (LED). It
would take several years and numerous improvements
before LEDs made their way into the commercial vehicle
industry, but in 1991, Truck-Lite released the first LED
stop lamp to the market, as an
alternative light source to the
traditional incandescent bulb
replaceable and sealed lamps.

Truck-Lite currently offers three

types of lighting: incandescent,
sealed, and LED lighting.

Incandescent Lighting
An incandescent bulb is generally inexpensive. Howev-
er, a bulb has many disadvantages.

The most significant disadvantages include:

-Limited life (less than 10,000 hrs.)
-Uses a fragile filament (susceptible to breakage during
shock & vibration)

Some lighting manufacturers put bulbs in shock mounts

to protect them from vibration, but even the best bulb
will burn out or suffer a broken filament within three
years. Incandescent lamps operate through the excite-
ment of tungsten filaments that, when seeded in sealed
glass housing, will provide light output. Truck-Lite has
found that in the original 2-inch round and 4-inch round
lighting applications, damage was most often found to
have occurred due to bulb damage.

49
 Sealed Lighting
While Truck-Lite manufactures lamps with shock-mount-
ed systems (a method of attaching the bulb to the lamp
in a suspended vibration-resistant device), not all lamp
failure is a result of vibration. It was Truck-Lite’s first
development of the sealed lamp that began to tackle the
problem of bulb failure.

Years ago, bulb replaceable lamps generally had poor

lens gasketing, and often had drain holes. The drain
holes allowed water into the lamp, which caused
corrosion of the bulb socket and electrical contacts.
Cold water could come in contact with the hot glass
of the bulb, which would cause the bulb to crack. This
led to a slow leak of air into the bulb, which caused
failure. The filament would oxidize and produce a cloudy
coating on the inside of the bulb. This dramatically
reduced the bulb’s light output and reduced the life to a
few hours at most. If a crack was severe, failure could
happen immediately.

Truck-Lite’s work to prevent damage to the bulb result-

ed in the advent of the sealed lamp. Creating a lamp
that allowed no way for chemicals or liquids to enter
the lamp housing greatly decreased the possibility of
damage.
28’ Van Trailer Harness System

2. Introduction to LED Lighting

Since they were first studied in 1988 for possible use in

heavy-duty lighting applications, LEDs have become the
new standard for long life, and low-current draw lighting.

LEDs are a monochromatic light source, meaning, each

LED produces exactly one color. The core technology
is a crystal growth onto a given medium—sometimes
a silicone material, which is also used as the base for
computer chips. When you expose this medium to a

50
combination of materials and run electricity through it, it
lights up.

Even in the early days of LED use, their benefits were

clear. LEDs appear brighter, with a more vibrant color.
They also have a lower current draw.

In the late 1990s, Truck-Lite began to investigate the

possibility of white LEDs. Because an LED diode is
monochromatic, producing white—which is really a
combination of the colors red, green, and blue—is very
difficult. The problem was solved by creating a combi-
nation of RGB diodes that were packaged together. This
final package emitted a white light.

Now, we know that there are many ways to produce

white light with LEDs. The most efficient way is to use a
blue LED chip and expose it to phosphor, which reacts
and releases photons that fill up the rest of the color
spectrum. Even now, significant improvements are being
made in blue LED technology, which in turn improves
white lighting technology.

In the mid-2000s, Truck-Lite was approached by the

United States military, who asked for the development
of white LED technology for headlights in the military
market. Due to the extreme environments that military
vehicles operate in, the filaments of traditional halogen
bulbs easily break. With that in mind, it was important
to provide a more reliable LED alternative as soon as
possible. In 2007, Truck-Lite launched the world’s first
LED headlamp.

The next phase was to introduce military-grade LED

technology to the commercial vehicle market, which was
done with the 7-inch round and 5x7-inch headlights.
Fleets who were already beginning the transition into
custom halogen headlamps realized that there was
an opportunity for life of the vehicle head lighting that
offered longer life, lower current draw, better illumination,
and the accompanying safety benefits.

51
 THE BENEFITS OF
LED LIGHTING

SAFETY
• Increases vehicle conspicuity with intense displays
of light output
• Instantaneous response time, 200 milliseconds
faster than that of incandescent lamps, creating
18 feet of additional stopping distance for trailing
vehicles at highway speeds
• Low power consumption increases the length of
time disabled vehicles can operate their 4-way
flashers

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
• 85% reduction of load on electrical systems allows
more power for other vehicle applications
• Minimizes voltage drop and reduces load on
alternators, flashers and switches

RELIABILITY
• Related at 100,000 hours of operation, covering 4
million miles, and Warranted for life when equipped
with Fit ‘N Forget® connectors and Series 88
harnesses
• Extended period of operation translates to less
vehicle downtime and zero maintainence

DURABILITY
• Solid-state construction, with extra measures taken
to assure longevity of circuitry and components
• Virtually impervious to shock and vibration

52
Unlike their incandescent counterparts, LED lamps
produce light without relying on a heated filament. This
solid state method of producing current eliminates
filament failure, and ultimately translates into a much
longer life. LED lamps continue to gain popularity as
more and more industry professionals recognize the
benefits that LED lamps provide.

Truck-Lite’s LED lamps

are extremely reliable and
efficient, because they Optical Light Beam
are internally sealed with Epoxy
Lens
epoxy to encapsulate the Light
electronic elements. The Emitting
Semi-
solid state design makes Conductor
for an extremely impact Metal
resistant light source that Light
Reflector
is impervious to shock
and vibration, even in
the most damaging Electrical Connections

applications.

Because filament failure is not a concern for LED lights,

they have an extremely fast turn-on time, and can last
up to 100,000 hours. Combine this with their durability,
and it’s clear that they are ideal for the heavy duty
industry.

LEDs come in different types:

• “T1-3/4’s”
• “HPA’s”
• “SnapLED®”

Colors Of Light
The colors of light produced by filament lamps in vehicle
applications are the result of colored lens placement
in front of an incandescent white filament. The red
and amber color produced by LED lamps in vehicle
applications are the result of colored light emitted from
the diodes.

53
 3. The Future of LEDs

Even in the earliest days of LED lighting, the benefits

were clear, and as technology progresses, the benefits
are continually improved. According to Haitz’s Law, the
cost per lumen of LEDs will fall by a factor of 10, and
the amount of light generated per LED package will
increase by a factor of 20 every decade. This contin-
ued refinement of the technology has continually led
to reductions in cost and improvements in technology,
which will continue to open doors to new LED lighting
applications.
HAITZ’S LAW
CO

103 103
ST
FLUX PER PACKAGE

COST PER LUMEN

100 100

10-3 10-3
FLUX
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

In the future, OEMs that do not currently have LED tech-

nology will look to implement it right away. There will
also be the emergence of new forward lighting method-
ologies. Many of these developments will be focused on
reducing headlight glare, which, according to NHTSA, is
one of the most frequent complaints that they receive.
One of the most promising new developments being
tested is that of adaptive drive beam headlights.

The core principal of adaptive drive beam headlights

is that vehicles will only have a high beam headlight
in their vehicle. The headlight is paired with a forward
facing camera, which senses oncoming traffic, and, by
either mechanical or electronic beam blockers, blocks
the specific area where the camera senses oncoming
traffic or tail lamps.

54
4.
28’LED Lifetime
Van Trailer Systems
Harness System

Customer Experience
The best warranty is one that you never have to use! Lighting
has the highest frequency of failure of any device on a truck
and trailer and is third in total cost. All vehicles equipped with
Truck-Lite LED Lamps, Fit ‘N Forget® Connectors and 88 Se-
ries “Plug Together” Harness Systems will be under warranty
for the life of the vehicle!

88 Series “Plug-Together” Harness System

-Sealed, plug-together system
-Ensures solid, weather-tight contacts
-Eliminates the need for junction boxes, distribution outlets,
and troublesome splices
-Internal ground guarantees reliability
-Color coded connections and wires
-Rear, 7-way adapter offers versatility

Lifetime Systems Warranty

A Lifetime Systems Warranty is a major step in making vehi-
cles safer, by ensuring products last longer. Truck-Lite’s Life-
time Systems Warranty offers significant reduction in mainte-
nance costs and provides the peace of mind that your lighting
system will keep you on the road.

5. Complete Systems Approach

The common downtime and repair of incandescent lighting
extends past the price alone of replacement lamps.

Part Cost + Labor + Downtime

Downtime is costly, and when you add in the hidden costs

of halogen lamps—repairs and replacements—the initial
savings from a halogen bulb quickly disappear. While the
initial cost of LED lighting products may be higher, the
advantages of not having to replace or repair the lamps will
result in significant savings over the life of your vehicle.

55
 28’ Van Trailer Harness System
SUPPORT TOOLS
SALES & MARKETING SUPPORT

SECTION OBJECTIVES
1. Truck-Lite.com
2. Laboratory Support
3. Technical Support
4. Industry Links

1. www.Truck-Lite.com

What Can Truck-Lite’s Corporate Website provide

for Sales & Product Support?

• Online catalog offers product information on over

5,000 products, including dimensional drawings,
high resolution photos, product features & technical
specifications
• Downloadable and printable product support flyers,
brochures & catalogs
• News section provides information on the newest in
product releases, press releases and trade shows &
events
• Technical support center offering e-mail support,
frequently asked questions, preventive maintenance
tips and more
• Technical Support Links providing e-mail support,
frequently asked questions, preventive maintenance
tips and more
• NHTSA regulations charts and legal Q&A

56
2. Laboratory Support

What Can Truck-Lite’s Laboratory provide for Sales

& Product Support?

• Analysis of any product failure

• In-field assistance on product performance problems
• Letters for specific product certification (routine
requests go to Customer Service)
• Certification for variation in mounting positions
• Letters or calls to clarify legal questions for lighting
• Warranty analysis and/or reports
• Product test data on almost every product in our
catalog
• ‘Vapor Proof’ or non-incedive certification letters and
reports
• Photographs of product features, defects, mountings
etc.
• Shock mount performance information
• License plate light mounting positions
• Testing of solvents or cleaners for compatibility with
plastic
• Physical properties of plastics, paints and materials
• Answers on bulb life, amperage, light output, wattage,
corrosion, resistance, low temperature resistance etc.
• Laboratory tours, seminars, demonstrations
• Field test programs in cooperation with Sales &
Engineering

57
 3. Technical Support

What Can Truck-Lite’s Technical Support provide

for Sales & Product Support?
• Keeps current with internal design changes and new
product development
• Informs engineering of new customer requests
• Serves as central technical resource
• Maintains database/log of customer inquiries and
resolutions
• Coordinates technical liaison services with any
application and/or installation practices using Truck-
Lite’s products between:
- Management - Research & Engineering
- Production - Customer Service
- Sales & Marketing - Customers

4. Industry Links

DAVCO - (www.davcomfg.com)
Makers of Fuel Pro®, Diesel Pro®, and Sea Pro®
lines of fuel filtration systems

SAE International - (www.sae.org)

One stop resource for technical expertise used in
designing, building, maintaining & operating self-
propelled vehicles for land, sea, air and space

NHTSA - (www.nhtsa.com)
United States Department of Transportation
resources regarding vehicle safety information

58
TSEI - (www.tsei.org)
The Transportation Safety Equipment Institute
(TSEI) provides government representation and
market research services, monitors proposed and
enacted legislation and regulations, and serves as a
technical forum to resolve industry problems

TMC - (www.trucking.org/cc/councils/tmc)
TMC is dedicated to a single purpose — providing
maintenance and technology solutions to the
trucking industry through education, networking,
and standards development. If you’re a motor
carrier, manufacturer or industry service provider,
you’ll find that TMC is a valuable organization you’ll
want to join.

NOTES:

59
 Index/Glossary

Index

Look-a-likes 23
Loose or Tight Brackets 21, 23
Loss of Bulb Contact 15
Lubricant 20
Major Causes 12-16
Mounting Screws 20
NFPA 32
NHTSA 24, 26, 28, 56
Non-Conductive Grease 12
Non-Compliance 25
NYK-77® 18, 21
OHM 5
Ohm’s Law 10, 63
Over-Tightening Screws 22
Over-Voltage (excess voltage) 14, 17, 20, 23
P2 34-35
P3 34-35
Paint Damage 23
PC 34-35
PC2 34-35
Physical Damage 15
Pin Corrosion 23
Polycarbonate 16, 19, 23
Poor Grounding 15
Potential 4
Power 5, 11
Product Markings 26
Product Pitfalls 22
Reflex 31, 33, 36
Resistance 5, 10
S-8 bulbs 13

60
SAE 9, 28, 32
Sealant 12
Sealed Lighting 12, 15
Shock 13
Shock & Vibration 13
Shock, Vibration & Burnout 13
Side Turn Lamp usage 32
SnapLED 50
Solid State 13, 50
Solvents/Cleaners 19-21
Stranded copper wire 14
Suitable Wiring 14
Systems Approach 53
Test Probes 17
Trailer Equipment Location Req.’s 38-45
Troubleshooting Lighting 17
Truck Equipment Location Req.’s 38-45
Under-voltage 17
Useful Formulas 10
Vibration 13
Vibration Resistance 13
Volt 4, 10, 15
Voltage 10, 6-8,
Voltage Drop 14
Voltage Drop Per Foot 8
Voltage Regulators 10
Voltage Spike 14
Voltage Surge 10
Warranty 27, 52, 55
Watt 5
Why Lights Fail 12
Wicking 17
Wire Gauge 8-9
Wire Gauge Size 7-9
Wire Size 4, 7, 14
Wire Size Calculations 7-9
Wiring harness 14

61
 Index/Glossary

Glossary

Acrylic - A glassy thermoplastic polymerized from

acrylonitrile which can be cast and molded, which is
resistant to damage from many cleaning solvents.

Aftermarket - A term that refers to the market

place for our replacement or retro-fit business. The
customer in this market is replacing an existing lamp or
accessory on his vehicle.

Bracket - A rigid mounting device that allows a lamp

to be mounted on the surface of the vehicle body.
Some brackets are designed to be used alone or with a
grommet.

Bulb Replaceable - Opposite of sealed. The lens

is removable on a lamp of this type. When the bulb
fails, the lamp may be repaired by replacing the bulb.

Cab Marker - A lamp similar in function to the

marker clearance lamp, but these are always mounted
on the roof of the truck or tractor cab. Technically,
these are called a front identification or ID lamp.

Custom Cut - A term that refers to the harnesses

that must be cut and terminated to the customer’s
specifications.

DOT - United States Department of Transportation,

was created to serve the United States by ensuring
a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient

62
transportation system that meets our vital national
interests and enhances the quality of life of the
American people, today and into the future.

Grommet - A rubber like device used to mount

a lamp into a hole in a vehicle body or a mounting
bracket. The grommet may allow a lamp to be mount-
ed “flush” into the body and thereby protects the lamp
from physical damage. A grommet also gives the lamp
additional protection against shock and vibration.

Harness - Also a wiring device. A harness can

include MULTIPLE plug connectors and be used to
control different types of lamps. Harnesses tend to be
heavy duty, jacketed cable as opposed to light duty,
unprotected wire as in “plugs.”

HID - High Intensity Discharge, produces light by an

electric arc between two closely spaced electrodes in a
quartz glass bulb.

HIR - Halogen Infra Red, is a halogen lamp with an el-

liptical bulb envelope. The exterior of the bulb is coat-
ed with several layers of material, which are transparent
to visible light but reflect infrared back to the filament.
The effect is a brighter light for a given current.

ID Codes - ID Codes are the classifications given to

various lighting applications in order to establish min-
imum requirements set forth by the SAE J759 regula-
tions.

Junction Box - An accessory used with harness

systems. All harnesses in a system are connected to
this box. Signals from the control devices (switches on
brake pedals, turn signal switches, etc.) are received
in the accessory and are re-routed to the appropriate
lamps via the harnesses.

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 Kit - A Truck-Lite term used to describe the combining
of related products. For example, a lamp, a grommet,
and a plug can be put together and sold as a unit or
“Kit.” A “Kit” can also be an entire “vehicle set”, in-
cluding all lamps, harnesses, and accessories needed
to equip a vehicle.

LED - Light Emitting Diode. A “solid state” electron-

ic device that converts electrical energy directly to
light energy. When an electrical current is applied to
the LED “chip,” a colored light is emitted. The color
depends on the chemical composition of the chip. Very
little heat is produced with this process. Because the
“diode” is cast into a solid block of epoxy, the LED is
immune to vibrations and shock and can last up to
100,000 hours of operation.

Marker Clearance - Also called marker lamp. A

small lamp used to mark the edges or corners of the
trailer or truck body. These are normally amber in the
front and middle of the vehicle, and red at the rear.
Other colors are available for “auxiliary” use, but only
red or amber (yellow) are legal for the use as marker
clearance lamps in the U.S.

Module - A term used to describe a complete rear

lighting assembly. The module usually consists of a
housing (metal or plastic) with one or more tail lamps,
and includes a harness or wiring assembly. The
module may also include a marker lamp , reflector, or
back-up lamps.

Multi-Function Lamp - A specialized Stop/Turn/

Tail lamp. This type of lamp usually has a larger hous-
ing and can include side marker, license plate illumina-
tion, or reflectors, in addition to the basic rear lighting
function.

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NHTSA - The National Highway Traffic Safety Admin-
istration creates values and regulations which underpin
the assurance of safe, secure, efficient automotive
travel.

Ohm’s Law - Ohm’s Law describes mathematical-

ly how voltage, current and resistance in a circuit are
related through the formula: V = I x R, where V is equal
to Potential in Volts, I is equal to current in amps and R
is equal to Resistance in Ohms.

Plug Together Harness - The “brand name” for

Truck-Lite’s 88 series harness system and accessories.
It features a system that eliminates the need for any
type of distribution module. All components simply
plug together ensuring a solid electrical contact
throughout.

Plug/Pigtail - The basic wiring accessory. Usually

a 1, 2, 3, or 4 wire design with termination designed to
mate with a socket or pin connection area on the lamp.

Polycarbonate - Any of a family of thermoplastics

characterized by high-impact strength, light weight,
and flexibility, and used as a shatter-resistant substitute
for glass.

Reflector - A non-powered (non-electrical) device

designed to reflect light. A reflector does not emit light
by itself, but will return light that is aimed at it. Reflec-
tive tape or reflectors are required by law to supple-
ment lighting systems.

Sealed Lamp - Any lighting device that has its bulb

permanently sealed inside the lens and housing as-
sembly. When this lamp fails, the entire unit must be
replaced, unlike a bulb replaceable lamp.

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 Shock Mounted - A system used to suspend and
insulate the bulb from vibration and shock (impact).

Stop/Turn Lamp - A rear lamp that is brighter than

a tail lamp used to indicate that the vehicle is turning or
stopping. The “major” filament of the bulb is used to
perform this function. Sometimes referred to as a “SC”
or single contact lamp.

Stop/Turn/Tail Lamp - A rear lamp that contains

one or more bulbs with both major and minor filament
functions, This one lamp performs the duties of both
the Stop/Turn lamp and Tail lamp. Sometimes referred
to as a “DC” or double contact lamp.

Super System - The “brand name” for Truck-Lite’s

50 Series Harnesses and accessories. This system
features both the “custom cut” and customer buildable
harnesses. “Compression fittings” are used to seal
outlets where harnesses enter the junction box.

Tail Lamp - This term is used in general to describe

the rear lighting of the vehicle. Specifically, the tail
lamp function is performed by the “minor filament” of
the bulb. This red light remains “on” as long as the
headlamps/parking lamps are in use. This light is not
as bright as a turn or stop lamp.

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NOTES:

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68
Truck-Lite has a proud history of quality in-house
harness production and has stood as a leader in the in-
novation of new technologies in the heavy-duty industry
for decades.

In addition to a complete offering of standard catalog

and specific harnesses, Truck-Lite has engineered a
wide array of molded connectors, wire types, and 4 end
seals to complement an entire line of heavy duty lighting
and visibility products. Truck-Lite can offer solutions for
every facet of today’s harness systems with the ability to
incorporate customer specified components including
grommets, split loom, tubing, braid, heat shrink, unique
labels, and instructions.

Truck-Lite provides the highest levels of quality, per-

formance, and durability in our harness products by
continually working to improve equipment, processes,
and production methods. We have the added strength
of a fully dedicated testing facility to ensure all of our
products stand up to the most rigorous of conditions.
Our standard lab tests for harnesses include 500-hour
corrosion testing, chemical testing, chemical compati-
bility checks, vibration testing hot/cold cycle exposure,
salt water immersion and drop testing.

Truck-Lite Harness Products offer:

• plug to lamp interfaces with many Truck-Lite lighting

products
• harnesses available for both LED or Incandescent
connectors, some with internal grounds
• sonic welded splices and automated terminations
contained in “sealed” molded connections
• 100% electrical testing
• PVC jacketed cable meets SAE recommendations
• many harnesses available in 12” increments to adapt to
any application
• many adapters available to tailor to specific customer
requirements

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 CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Address: 310 East Elmwood Avenue
Falconer, NY 14733
Web Site: www.truck-lite.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 800.888.7095 or 716.665.6214
Fax: 716.665.6403

CUSTOMER SERVICE
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 800.562.5012 or 716.661.1162
Fax: 800.685.6412 or 716.665.4825

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 888.562.5012

Designed and Printed in the U.S.A.

PRODUCT ID: L180 - LIGHTING USER’S GUIDE 2015

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