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 California Code of Regulations (Last Updated: August 6, 2014)
 Title 13. Motor Vehicles
 Division 2. Department of the California Highway Patrol
 Chapter 2. Lighting Equipment
 Article 22. Warning Lamps

  § 817. Photometric Test Requirements.  

Latest version.
  • The luminous intensity of warning lamps tested as specified in Article 4 of this subchapter, with a reaim tolerance of + 0.5 degree vertical and + 1.0 degree horizontal allowed at each test point, shall be as follows:
    (a) Steady-burning Warning Lamps. Steady-burning warning lamps, and flashing warning lamps which alternate between on and off by electrically controlling the current supplied to the lamp, shall meet the requirements in Table I. The photometric output of flashing lamps shall be reported only while the lamp is on. Warning lamp units shall be aimed for this test so the maximum intensity is on the H-V axis. Warning lamp assemblies shall be mounted for this test in accordance with Section 657.
    Image 1 within § 817. Photometric Test Requirements.​
    TABLE I. MINIMUM CANDELA FOR STEADY-BURNING WARNING LAMPS AND FLASHING WARNING LAMPS WHICH ALTERNATE BETWEEN ON AND OFF BY ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLING THE CURRENT
    Class A
    Class D
    Test point coordinates
    Lamps
    Class B Lamps
    Class C Lamps
    Lamps
    Vertical
    Horizontal
    Red
    Red
    Yellow
    Blue
    Red
    Yellow
    Blue
    Red
     
    5L
    15
    20
    50
    10
    10
    25
    5
    5
    10U
    V
    15
    50
    125
    25
    25
    65
    13
    12
    5R
    15
    20
    50
    10
    10
    25
    5
    5
     
    20L
    10
    20
    50
    10
    150
    375
    75
    5
    10L
    25
    50
    125
    25
    300
    750
    150
    12
    5L
    50
    100
    250
    50
    300
    750
    150
    25
    5U
    V
    80
    150
    375
    75
    300
    750
    150
    40
    5R
    50
    100
    250
    50
    300
    750
    150
    25
    10R
    25
    50
    125
    25
    300
    750
    150
    12
    20R
    10
    20
    50
    10
    150
    375
    75
    5
     
    30L
    -
    -
    -
    -
    30
    75
    15
    -
    20L
    30
    30
    75
    15
    180
    450
    90
    10
    10L
    300
    75
    190
    38
    400
    1,000
    200
    15
    5L
    500
    200
    500
    100
    500
    1,250
    250
    500
    2 1/2L
    2,000
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    1,500
    H
    V
    3,000
    300
    750
    150
    600
    1,500
    300
    3,000
    2 1/2R
    2,000
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    1,500
    5R
    500
    200
    500
    100
    500
    1,250
    250
    500
    10R
    300
    75
    190
    38
    400
    1,000
    200
    15
    20R
    30
    30
    75
    15
    180
    450
    90
    10
    30R
    -
    -
    -
    -
    30
    75
    15
    -
     
    30L
    -
    -
    -
    -
    30
    75
    15
    -
    20L
    10
    20
    50
    10
    200
    500
    100
    5
    10L
    25
    50
    125
    25
    300
    750
    150
    12
    5L
    50
    100
    250
    50
    450
    1,100
    275
    25
    5D
    V
    80
    150
    375
    75
    450
    1,100
    275
    40
    5R
    50
    100
    250
    50
    450
    1,100
    275
    25
    10R
    25
    50
    125
    25
    300
    750
    150
    12
    20R
    10
    20
    50
    10
    200
    500
    100
    5
    30R
    -
    -
    -
    -
    30
    75
    15
    -
     
    5L
    15
    20
    50
    10
    40
    100
    20
    5
    10D
    V
    15
    50
    125
    25
    40
    100
    20
    12
    5R
    15
    20
    50
    10
    40
    100
    20
    5
     
    NOTE: Maximum anywhere in yellow shall not exceed 4,000 cd over any area larger than that generated by a radius rotated 0.25 deg.
    (b) Revolving Warning Lamps. Revolving warning lamps shall meet the requirements in either Table II or Table IV with the required test voltage applied to the input terminals of the complete assembly. A revolving lamp that is designed to project a signal throughout a 360 degree horizontal angle shall be tested with the lamp assembly turned about its vertical axis to the location where the maximum candela reading from the optical unit is reduced the most by any variations in density or shape of the transparent cover or by obstructions in the lamp assembly. A revolving warning lamp that does not project light through a 360 degree horizontal angle shall comply photometrically about those axes straight to the front, sides, and rear of a vehicle to which the lamp is designed to provide a warning signal. As the lamp rotates, the full projected area of the reflector of each light unit shall be visible along the beam axis as the center of the beam moves from 20 degrees left to 20 degrees right of the device axis.
    Image 2 within § 817. Photometric Test Requirements.​
    TABLE II. MINIMUM CANDELA FOR REVOLVING WARNING LAMPS
    Test point coordinates
    Vertical
    Horizontal
    Red
    Yellow
    Blue
    7.5U
    V
    50
    130
    25
    5U
    V
    500
    1,250
    250
    2.5U
    V
    3,000
    7,500
    1,500
    H
    V
    5,000
    12,500
    2,500
    2.5D
    V
    3,000
    7,500
    1,500
    5D
    V
    500
    1,250
    250
    7.5D
    V
    50
    130
    25
    (c) Oscillating Warning Lamps. Oscillating warning lamps shall meet the requirements in Table III with the required test voltage applied to the input terminals of the complete assembly.
    Image 3 within § 817. Photometric Test Requirements.​
    TABLE III. MINIMUM CANDELA FOR OSCILLATING WARNING LAMPS
    Test point coordinates
    Vertical
    Horizontal
    Red
    Yellow
    Blue
    7.5U
    V
    50
    130
    25
    5U
    V
    500
    1,250
    250
    2.5U
    V
    3,000
    7,500
    1,500
    20L
    500
    1,250
    250
    10L
    1,200
    3,000
    600
    5L
    3,300
    8,250
    1,650
    H
    V
    5,000
    12,500
    2,500
    5R
    3,300
    8,250
    1,650
    10R
    1,200
    3,000
    600
    20R
    500
    1,250
    250
    2.5D
    V
    3,000
    7,500
    1,500
    5D
    V
    500
    1,250
    250
    7.5D
    V
    50
    130
    25
    (d) Gaseous Discharge Warning Lamps. Gaseous discharge warning lamps shall meet the requirements in Table IV with the required test voltage applied to the input terminals of the complete assembly. Lamps producing 360 degree light output shall be rotated in the photometric test to the point where the lowest H-V reading is recorded, at which location the lamp shall meet the flash energy requirements. The candela-seconds shall be reported as the average for ten consecutive flashes.
    (e) Alternative Technologies. Nothing in this standard shall be construed to prohibit the use of any appropriate technology for light sources provided the appropriate photometric and other requirements for the type of lamp are met. Steady-burning warning lamps, and flashing lamps which alternate between on and off by interrupting the electrical current to the lamp, shall meet the photometric requirements of Class A, B, C or D as shown in Table I. Warning lamps which approximate or simulate the appearance of revolving warning lamps shall meet the photometric requirements of Table II. Warning lamps which approximate or simulate the appearance of oscillating warning lamps shall meet the photometric requirements of Table III.
    (f) Removal from Service. Any warning lamp assembly which noticeably fails to function properly shall be removed from service. Warning lamp assemblies which utilize multiple light sources shall be removed from service if any individual light source fails to function properly.
    Image 4 within § 817. Photometric Test Requirements.​
    TABLE IV. MINIMUM CANDELA-SECONDS FOR GASEOUS DISCHARGE WARNING LAMPS
    Test point coordinates
    Vertical
    Horizontal
    Red
    Yellow
    Blue
    7.5U
    V
    5
    12
    3
    5U
    V
    10
    25
    5
    2.5U
    V
    30
    75
    15
    20L
    5
    12
    3
    10L
    12
    30
    6
    5L
    33
    82
    17
    H
    V
    50
    125
    25
    5R
    33
    82
    17
    10R
    12
    30
    6
    20R
    5
    12
    3
    2.5D
    V
    30
    75
    15
    5D
    V
    10
    25
    5
    7.5D
    V
    5
    12
    3
HISTORY
1. Amendment filed 11-25-2002; operative 12-25-2002 (Register 2002, No. 48).

Note

Note: The L and R test points do not apply to 360-deg lamps.
Note: Authority cited: Section 26103, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 24012 and 26103, Vehicle Code.