How Does a Car Lighting System Works - Type of Lights Explained

How Does a Car Lighting System Works - Type of Lights Explained 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 Vehicle lighting systems are important for empowering the driver and others on the road to see when it is dark. This means they can drive safely at night and can also signal others when making a turn, when slowing down or stopping, or when opening the door to get out of the car in the dark. The lighting system has various components, which are becoming more and more complex as vehicle technology advances. However, some of the basic components common to nearly all cars include the headlights and taillights, the interior lights, and the related fuses. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Interior Lights are important for lighting the dashboard instrumentation and other areas of the car so that the driver can drive at night or when the sky has darkened due to weather conditions. A GPS or a stick for shifting gears needs to have illumination if the driver is to be able to see the screen or the various gear options. The dome light is usually overhead on the car's roof and will turn on when the car door is opened so that the driver can see the inside. Dim or flickering lights can mean a low battery or problems with an alternator or switch. The alternator is an instrument that works along with the battery to generate the power that is needed for the lighting system and other electrical components of the car. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 In older cars, the headlights have a switch that the driver must use to turn them on when it gets dark. In most newer cars, the headlights turn on automatically and will also remain on for a little while after the driver exits the car to provide light around the vehicle as they exit. The headlight switch has settings that the driver can choose for the running light or ''fog light'', which is less intense than the full headlight and is used when it's foggy or at dusk. There is also a setting for the high beam headlights that can be used for dark country roads or highways. 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 The taillights are on the back of the car and are used to signal drivers following the car that it is braking or stopping. They are generally required to be red in color, and they become brighter as the vehicle stops. Taillights run on a relay, which is a set of two independent circuits that work together to turn the taillights off and on. The first of the two circuits runs an electromagnet when its current runs through a coil. When the switch leading to this electromagnet is on, it activates an armature, which is a switch in the second circuit. The electromagnet then causes the armature to complete the second circuit, which turns on the taillight. When there's no current flowing through the coil, the taillight turns off. Current for the taillights comes from the car's battery.