Underbody Limo LED Lighting

[tonkasdog]

Hi guys,
Hoping for a bit of advice regarding underbody LED lighting on a limo. The lighting rope we have seen and is best for the purpose we require is only available in 240 volt. We have 240 volt available to us in the vehicle but I just want to check the safety aspect of fitting this outside and under the vehicle.
Would fitting this in conjunction with an RDC make it safe?
Thanks

 

[telectrix]

no need for a RCD. bear in mind that if the rope lighting is 1 A @ 240V, then that's 20A @ 12V. also depends on the IP rating of the lights. anything < IP66 will give you problems on wet roads.

 

[tonkasdog]

Hi, thanks for the reply, here are the specs of it:

Protection Rating: Waterproof IP67
Input Voltage: AC 220-240V
Luminous Flux(lm/m): 280-300lumin/meter
Working Temperature: -20C to 45C
Max. Connection Length: Up to 50 meters
Certificates: FCC, C-TICK, SAA, CE, RoHS
Lifespan: 35,000+ hours

If this is fit for use, would it be safe on the underside of the vehicle? I just worry as I'm no expert and it's 240 volts, in the wet with passengers on board.

Thanks for you reply

 

[ruston]

Personally I would not do it . I am unsure if you are allowed to use them whilst moving , but have you considered if the vehicle is in an accident and the engine is still running and the chassis becomes live .

 

[tonkasdog]

They'd only be used when stationary and I've sought advice from the DVSA regarding this. Plenty have them fitted so I'm just looking into the safest way of going about it.
My knowledge of auto electrics is very basic, I take it by the chassis becoming live you mean the rope light breaking and touching the chassis to make it live?
There are plenty of 12 volts LED strips, as you will know, but the quality is nowhere near that of the 240 volt stuff.

 

[ruston]

Yes , The possibility of chaffing and vibration and the cpd not seeing the fault .
I have never seen this done but I would not like to put my name to it.
I have worked on high voltage mobile earth moving machines.
But these were purpose built .

 

[tonkasdog]

Thanks, would an RCD not protect this situation? Or would it be much better/safer to go down the 12 volt route?

 

[ruston]

Not necessarily, if the chassis was shorted to live only there may be no reference to trip an rcd depending on how it is designed. Coupled with the vehicle having metal door handles it could be a nasty situation .
You need to get specialist advice on this if there are people who install them.
You also have to consider people who will work on the vehicle and may not be informed of the modification.

 

[telectrix]

personally, i'd stick to 12V as then you'd only have a fire risk but not electrocution.

 

[tonkasdog]

Makes sense, as there are numerous 12 volt lights on the outside of the vehicle anyway