More power! ... for my lights

[JT]

AE86's have H4's so was wondering what some of you have done to get more light. I don't really wanna fit spotties coz I haven't seen one with them that looks good in my opinion. I've currently got artic blues at the moment but they are too expensive and just don't cut the darkness.

They run a 60/55 standard. Has anyone ran 100/90's for a while and noticed any problems? Another 40w at 12v is an extra 3.3amps so I don't see it as being a problem

My other option is the +50 bulbs, what are people's experiences with these?

Cheers

[pervert]

Just run 100/90's, as you say a 3.3 amp increase shouldn't cause too many drama's, and if so, just put a bigger fuse in...

[CaM]

careful with the 100/90s, plastic backed headlights dont dig that shit with the extra heat etc

[ee904age]

Im using 100/90 super whites in my AE82 and they are a huge improvement over any 60/55's that Ive tried. I swapped the 10A to a 15A fuse although I probably didnt need to.

[Perky]

As CaM says, it is the heat rather than the current draw that's the main issue, but I guess that if it's okay in ee904age's car then maybe it's worth taking a chance. I used 100W bulbs in my last car, with an uprated relay, but that had glass lenses.

You should also note that any blue-tinted bulb puts out less light than a non-tinted bulb, though the difference is not so great for the Hella/Phillips ones that just have a little blue ring. (The 'reputable' brands, like Hella and Narva are careful not to mention overall output in their pitch for the blue bulbs -- their claims about the higher colour temperature enhancing edge perception or whatever strike me as dubious, and in any case poor compensation for reduced output.) The Xenon bulbs (such as 50plus) are brightest. Though these are expensive, I've noticed that you can get the Hella ones in the plain yellow blister packs for a lot less than the ones with the flashy photos.

Another option that I have seen recommended, though never tried, is to wire the lights directly to the battery and use the existing wiring to switch a relay. I have seen measurements (on a Volvo website, I think -- Google) that showed a significant voltage drop through the standard wiring. I would try this first -- it's a bit fiddlier but shouldn't be any more expensive and will be safer for your plastic lights.

Yet another consideration: how clear are your lenses? If they are very chipped or hazy it might be worth wet-sanding them back so that they are clear.

[Perky]

Oh, I should mention that I use the Narva 50plus xenon bulbs and they are brighter than standard, though not by a huge margin.

Changing the 5W side-lamps for Hella 6W xenons made a big difference however.

[wde_bdy]

I ran 130/90's in my Festiva. Took about 6 months for the fuseible link to die. For these sort of bulbs I would definitely recommend feeding relays direct from the battery, you can buy a kit to do this. I pulled one from a car I bought a few years back, but have not put it into my current car yet.

Callum

[Stealer Of Souls]

Welll....

I'm gonna compare everything to Hella Cool Blue H4 (55/60).

I've used the Hella Xenon (+50) bulbs. They're junk.
I've used Narva Artic blues. They're junk.
I've used the Hella Xenon Ultra (blue ring). They're okay.

The cool blues are good. Better apparant output that their Xenon cousins, and they reflect off street signs a LOT better.

I've got spots on my AE85 (okay I bodged the grill a fair bit for a previous setup...), there's a pic in my profile.

If anyone wants to check out the cool blues (and I'm available) I'm happy to show them off. But be warned. They don't last as long as a xenon or halogen, and at around $30RRP they're bloody expensive. But I haven't found anything that even compares yet.
The Hella Xenon Ultras (not sold in NZ I think) have a blue ring. The light colour looks the same as a cool blue, and the light output is comparable, but the light doesn't "illuminate" street signs as nicely.

[2fas4u]

i got the autotechnica 100/90 watt ones in my "night vision" spotlights and fark they were lot better than my autotechnica 55/60w ones in my headlights set on high beam. they reflect off roadsigns like heaven and they shine for nearlly two blocks down the road

[fx gt]

i got the autotechnica 100/90 watt ones in my "night vision" spotlights and fark they were lot better than my autotechnica 55/60w ones in my headlights set on high beam. they reflect off roadsigns like heaven and they shine for nearlly two blocks down the road

where di you get the autotechinica lights form?and how much

[2fas4u]

i got them from supercheap auto and at the time i got them for 30 bucks a pair. i originally thought there were junk cos of the label but i was wrong big time. also when you fit them in, it's crucial that you do not touch the glass with your fingers and give your headlight housing and reflector a good clean with meth to clear grime built up. makes a world of difference. takes a lil time for it to work it. initially you will not notice much difference but later on you will.

[fx gt]

whys that?are u ment to run the lights in:P

[2fas4u]

they work better when they've heated up abit as opposed to cold. also takes a lil while to notice the difference if you are used to your old lights, but if you cleaned your housing and reflectors then, the difference will be alot more noticeable quicker.

[Perky]

I've used the Hella Xenon (+50) bulbs. They're junk.
I've used Narva Artic blues. They're junk.
I've used the Hella Xenon Ultra (blue ring). They're okay.

The cool blues are good. Better apparant output that their Xenon cousins, and they reflect off street signs a LOT better.

I don't think it is very helpful to write these bulbs off as junk. Your personal experience on the other hand is a useful contribution. I'm interested that you prefer the Cool Blues -- maybe there is something to the claims about our perception of higher colour temperatures (sorry, I said 'lower' in my earlier post: blue/white is higher temp. than standard).

The Cool Blues are actually dimmer than standard bulbs (Hella describes their output as "similar" to standard!). I suspect the Narva Arctic (sic) Blues are also dimmer, despite Narva's ambiguous claims. The Xenon bulbs you mention are brighter than standard.

The thing to note is that the higher colour temperature of the blue/white bulbs is achieved by filtering out the lower colour temperatures, so there is less light overall. Another reason to be sceptical of these bulbs is that the marketing niche they were created to fill is based on cosmetic considerations -- not least being their resemblance to expensive HID lighting. Yet another reason for scepticism, in Narva's case anyway, is that they also market low colour temperature bulbs for driving in poor weather, based on demonstrably false physics.

The Hella Xenon Ultra bulbs are available in New Zealand. I'm pretty sure the ones I have seen are made by Phillips, which is odd since the Phillips-associated Narva ones aren't. In any case, you can buy the same bulbs in Phillips packaging.

[matt dunn]

Ok,

we do a heap of headlight upgrades in cars at work.

Going to 100/90 bulbs will give yuo an improvement,
but toyota wiring is usually on it's limit at 60/55 with a bit of old age.


We fit a lot of headlight wiring kits. they are a complete kit that most people can fit themselves, (I have fitted one to my car in less than 7 minutes after doing them so often).
You will get am much of an improvement with the kit on your 60/55's as you will by going to bigger bulbs, and if you do both you will get the best you can get. You can even run up to 140/100's as i do with the kit as long as you dont park up with your light on too often.

Also as much of an improvement is correct adjustment.

Wof's check that they are pointing down on dip beam but they dont care how far down. Optimum is about 1 1/2 degrees down on dip, but if yours are set to 5 deg down the wof guy will just say they are ok.


My advice,

Fit a wiring kit,
fit Hella 100/90w bulbs,
and get them adjusted by someone with a beamsetter that has degree settings on it.
( and keep the lenses clean)

Matt

[Stealer Of Souls]

I don't think it is very helpful to write these bulbs off as junk. Your personal experience on the other hand is a useful contribution. I'm interested that you prefer the Cool Blues -- maybe there is something to the claims about our perception of higher colour temperatures (sorry, I said 'lower' in my earlier post: blue/white is higher temp. than standard).

The Cool Blues are actually dimmer than standard bulbs (Hella describes their output as "similar" to standard!). I suspect the Narva Arctic (sic) Blues are also dimmer, despite Narva's ambiguous claims. The Xenon bulbs you mention are brighter than standard.

The thing to note is that the higher colour temperature of the blue/white bulbs is achieved by filtering out the lower colour temperatures, so there is less light overall. Another reason to be sceptical of these bulbs is that the marketing niche they were created to fill is based on cosmetic considerations -- not least being their resemblance to expensive HID lighting. Yet another reason for scepticism, in Narva's case anyway, is that they also market low colour temperature bulbs for driving in poor weather, based on demonstrably false physics.

The Hella Xenon Ultra bulbs are available in New Zealand. I'm pretty sure the ones I have seen are made by Phillips, which is odd since the Phillips-associated Narva ones aren't. In any case, you can buy the same bulbs in Phillips packaging.

Okay it's fair enough that I shouldn't write them off as junk... But from my experience they just aren't as good as the cool blues. You're right, they should have a lower overall output due to filtering. But you can't tell. They honestly look brighter. But this'll be due to the colour of the light and how it reflects off the road/signs. I suspect that the lower colour temps of the standard halogens and xenons lead to lower amounts of light reflected back from the surface they strike. This gives the cool blue the impression of more light.
In any event, the cool blues provide better visibility than the xenons and halogen based bulbs I've tried.
The Narva's have a much thicker blue coat on them, which I suspect is the reason I found them to be under performers.
Philips-Osram are somehow related to Hella... But I don't know the actual link, but I think that Hella bulbs are made by Philips (??).

[JT]

My advice,

Fit a wiring kit,
fit Hella 100/90w bulbs,
and get them adjusted by someone with a beamsetter that has degree settings on it.
Keep the lenses clean

Matt

I took a good look at the wiring and it turns out someone has re-wired the front lights with good wire and a set of bosch relays. Maybe you did the wiring on my car as it was formerly from the south. I possibly had the dip down too far with the old bulbs in but one of them blew so it was a good excuse to investigate better options.

I got some 100/90 bulbs and everything is so much brighter! Street signs and number plates light up from so much further away and on full beam I reckon I could take it possum hunting, who needs spotlights! I'll check the level again tonight but didn't get one person flashing their lights back.

[Muzzie]

My advice,

Fit a wiring kit,
fit Hella 100/90w bulbs,
and get them adjusted by someone with a beamsetter that has degree settings on it.
Keep the lenses clean

Matt

I took a good look at the wiring and it turns out someone has re-wired the front lights with good wire and a set of bosch relays. Maybe you did the wiring on my car as it was formerly from the south. I possibly had the dip down too far with the old bulbs in but one of them blew so it was a good excuse to investigate better options.

I got some 100/90 bulbs and everything is so much brighter! Street signs and number plates light up from so much further away and on full beam I reckon I could take it possum hunting, who needs spotlights! I'll check the level again tonight but didn't get one person flashing their lights back.

I'd just pick that as good luck, my factory 35watt yellow foglamps get people flashing their lights at me - they soon stop when I get them with 460 watts of high beam

[NA Drifter]

you need one of these..
http://www.angelfire.com/ma/pun/images/own/lightoilb.jpg (u might want to copy and paste the link in a new window so it work.)
+ relays with wiring kit and higher wattage bulbs.. else u going to melt something..

[rolla_fxgt]

I have a set of plus 50's in my fxgt & they're great seem to make a whole heap more road visible to me at night. Dont notice much round town but i do most of my driving on the open road between dunedin & wanaka or queenstown in the winter & they're great.
But then again i run a 100w spotlight custom job on my mountian bike for night time downhill runs & its massively bright. though i dont know if theyre legal on cars? I know it blinds drivers of cars coming the other way if im using it on the road.
Mr Plod wasnt too happy bout it.