Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: RobX4406]
#1699658
11/16/14 03:35 PM
11/16/14 03:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
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Get a set of E code lows at least, they throw the light where you need it, not all over the place like a DOT spec light.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: Supercuda]
#1699660
11/16/14 06:24 PM
11/16/14 06:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664 IN
ahy
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Quote:
Get a set of E code lows at least, they throw the light where you need it, not all over the place like a DOT spec light.
E code lows... sound promising. Where would I find them?
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Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: ahy]
#1699661
11/16/14 06:50 PM
11/16/14 06:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
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Best place? Daniel Stern Lighting, he knows his lights and will patiently answer your questions. He will not sell you the latest "oh shiny!" fad of the moment junk either. He set me up with E codes for my Diplomat years ago. http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: ahy]
#1699663
11/16/14 09:18 PM
11/16/14 09:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
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Not that I recall, but they were the 4 small rectangular lights. I do recall that the wiring pinout was different, IOW, you cannot simply plug the stock headlight wiring harness in and have it work properly. Dan sells a headlight harness with relays to upgrade and fix the supply issues.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: ahy]
#1699668
11/17/14 04:48 PM
11/17/14 04:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,488 Annapolis, MD, USA
Vert
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You may find that the relays alone, wired to supply from the alternator will be sufficient to meet your needs. Since you are planning to do this part anyway, why not do it in stages, relays 1st, then custom solution lights if needed. Prior to stating this, check the voltage at the headlights 1st and record it. Light output falls off DRAMATICALLY with lower voltage.
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Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: Vert]
#1699669
11/17/14 08:55 PM
11/17/14 08:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,645 Phila. Pa.
Mattax
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Relays, which he is already planning on doing, will not provide much "more usable light". They will simply help insure the lamps get sufficient voltage and current to operate at their best. They will also take a big load off of the rest of the wiring.
The problem with the ole sealed beam, whether incandecent or halogen, is twofold. They are not terribly efficient and second the lamps throw too much of their light in the wrong places. The halogen versions are a bit more efficient, and some brands do a slightly better job in getting the light on the road. The various halogen bulbs (such as the H4) are far more efficient in terms of converting electricity to light. Dan Stern has a chart of the lumens on his website.
The H4 lamps made by companies like Cibie and Hella put the light onto the road because of the reflector and lens designs. They could do this years ago because of Euro and UK lighting standards.* In more recent years Hella has made a US DOT compliant version of the lamps. I've used them, as well as regular Hella's H4s (which were not DOT compliant except for motorcycles) and the DOT version had slightly less jump in hieght between the high and low beams. The Cibie H4s seem to be just as good or better in tems of hi/low placement. However they are in my Jeep which sits a little higher than my Barracuda, so not a perfect comparison.
A few years ago I had the uh opportunity to use a truck that still had sealed beam headlamps (US gummyment contract pennypinching I suppose). I had forgotten just how bad they were. As soon as I had a chance I donated the Jeep's old halogen sealed beams. Not great, but a heck of lot better.
*As early as 1967, Chrysler engineer Scott Harvey was promoting H4s for rallying. "Several makes of European headlights have a very flat, top cut-off on both beams. These lights are as good in snow or fog as any fog lights I have used. Also they have a relatively low current-draw, so their bulbs have quite a long life. They are not sealed beam, so they continue to function even if the lens is cracked." "Scott Harvey and Rally Preparation" in Sports Car Graphic (May 1967) p. 70
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Re: Halogen Headlights
[Re: Mattax]
#1699670
11/17/14 11:08 PM
11/17/14 11:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,488 Annapolis, MD, USA
Vert
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Direct copy from Daniel Stearn's website >> WHY USE RELAYS?
Power for the headlights is controlled by a switch on the dash. This is *not* a great place to tap into the system, for two reasons: The headlamp switch uses tiny, high-resistance contacts to complete circuits, and the wire lengths required to run from the battery to the dashboard and all the way out to the headlamps creates excessive resistive voltage drop, especially with the thin wires used in most factory installations.
In many cases, the thin factory wires are inadequate even for the stock headlamp equipment. Headlamp bulb light output is severely compromised with decreased voltage. The drop in light output is not linear, it is exponential with the power 3.4. For example, let's consider a 9006 low beam bulb rated 1000 lumens at 12.8 Volts and plug in different voltages:
10.5V : 510 lumens 11.0V : 597 lumens 11.5V : 695 lumens 12.0V : 803 lumens 12.5V : 923 lumens 12.8V : 1000 lumens ;Rated output voltage 13.0V : 1054 lumens 13.5V : 1198 lumens. 14.0V : 1356 lumens ;Rated life voltage 14.5V : 1528 lumens
edit: The 12.8v at the bulb(a common scenario with old stock wiring) upgraded with relays and heavier wiring could likely reach the 14.0v level at the bulb if driven directly from the alternator. This is a a 35.6% increase in RATED LIGHT OUTPUT which is usable light. I think you'll feel the difference with 1/3 MORE LIGHT. Relays alone will do wonders. Halogen on top is icing on the cake.
An example like using a specific halogen light so you can see how much more you get would be interesting
Last edited by Vert; 11/18/14 11:26 AM.
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