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Lets talk headlights.. #1713481
12/21/14 02:45 AM
12/21/14 02:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
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Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline OP
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So why can't we run 4 high/low beam bulbs in a car that has 4 holes? I am just curious because I am thinking of installing a relay system that would run 8 elements at one time (all 4 highs and lows at the same time) with the system in high and only 2 elements on low beams. Why would it not work? Tim


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713482
12/21/14 11:38 AM
12/21/14 11:38 AM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 461
Detroit Michigan
stinger Offline
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Not DOT legal

Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713483
12/21/14 11:43 AM
12/21/14 11:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
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Bitopia
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jcc Offline
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
J

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Bitopia
I am planning on that solution with mine. I asked a similar question here previously, and other then legality, which around here must be a joke with all the blinding myriad hybrid led/halogen/arc/etc systems running around on the loose, the only downside that seemed to have merit, was overheating the lamps. For the little time I run high beams, I'm going to try it.


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713484
12/21/14 12:02 PM
12/21/14 12:02 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,645
Phila. Pa.
Mattax Offline
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Physically - there's no reason you can't.

Effect - It's only going to make the area of light, already well lit, even brighter. This will increase the contrast with the unlit areas - making it harder for you and other drivers to see on the edges.

Good night lighting is about shape and placement of the beams as much as the intensity. You want to spread enough light over the road and edges, without glare or getting it in the opposing drivers eyes.

With 4 holes, get the best lighting from your basic hi/low, then increase the distance of the high beam coverage (where light is lost due to distance) for highways. For lots of twisty dark roads, cornering lights would be a useful supplement. For lots of dark highspeed highway driving, driving lights that reach even further than your high beams could be useful. For very very foggy areas, fog lights might be useful if you must crawl through the stuff especially if you are using standard sealed beams.

Personally I've come to be a big fan of good H4 type lamps in standard wattage. See what competition stage and road rally folks are doing. Good lighting is critical for them. Lots to learn from them.

Using web search terms such as cibie beam pattern will turn up both diagrams and photos, including some comparisons.

Last edited by Mattax; 12/21/14 12:21 PM.
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713485
12/21/14 10:44 PM
12/21/14 10:44 PM
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Space Station #5
471Magnum Offline
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Relays and E-code retrofits. Problem solved. End of discussion.


-Jim

I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman.
He's got the ultimate set of tools... I can fix it.

Currently Mopar-less
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: 471Magnum] #1713486
12/22/14 01:48 AM
12/22/14 01:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline OP
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I ran the KC quad beams in 2 jeeps in Alaska, they are absolutely wonderful when you click the high beams. I was just thinking that I could save some money and build my harnesses myself and trigger everything off of one high/low input. I found all of the connectors and relays, it should cost less than $60 with all new parts and I think that I will use a hella conversion lamp and 3 relays with 16 ga wire with 65w bulbs I should be able to wire up a nice and hidden setup. Tim


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713487
12/22/14 01:54 AM
12/22/14 01:54 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
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when I setup the headlights on my 87 Diplomat (4 quad lights) I did things a bit differently. I used the stock headlight dimmer (on the column) to switch the high beams on the outer pair of bulbs, I wired so that in "high" both the high and low beams came on. These were a set of Hella H4 housings and bulbs.

I installed a floor mounted dimmer (like my 65 Cuda has) to control the inner high beam only lights. Those were a set of genuine aircraft landing lights that I used to light up the backwoods highway I used to drive regularly. Of course I had to reconfigure for my annual inspection but it was interesting having the options.


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.
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: Supercuda] #1713488
12/22/14 02:04 AM
12/22/14 02:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline OP
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GE4509's?


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713489
12/22/14 02:18 AM
12/22/14 02:18 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 12,271
Overpriced Housing Central
RobX4406 Offline
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Overpriced Housing Central
use bigger wire...

Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: RobX4406] #1713490
12/22/14 02:26 AM
12/22/14 02:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline OP
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for 65 watts? I need to check a wire chart to calculate the correct size then. Tim


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713491
12/22/14 02:37 AM
12/22/14 02:37 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 12,271
Overpriced Housing Central
RobX4406 Offline
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Quote:

for 65 watts? I need to check a wire chart to calculate the correct size then. Tim




You building a race car where weight is important? That's about the only reason to run smaller wire. The weight delta is so small it's insignificant.

I use 12GA in the kits I build to minimize voltage drop. A 10% voltage drop on headlights results in a greater than 10% drop in output.

Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: RobX4406] #1713492
12/22/14 03:19 AM
12/22/14 03:19 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline OP
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no, I typically use MIL-W-22759 (M22759) wire which I can use 1-2 sizes smaller than SAE wiring for the same current rating. I have about 70# of wire so most of the wires will be white....Tim

http://www.awcwire.com/producttoc.aspx?id=mil-spec-wire


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713493
12/22/14 10:02 AM
12/22/14 10:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
3
383man Offline
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Balt. Md
Of course on cars that are stock the wire harness may not plug in and if it does its still only 2 wires where it needs 3 so you have to wire it right. Other then then that and not legal it should be no problem. And many of us rewire the headlite systems anyway on our old muscle cars. Ron

Last edited by 383man; 12/22/14 10:03 AM.
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713494
12/22/14 11:47 AM
12/22/14 11:47 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
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Quote:

GE4509's?




Similar, except rectangular


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.
Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: astjp2] #1713495
12/22/14 12:25 PM
12/22/14 12:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,645
Phila. Pa.
Mattax Offline
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Phila. Pa.
Quote:

no, I typically use MIL-W-22759 (M22759) wire which I can use 1-2 sizes smaller than SAE wiring for the same current rating. I have about 70# of wire so most of the wires will be white....Tim

http://www.awcwire.com/producttoc.aspx?id=mil-spec-wire




Nice! You could easily color code for your own sanity with colored electrical tape.
Stock wiring on a-bodies was but 18 ga all the way from dimmer to headlamps. On everything else it was 16 ga. In theory 18 ga was sufficient for a pair of 55/60 watt bulbs. Of course we all know how badly that worked out in reality.

When I switched to relays, I used tin coated (stranded) wire from the marine supply along with marine grade fuse holders. I hate oxidized copper.

Re: Lets talk headlights.. [Re: Mattax] #1713496
12/23/14 01:08 AM
12/23/14 01:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline OP
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astjp2  Offline OP
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Utah and Alaska
Quote:

Quote:

no, I typically use MIL-W-22759 (M22759) wire which I can use 1-2 sizes smaller than SAE wiring for the same current rating. I have about 70# of wire so most of the wires will be white....Tim

http://www.awcwire.com/producttoc.aspx?id=mil-spec-wire




Nice! You could easily color code for your own sanity with colored electrical tape.
Stock wiring on a-bodies was but 18 ga all the way from dimmer to headlamps. On everything else it was 16 ga. In theory 18 ga was sufficient for a pair of 55/60 watt bulbs. Of course we all know how badly that worked out in reality.

When I switched to relays, I used tin coated (stranded) wire from the marine supply along with marine grade fuse holders. I hate oxidized copper.



This is silver/tin plated wire, more strands per gauge also. The more strands, the more amps you can handle per a given gauge. Tim


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!






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