Lets talk headlights..

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

Not DOT legal

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.

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.

Relays and E-code retrofits. Problem solved. End of discussion.

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

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.

GE4509's?

use bigger wire...

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

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

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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.