Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
H7's are the cat's pajamas. Great bulb choices, dedicated high and low bulbs, great connectors ---- those are the ultimate.
I had twin H7 lights on my 'Wing and ran Osram Silverstars in them; they were "God Lights".
What kind of headlight bulbs do you use?
- Thread starter TacoRocco
- Start date
I had twin H7 lights on my 'Wing and ran Osram Silverstars in them; they were "God Lights".
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I had to check to make sure I remembered correctly. The DOT 90mm Hella capsule light uses an H9, but the ECE 90mm capsule used H7's which is what I have.
2300 lumens from the 100W bulb.
The H9 bulb is also very nice. 2100 lumens form 65W which is awesome. IIRC, the wife's minivan had H11's in the low beam and H9's in the high beam, and I changed the low beams over to H9's giving 75% more lumens for less than 20% increased wattage.
The difference is awesome. The only thing is, those reflectors aren't so great so... it does glare a bit. I don't get flashed, but when the wife has been following me in the van, you do notice the lights are really bright.
This website is great, particularly the tech on the bulbs here:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulb_types/bulb_types.html
And this part:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/blue.html
2300 lumens from the 100W bulb.
The H9 bulb is also very nice. 2100 lumens form 65W which is awesome. IIRC, the wife's minivan had H11's in the low beam and H9's in the high beam, and I changed the low beams over to H9's giving 75% more lumens for less than 20% increased wattage.
The difference is awesome. The only thing is, those reflectors aren't so great so... it does glare a bit. I don't get flashed, but when the wife has been following me in the van, you do notice the lights are really bright.
This website is great, particularly the tech on the bulbs here:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulb_types/bulb_types.html
And this part:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/blue.html
I have been really impressed with the new Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs.
I replace the stock bulb on the motorcycle with on and it makes a significant difference. So much so that I have had others randomly ask what I replaced the stock headlight with, it's that noticeable.
I'm plannng to put a set in the Land Rover too!
Regards,
Brian
I replace the stock bulb on the motorcycle with on and it makes a significant difference. So much so that I have had others randomly ask what I replaced the stock headlight with, it's that noticeable.
I'm plannng to put a set in the Land Rover too!
Regards,
Brian
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matt s
Explorer
Thanks for the link! I was wondering how much of a gimmick my lights were after reading all the horror stories about "fake" Xenon bulbs. I think the following paragraph is very useful information and describes the lights I mentioned in my earlier post.
From the linked site:
What about bulbs sold as "Xenon" that have clear glass?
Probably no word is used to refer to so many different automotive lighting products as "Xenon", which is an elemental gas. A "Xenon lamp" is a gas-discharge (or High Intensity Discharge)-sourced lamp without a filament. It produces light by maintaining an electrical arc in a highly pressurized environment containing elements—including Xenon&mdashto make the arc emit a great deal of light.
But, Xenon also has a place in lamps with filaments. The addition of a certain proportion of Xenon to the atmosphere in a halogen bulb allows the use of a filament designed to burn hotter, thereby emitting more light, without the rapid burnout of such a filament that would occur without Xenon. But it's not a case of more being better; beyond a certain percentage, Xenon actually reduces the lifespan of the filament.
Halogen headlamp bulbs containing Xenon, in general, are not a gimmick or a scam, if they've got clear glass and are produced by a reputable company. All of the newest bulb designs being produced for new headlamps—such as the H7, H9 and H13 bulb size—include Xenon. Results have been good, with the H7 achieving a higher luminous flux (amount of available usable light) from a given wattage than was achievable with halogen bulbs that didn't include Xenon. So after a few years' experience with H7s, the manufacturers have moved to increase the performance of older, traditional bulb types. One of the techniques used to get such an improvement is to add Xenon to the bulb's atmosphere. There are other valid techniques as well, and not every bulb containing Xenon (or advertised as containing Xenon) is necessarily a performance upgrade.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Link to another bulb thread on another forum; it's true and very good advice.I have been really impressed with the new Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs.
I replace the stock bulb on the motorcycle with on and it makes a significant difference. So much so that I have had others randomly ask what I replaced the stock headlight with, it's that noticeable.
I'm plannng to put a set in the Land Rover too!
Regards,
Brian
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=3219898&postcount=8
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Can you trade them in on a nice set of Phillips?
Kjell Sullivan
Observer
I have to agree with Street Wolf here (Not for the purpose of ganging up on anyone mind you), But I've run a wide variety of bulbs in the different cars and trucks that I've had. HID is the best upgrade. The initial expense is worth it, as bulb life is much better with HID. I've even switched to HID for my off-road lights as well. And yes, if installed correctly (like adjusting the angle of your beams for starters) you won't blind everyone.
If you don't want the expense of HID lighting, I've found the best balance of great light and longevity to be the Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs. They don't burn out as quickly as a Nokya bulb because they're not a super high watt bulb.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html
All anecdotal evidence aside, it doesn't change the fact that retrofitting an HID bulb into a reflector designed for a halogen bulb and running it on the street is illegal everywhere in the United States. Nor does it change the fact that Sylvania Silverstar bulbs look brighter because they are filtering out a significant amount of long wavelength light (yellows and oranges) while keeping the short wavelengths (blues); humans have trouble focusing on the short wavelengths of light, it messes with our pupil responses, and it disorients us. Those blue tinted bulbs are illegal in most of the rest of the world for good reason.
Google Rayleigh scattering and see what I mean.
If you post something on this forum like, "a Jeep Compass is the most capable overland vehicle ever created, airing-down tires does not improve traction, & there is never any reason to own a winch," you'd be universally laughed at. Right?
Same thing about this light discussion. On a forum where people know the topic well, there is no argument about the blue-tinted bulbs or improperly executed HID conversions.
Try Candlepower Forum for a little while. Just browse it a tiny bit.
I'm not trying to belittle anybody, act superior, or needlessly badmouth any products. I was a Silverstar victim years ago too.
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R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
This is way too broad of a statement. Some vehicles, particularly American vehicles, have terrible headlight designs. Inefficient reflectors and crappy plastic lenses that turn opaque. My Dad's 99 Yukon is a prime example. The only reason it's not blinding in stock form is because they stuck such low output bulbs in it. 9006's with a dismal 1000 lumens.
Putting HID's in those lamps should be criminal. The only way to fix it with aim would be to aim them perpendicular to the ground.
But, I'm not totally HID. I think it depends on the lamp. I'd put HID's in my Discovery low-beams, because I think they have a good reflector pattern.
It's just, there's a lot of really really bad lamps out there, and they give all the HID conversions a bad name.
MarcFJ60
Adventurer
I think the HID camps seem to be taking absolutist sides. (Did I just make up that word?).
While it is certainly true non-HID lenses will scatter the light and it is illegal, it is also true that many people have retrofitted HIDs and produced satisfactory results (i.e. not blinding other motorists). And many have installed them with poor results as well.
The problem is that you really don't know the pattern until you put them in. Legality aside, if you get nice light output and aren't getting flashed by other drivers, there's really no harm. Is it as efficient as it would be with the correct lenses? No. But can it be better than stock without blinding others? In many cases yes.
I don't think this is an all or nothing concept. Nor do I think either side needs to snipe at each other.
By the way, I used some slightly overwattage IPF bulbs in my FJ60 (H4) and they worked really well. But I have heard good things about the Osram silverstars on car forums as well as motorcycle forums and may try those (they are significantly cheaper than my IPFs were.).
While it is certainly true non-HID lenses will scatter the light and it is illegal, it is also true that many people have retrofitted HIDs and produced satisfactory results (i.e. not blinding other motorists). And many have installed them with poor results as well.
The problem is that you really don't know the pattern until you put them in. Legality aside, if you get nice light output and aren't getting flashed by other drivers, there's really no harm. Is it as efficient as it would be with the correct lenses? No. But can it be better than stock without blinding others? In many cases yes.
I don't think this is an all or nothing concept. Nor do I think either side needs to snipe at each other.
By the way, I used some slightly overwattage IPF bulbs in my FJ60 (H4) and they worked really well. But I have heard good things about the Osram silverstars on car forums as well as motorcycle forums and may try those (they are significantly cheaper than my IPFs were.).
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matt s
Explorer
Not to help beat a dead horse, but if I flashed every HID light that blinded me I would be one flashy guy. I don't flash them because I know it's not their high beams, and flashing them will likely get me the high beam treatment. Not worth it.
Basically I don't think not getting flashed is a solid indicator of your possible offensiveness to other drivers. (and yes I am aware that I too made that statement earlier, I retract it)
Huh, I guess I gave the horse a little ********** after all.:sombrero:
All that said it is very apparent what vehicles have real HID either factory or well done after market, and they are not a problem.
Basically I don't think not getting flashed is a solid indicator of your possible offensiveness to other drivers. (and yes I am aware that I too made that statement earlier, I retract it)
Huh, I guess I gave the horse a little ********** after all.:sombrero:
All that said it is very apparent what vehicles have real HID either factory or well done after market, and they are not a problem.
strider3700
Adventurer
So what is the best solution for those of us with older domestic vehicles with horrible lights. my 97 f350 puts out pathetic amounts of light, even the highbeams are scary on dark roads. I wouldn't be surprised if an HID conversion would generate horrible results for others, and I doubt a really good bulb is going to help overcome the ancient plastic lens that can't be easily cleaned and crappy design.
Do I just give up and add a set or two of good driving lights tied in with the headlights? after doing some reading - Here driving lights are only allowed to be on when the highbeams are on so thats basically never in town. Fog lights can be on all the time and headlights can even be off if fog lights are on and conditions warrant. lots of aiming/height requirements for both of course.
The first thing I did on the truck when I bought it 5 months ago was replace the original bulbs dated spring of 97 with a set of silverstars. A huge improvement but not close to good enough now that winter is really dark and ugly.
Do I just give up and add a set or two of good driving lights tied in with the headlights? after doing some reading - Here driving lights are only allowed to be on when the highbeams are on so thats basically never in town. Fog lights can be on all the time and headlights can even be off if fog lights are on and conditions warrant. lots of aiming/height requirements for both of course.
The first thing I did on the truck when I bought it 5 months ago was replace the original bulbs dated spring of 97 with a set of silverstars. A huge improvement but not close to good enough now that winter is really dark and ugly.
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