sharknoob

Alan,

Mine are not HID just plain old H4

Alan

Don - well thats a bummer - not much you can do about that offset...

Jeff - OK well that explains why your cutoff is so good then.

Even when the HID arc capsule is perfectly aligned the optics are still not optimal - the Arc is brightest at its end points while the filament is brightest in its middle.

On H4's at least the filament orientation is similar to the arc orientation (longitudinal wrt the bulb dimension) H5's have a transverse filament furrther complicating the focus.

H4's with brighter bulbs (within reason) typically maintain a very sharp cut-off and provide fantastic road illumination - I see no good reason to replace them..

While HID's in anything less than H4/ecode make no sense whatsoever

Alan

Don Carter

Given all the discussion and reading elsewhere, I really don't think my lenses should be considered E-code. The pattern looks much more like a US headlight and I do have a DOT stamp on them. If they are DOT, they must be designed to throw some light up to illuminate signs. So how would the HIDs would perform in true e-code 7" headlights?

I did some searching and found this Hummer writeup that gave the answer, with pictures. HID's with 7" Hella e-codes.
http://72.215.196.56/hummers/headlig...D_retrofit.htm

The cutoff is not perfect, but looks better than mine, and the pattern is much more uniform without noticable hotspots. Another interesting find in this writeup is that his HID bulbs DO have an end cap shield which I think would make my beer-can mod unnecessary.

I have ordered a set of 7" Hella e-codes headlights and will add pics when I get them installed.

Don Carter

Got my new 7" Hella e-Codes installed a few days ago. Internally, they are very similar to the Cibies, so the peice of aluminum is still needed. The shape of the built-in front round shield is a bit more conical, so the aluminum doesn't hold in place as well, so I used a hot glue gun to stick it.

The lights are almost flat as compared to the very rounded Cibies. The clip that holds the bulb in, hinges from the side instead of from the bottom, and this caused an issue with the HID bulb. One of the clips will not fit in place, but the bulb seems to be held in place fairly well with just one clip, so I don't think it's going to be a problem.

The pattern is not like some of the photos posted by others with 8" ecodes, but it's still better than the Cibies. The light pattern doesn't go up on the right like I expected. The light is more uniform and there aren't any noticable hot spots. Still working on getting them aimed right. I have them aimed very conservatively now, but could probably raise them some without blinding anyone.

Won't have time to post pics of the patter until sometime after Marble Falls.

Alan

I agree - seems these are DOT compliant lenses of some kind.

Alan

Alan

Have you considered just getting replcement HID bulbs with shields - putting the giant soda can shield in there may be compromising the pattern...

I'd also install a Halogen bulb first to get a reference of what you are shooting at achieving...

Alan

Don Carter

Geometrically speaking, the soda can shield should have about the same effect as the shields built into the HID or Halogen bulbs. It's basically a half circle stopping the light from shooting down to the lower half of the reflector.

You are correct though if I could find just the bulbs with an end cap shield, as seen in the Hummer writeup, I probably wouldn't need the soda can shield. However, if my pattern looks pretty much the same as the 7" Hellas in the Hummer writeup, it's probably not worth the cash, and I suspect the soda can reduces glare even more than the smaller shields.

I do think the new reflector and clearer glass have given me even more brightness, but it's hard to know for sure.

I'll probably do some more experimenting with the shield.

I do plan to put the old halogen bulbs in the new lenses to see what the pattern looks like.