Do I really have to buy 80/100W bulbs online?
06-26-2008, 12:34 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
The low and high beam wiring is fused for 7.5 amps. You will exceed that with a 80/100 watt set-up.
The calculation is watts/voltage=current. So 100 watts/12 volts=8.33 amps.
Now, the electrical engineers who designed the system would have fused it so that the fuse would blow when only half the current carrying capacity of the wire was achieved. This is done so that the fuse blows well before the wire catches fire. So theoretically you could up the fuse to 10 amp and get away with it. However, that is assuming that your wiring and grounds are in pristine condition, which they are not.
Your best and safest bet is to use the existing wires to activate relays close to the lamps and run higher capacity wires to provide the power the lamps.
Mike
The calculation is watts/voltage=current. So 100 watts/12 volts=8.33 amps.
Now, the electrical engineers who designed the system would have fused it so that the fuse would blow when only half the current carrying capacity of the wire was achieved. This is done so that the fuse blows well before the wire catches fire. So theoretically you could up the fuse to 10 amp and get away with it. However, that is assuming that your wiring and grounds are in pristine condition, which they are not.
Your best and safest bet is to use the existing wires to activate relays close to the lamps and run higher capacity wires to provide the power the lamps.
Mike
06-26-2008, 03:44 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 1,184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am planning on making a new harness with relays for sure, I was just wondering if 80W on low beam with E codes would still be blinding other drivers like 2bridges said.
06-26-2008, 06:43 PM
#18
Site Sponsor
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: A great big building in the woods, FL.
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
The 90/130 Yellowstars that we sell do not blind oncoming traffic when put in a proper Ecode housing. You turn them on High Beam and its a different story all together.
A good Ecode housing does put the majority of the light down on the road so the wattage is not as much of a factor as the aiming of the lens.
If you need some parts for your harness (male h4 connector and terminals) just let me know.
A good Ecode housing does put the majority of the light down on the road so the wattage is not as much of a factor as the aiming of the lens.
If you need some parts for your harness (male h4 connector and terminals) just let me know.
06-26-2008, 07:28 PM
#19
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: St Louis, Missouri, USA
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Yea, heck I haven't had any trouble with mine at all - 90/130s on a daily driver. Every morning and every night. Never any sort of problem and have even saved me a few deer/turkey hits. I try to dim them anytime there is oncoming traffic. Bruce
06-26-2008, 07:42 PM
#20
Drifting
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you people that seem to think it is fine to run that this much light........
have somebody else drive you car while you drive something else and see for yourself. drive around a curve head on and down a hill head on, then behind you going down a hill.....
Rude and inconsiderate is an understatement.
90W lights in your face is awful to drive against.
130W is nearing criminal in my book. May get you dragged out of your car and your *** beat as well.
enough from me on the topic, but stop and think for a minute before making everybody else on the road miserable with your "upgrade"
have somebody else drive you car while you drive something else and see for yourself. drive around a curve head on and down a hill head on, then behind you going down a hill.....
Rude and inconsiderate is an understatement.
90W lights in your face is awful to drive against.
130W is nearing criminal in my book. May get you dragged out of your car and your *** beat as well.
enough from me on the topic, but stop and think for a minute before making everybody else on the road miserable with your "upgrade"
06-26-2008, 11:21 PM
#21
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Youngstown (14174), New York
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have the HID Catz 12v60/55w - 130/120w . Azzuri Whites....
My left low stopped working while driving home, for 40 miles I drove with brights on.
Amazing lights. Illegal as hell, but Amazing lights!
My left low stopped working while driving home, for 40 miles I drove with brights on.
Amazing lights. Illegal as hell, but Amazing lights!
06-27-2008, 12:19 AM
#22
Site Sponsor
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: A great big building in the woods, FL.
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
If you put high wattage bulbs in a cheap set of E codes, or DOT lenses, then you have major problems with oncoming traffic.
I would guess that 99% of people out there running high wattage bulbs do not spend the money on real E code lenses and that is where you see your problem.
06-27-2008, 01:21 AM
#23
Pro
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got my light set up from ^^ and have never had a complaint about my lights blinding anyone, highbeam flash, anything... through 90/130s (yellowstars - which are awesome but life-span is too short) and the 80/100s I run right now (Nice white bright light)
06-27-2008, 10:08 AM
#24
Nordschleife Master
Check.. did that more times and in more ways than you could imagine. When a set of real hella Ecodes are aimed correctly there is absolutely no problem.
If you put high wattage bulbs in a cheap set of E codes, or DOT lenses, then you have major problems with oncoming traffic.
I would guess that 99% of people out there running high wattage bulbs do not spend the money on real E code lenses and that is where you see your problem.
If you put high wattage bulbs in a cheap set of E codes, or DOT lenses, then you have major problems with oncoming traffic.
I would guess that 99% of people out there running high wattage bulbs do not spend the money on real E code lenses and that is where you see your problem.
If you really want to increase your lighting efficiency without breaking the law, fit aftermarket HID's, the legal 4300k variety than run on only 35w. Your stock wiring will work ok on that wattage so no relays and the light is far superior (whiter).
06-27-2008, 11:57 AM
#25
Site Sponsor
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: A great big building in the woods, FL.
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
Joking aside, that doesn't happen with properly aimed E codes. I know you see a lot of $29 blue light specials running at over 100w with no pattern at all on the lens blinding everyone they pass. If you have ever seen a set of high wattage bulbs in good ecode housings while driving, you probably didn't even notice.
As for the HID setups... The worst thing you can do is put a HID bulb in a housing made for a halogen/xenon bulb if you are worried about your fellow driver's night vision.
06-27-2008, 12:12 PM
#26
Nordschleife Master
You live in FL right? Yeah.. me too. I hate it when people come over ??hills?? with high wattage bulbs.
Yes Travis, not many hills here and our ultra-smooth roads on I-95 don't cause a problem with me at night either and no-ones properly aimed lights hit my rear view mirror every time they hit a bump in the road. I'm just saying that 55w is easier to deal with than 80/90w at night regardles of e-code, DOT code or whatever.
Joking aside, that doesn't happen with properly aimed E codes. I know you see a lot of $29 blue light specials running at over 100w with no pattern at all on the lens blinding everyone they pass. If you have ever seen a set of high wattage bulbs in good ecode housings while driving, you probably didn't even notice.
As for the HID setups... The worst thing you can do is put a HID bulb in a housing made for a halogen/xenon bulb if you are worried about your fellow driver's night vision.
Yes Travis, not many hills here and our ultra-smooth roads on I-95 don't cause a problem with me at night either and no-ones properly aimed lights hit my rear view mirror every time they hit a bump in the road. I'm just saying that 55w is easier to deal with than 80/90w at night regardles of e-code, DOT code or whatever.
Joking aside, that doesn't happen with properly aimed E codes. I know you see a lot of $29 blue light specials running at over 100w with no pattern at all on the lens blinding everyone they pass. If you have ever seen a set of high wattage bulbs in good ecode housings while driving, you probably didn't even notice.
As for the HID setups... The worst thing you can do is put a HID bulb in a housing made for a halogen/xenon bulb if you are worried about your fellow driver's night vision.
Mike
06-27-2008, 04:58 PM
#27
Site Sponsor
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: A great big building in the woods, FL.
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
The lenses that are made for standard halogen bulbs cannot handle the HID light. To further answer your question.. the HID bulbs are DOT. Some housings that they will fit in are DOT. Use of them together is specifically not approved and there is good reason for this.
Here is some reading that will give you an optimistic report on their use together. Note that the poster levels them 15% lower than they should be and talks of an "upward splash." You want to talk about blinding people over bumps...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...ostid=33218930
Just trying to help in the quest to not blind people over bumps. I have put together most setups that you can think about and the Hella E codes with 80 to 90 W low beams work the best.
Here is some reading that will give you an optimistic report on their use together. Note that the poster levels them 15% lower than they should be and talks of an "upward splash." You want to talk about blinding people over bumps...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...ostid=33218930
Just trying to help in the quest to not blind people over bumps. I have put together most setups that you can think about and the Hella E codes with 80 to 90 W low beams work the best.
06-27-2008, 05:13 PM
#28
Drifting
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
how funny how topology seems closely related to "opinion".
over bumps is your primary consideration?
Here - on any of the millions of hilly, curving rural two lane hwy is ten fold worse. Perhaps if you were here your opinion of "acceptable" in terms of blinding other drivers would be different. I don't care what lens you use - 100watt in this environment will blind the **** out of everybody. No exception. Other drivers will be in your light path no matter the adjustment.
Clearly many don't understand or care
Party on
over bumps is your primary consideration?
Here - on any of the millions of hilly, curving rural two lane hwy is ten fold worse. Perhaps if you were here your opinion of "acceptable" in terms of blinding other drivers would be different. I don't care what lens you use - 100watt in this environment will blind the **** out of everybody. No exception. Other drivers will be in your light path no matter the adjustment.
Clearly many don't understand or care
Party on
06-27-2008, 05:30 PM
#29
Lazer Beam Shooter
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
The lenses that are made for standard halogen bulbs cannot handle the HID light. To further answer your question.. the HID bulbs are DOT. Some housings that they will fit in are DOT. Use of them together is specifically not approved and there is good reason for this.
Here is some reading that will give you an optimistic report on their use together. Note that the poster levels them 15% lower than they should be and talks of an "upward splash." You want to talk about blinding people over bumps...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...ostid=33218930
Just trying to help in the quest to not blind people over bumps. I have put together most setups that you can think about and the Hella E codes with 80 to 90 W low beams work the best.
Here is some reading that will give you an optimistic report on their use together. Note that the poster levels them 15% lower than they should be and talks of an "upward splash." You want to talk about blinding people over bumps...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...ostid=33218930
Just trying to help in the quest to not blind people over bumps. I have put together most setups that you can think about and the Hella E codes with 80 to 90 W low beams work the best.
The quest to not blind people over bumps is a never ending endeavor indeed
