Better headlight upgrade?
10-04-2008, 11:42 AM
#34
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So I have looked and they sell silverstars in pairs for cars & singles for motorcycles. I have always bought the pairs & just had a spare. Does anyone know if there is a difference? Also which is best, the silverstars or phillips? that test listed is in euroland
10-04-2008, 12:14 PM
#35
I could ride in
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Location: Dayton, TN
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Threadjack: what's the highest wattage bulb before heat is a problem?
I'm gonna put 12ga silver plated copper teflon insulated milspec wire to the battery on a 30 amp circuit breaker as a "bus" wire. 14ga as above to three 30 amp relays for hi/lo headlight and air horn and a spare for heated hand grips to be added later. I've got an "Autopal" from india at 100/90 watts and a "Sugo" japan (prolly china) 85/80 watt. Will the added voltage and wattage create excess in the reflector shield? What's the highest wattage lamp y'all have used sucessfully? TIA 4 replies!
Last edited by LineArrayNut; 10-04-2008 at 01:14 PM.
10-04-2008, 12:29 PM
#36
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I'm gonna put 12ga silver plated copper teflon insulated milspec wire to the battery on a 30 amp circuit breaker as a "bus" wire. 14ga as above to three 30 amp relays for hi/lo healight and air horn and a spare for heated hand grips to be added later. I've got an "Autopal" from india at 100/90 watts and a "Sugo" japan (prolly china) 85/80 watt. Will the added voltage and wattage create excess in the reflector shield? What's the highest wattage lamp y'all have used sucessfully? TIA 4 replies!
And yes, you will find people saying that they have used higher wattage, but none have done it with proper wiring and relays... a 100W something bulb with stock wiring isn't getting close to spec voltage and isn't that hot... At full voltage it creates a lot of heat... To much for the headlight probably...
10-04-2008, 02:20 PM
#37
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There are different lighting standards in the US than in other countries. I'm sure if the manufacturers had their way, there wouldn't be, because it increases their costs.
10-04-2008, 03:06 PM
#38
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I got a set of fog lights at Walmart for $15 and put them on where my front reflectors used to be. They fill in the dark areas between the bike and the low beam and add a little more brightness to the low beam. There are several styles to choose from, I've found that the round chrome lights are the best for an even beam pattern. Even during daylight the lights are superbright and have a broader intensity beam than a headlight high beam so people can see you from the sides better. $15 I can't ride without!
Or you can get the $300 lights BMW's use. I'll stick with these.
Or you can get the $300 lights BMW's use. I'll stick with these.
10-04-2008, 04:12 PM
#40
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Eh, I'm from Sweden remember?! I know of the different standards in light pattern... But that doesn't change the facts concerning the intensity and color of the light....
10-05-2008, 05:52 PM
#44
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let us know
how the hi-watt bulb goes, the reflector is designed for 60w, including heat resistance. Same with the lens heat wise. With the relay-loom kit you should be good wire gage wise. I made my own relay loom but may fork out for the eastybeasty (bro barbarian in nippon) kit cuz of the small relays, that and upgrade my sriving light bulbs...
10-05-2008, 07:01 PM
#45
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Hopefully, I don't run into any heat issues. We'll find out soon enough.
I think I remember reading from Tweety, that 85 is about the max without melting anything. He's been correct so far.....
I think I remember reading from Tweety, that 85 is about the max without melting anything. He's been correct so far.....
10-05-2008, 07:21 PM
#46
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Just put the eastern beaver in last night. Big difference. I already had an 80/100 bulb but it was sort of 2nd quality. No heat issue yet but for how easy this is and how much more you can see & be seen, everyone should do it.
10-06-2008, 02:25 AM
#48
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And I did get a big white blob on the front of my headlight from running a 120/100W bulb... And I have since then been running a 80/75W without problems, so somewhere in between there is the limit...
Hot summer day with lots of sun + gridlock where I couldn't get though on a lot of the lanes so I had to sit there... I certainly was a dumbass for not realizing and cutting the light, but still it does mean you can mess it up...
BTW I just got my HID projectors... Holy mother of.... That's bright... Now I'll just have to convince myself that one is enough... But the though of two of them burning the retina of a cager that "forgot" to cut his highbeam is tempting....
10-06-2008, 01:02 PM
#49
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I'll second that statement (silverstars blow, literally). We went through 2 bulbs in less than 1 year in our Maxima, and it went in perfectly clean. My Integra has had piaa's for over 5 years without a blow-out. Just f.y.i.
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