Date:         Sun, 31 Oct 2004 10:17:07 -0700
Reply-To:     jimt <wetwesty@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <wetwesty@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: Tail light lense temps , part 2
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
In-Reply-To:  <a06002007bdaa2d736920@[218.101.117.240]>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

On 10/31/04 3:37 AM, "Andrew Grebneff"
<andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:

>> Ok, I put a 50 watt bulb in to replace the stock 21 watt brake light on
>> the passenger side. I also put in a new 21 watt bulb on the driver's
>> side brake light. I pushed the brake pedal down and braced it in
>> position so the brake lights stayed on. Then I watched the temps, back
>> and forth, every 15 seconds, looking for the hottest temp spot on each
>> side. I aborted the test after 4 minutes as the temps were still
>> climbing and I did not want to hurt anything. I have no idea how high of
>> a temp the lens can sustain without damage. I suspect that it could take
>> quite a bit.
> 
> Damage will be cumulative. A tiny bit of warpage may not be noticed,
> but over time will certainly be. Look at plastic fanheaters... the
> (usually beige or gray) plastic eventually browns and begins to pull
> back from the outlet, becoming "pretty ugly".
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin
> New Zealand
> Fossil preparator
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
> 
One of the funnier things (but very expensive) we used to see at the FLAPS
was the honduh and vw sporty crowd that just had to have their high powered
blue headlamp bulbs.  Many of the fancy aftermarket light packs are not
glass and they are not high temp plastic.  They actually came with notes in
bold print not to put the high power bulbs in them.  But consider the crowd
and how many melted ones we saw and wanted us to pay for their lights or if
they had bought them from us were trying to return them.  You would have to
see one of those melted lights to appreciate the artform.  They actually
looked kind of cool and interesting but not very functional any more. Almost
like the appearance of a perfectly clear candle melted down the sides.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
http://www.westydriver.com