Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 06:32:33 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: GoWesty's headlight upgrade kit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 05/11/2007 5:10:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
I wonder how much of a difference these really make to the overall
light
output. It seems to me that you are still using the 15+ year
old
small gauge wiring and that the only thing that you are really
doing is
by-passing the high currently going through the headlight
switch thus
saving it and installing brighter bulbs to get more light
output.
It would be interesting to get a back to back
comparison of actual
voltage at the headlight before and after
installing the relays - I would
suspect there won't be much of a
difference due to V=IR losses. In
other words the more currently you
put through a wire the more voltage
loss you get - these old wires
will have a lot more resistance than new
ones.
Well, you can say whatever but best is to go check the real situation. I
have been making, selling and installing these relay kits, see my _Vanagon
Headlamp Relay Upgrade_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/hdltrela.htm) website, for
years. Mine are very similar to what Go Westy offers, they are nothing new
or ingenious. I have personally checked the voltage at the headlight socket
before and after on many vans. The scenario is always the same. 9.5 volts
before 11.5 volts afterwards. Go do it yourself and see. More voltage
produces more light. I think the bulb are 12 volt bulbs so they should be operating
at 12 volts or near there. Yes, I agree the wiring is old and if you really
want to do it right then ALL the wiring to and from the headlights should be
replaced with new 12 gauge wire. BUT, this is a job most Vanagon owners
can't do and are unwilling to pay for since the results of just installing the
relay kit and higher watt bulbs makes them happy !
Now, just because you have more light does not mean the headlight lens
is putting it where it would be most useful. The other problem with the
Vanagon headlights, especially the rectangular ones, as has been wrung out here
numerous times is the DOT lens structure. H4 lens structure works much, much
better. You have to try them side by side to actually see then you will be a
believer ! My Westy now has the H4 lenses with 90/100 watt H4 bulbs, the H3
lenses with 100 watt bulbs, my relay kit and I WILL blind you if I wish if
your coming at me in the dead of night !
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007
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