Date:         Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:58:21 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FRIDAY OT - Headlight aimage
In-Reply-To:  <187DD736-388C-40A8-8B95-AF973C1E807B@eoni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Below is a link for almost everything you'd want to know about lighting.
The link is for an aiming instructional, but clicking around on the site
gives lots more info.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

  I converted my 84 to the Hella H-4 E-code lights.  A big improvment, even
over the previous sealed beam halogen lights.  One thing I've found, and it
has been mentioned by others, too, is that there seems to be a design
feature, when Hellas are used in our vans, anyhow, that leaves a sort-of gap
in the way the lights can be adjusted.
    With repeated fine-tuning the aim of my Hellas I still have a kind of
'less bright' area that I can't seem to dial out between the high and low
beams.  I think this may be a function of the height that the Vanagon
headlights are mounted above the road surface. Slightly too wide an angle
between the high and low beam trajectory?   When I aim the lights to have
the high beam light 'perfect' I find the low beam setting puts the light a
little too close in front of the van.  If I aim for the most effective low
beam light, the brights seem just slightly too high, too far up the
road...they light up reflectors a mile+ ahead.  The Hella H-4 E-codes are
still a very good improvment but it does bug me to be unable (so far) to
have them shine 'exactly perfect' like I know they should do.
  Don Hanson
PS...My E-code lights do not bother oncoming traffic and cause any
'blipping' from approaching traffic unless I forget and leave on the
brights.  I find the feature that puts more light out the right side of the
beams very helpful on winding mountain roads, too and also for deer
detection ..

On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 8:40 PM, Jim Arnott <jrasite@eoni.com> wrote:

> On Nov 13, 2009, at 5:37 PM, Marc Sayer wrote:
>
> Many modern headlight systems can not be properly aimed manually (by
>> sight). A aiming device is needed to properly aim the
>> headlights. That's what the bumps and protrusions on the face of the
>> lenses are for, to properly orient and attach the aiming device to the
>> headlight. Of course, as with many aspects of automotive repair and
>> maintenance, just because there's a right way to do something, doesn't
>> mean all (or even most) shops use the proper procedure.
>>
>
> Until about 1990 this was a true statement.  The little nubs are long
> gone and now one needs something like the Hoppy Vision 100 or VA-25 to
> properly aim headlights. About $1500 for the Vision. About $700 for
> the VA-25....
>
> Jim
>