Date:         Tue, 12 May 1998 23:31:38 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Hamm <ldhamm@XMISSION.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Hamm <ldhamm@XMISSION.COM>
Subject:      Re: another angle on high-wattage headlight bulbs
Comments: To: Mark McCulley <raven@HALCYON.COM>
Comments: cc: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Mark McCulley wrote:
>
> I've been thinking about upgrading to 80/100W headlight bulbs and spent an
> hour or so the other day consuming a double latte and studying the Bentley
> wiring diagrams. I think I had a minor revelation! I've already "upgraded"
> the lamps on my 87 to the pre-86 style 7" round lamps. Since the stock
> rectangular lamps use two 55W bulbs per side for high beams for a total of
> 110W per side, I figure I can use the 80/100W bulbs in my round lamps and be
> pulling less current on high beams than a stock setup with rectangular
> lamps. The low beams will draw more current, but that shouldn't be a problem
> as the gauge of the low-beam wiring is the same as the high-beam stuff.
> There's still the problem of possibly melting the plastic connector that
> connects to the H4 bulbs. I'm not too worried about that--it's pretty easy
> to replace and you could get away without using it at all.
>
> This scheme only applies to 86 and later vans that have been upgraded to the
> pre-86 round lights.
>
> Any thoughts on this?
Mark,
Great idea! Having used 80/100 H4's in Hella and Bosch headlights for 20
years, I can attest to their superior lighting performance. Since you're
actually using less current, you needn't worry about such things as
bigger alternators, battery drain, burned wiring and switches, etc. The
light is brighter, but also better controlled, so if you simply dim at a
greater distance, you shouldn't blind anyone ahead of you. They WILL let
you know if you wait too long. Last I knew, they were not technically
legal for street use, but then neither are mega-watt amps and thunder
bass speakers, which, by the way, often use MUCH more electrical power!
Larry