Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 13:07:47 -0800
Reply-To: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: rectangular E-Code headlights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Chris,
I considered the relays, larger wires, etc the the headlights.
But first I just measured the volts at the headlights with them on.
There is quite a bit of voltage drop with the high beams on, but not much
with the low beams. And the low beams are the problem. I figure if you can
get adequate lighting with the hi beams, but not the low beams (and the low
beams are working at a higher voltage because they are drawing less amps),
the the problem must be with the low beam head lamps since the are both
using the same wiring source. Also, I did some quick calculations using the
light intensity vs voltage numbers that Stern Lighting gives in his write up
on installing relay wiring, and decided that what greater light intensity I
could get by reducing voltage drop would not be enough to make the low beams
adequate.
After reading all of Stern Lighting's educational material, it seems that
the problem with our low beams is not the voltage. It seems that the problem
is that they are poorly designed head lamps with the worst bulb available.
Wattage is only a small part of the problem. Efficient headlamp reflector
and bulb design seems to be more important than a small voltage drop.
Reading Stern Lighting's write up it appears that E-Code is the answer.
Also, you might want to be aware, that according to Stern Lighting, it is
not safe to put higher wattage bulbs into our American headlamps even with
larger wiring. That's because of the very small connectors where the bulb
plugs in. Too much heat according to Stern. Here again, the E-Codes have
larger connectors and would be better set up to go to a larger bulb if
necessary. The Stern Lighting web site is at: http://lighting.mbz.org/ if
you are interested.
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
-----Original Message-----
From: kenneth d lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Sunday, January 24, 1999 11:57 AM
Subject: Re: rectangular E-Code headlights
>Chris;
> The first thing I am planning to try is adding some relays to the
>headlight circuit. I will most likely also increase wire size and improve
>grounds. This should boost the voltage to the headlights and reduce the
>current through the headlight switches (which tend to melt).
> If this is not satisfactory THEN I will look for stronger bulbs.
>Drive Safely & Good Luck
>Ken Lewis<Kernersville,NC>86 VW crewcab;60 T-5 Coupe
>
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