Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 19:58:40 -0800
Reply-To: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: http://members.aol.com/jmdavi/Headlights.html
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David & John:
I'm not sure where the 100 watt bulb issue came up because it was not
mentioned in the post that Davids seems to be replying to below, but I think
David's post about 9004 connectors and 100 watt bulbs is a little unclear.
Hopefully I can clarify and not muddy up the waters even more:
First, Randy's E-Code headlight kit only uses spade connectors to connect
the new H4 plug to the stock 9004 plug (the one your existing stock bulbs
plug into). If you use the standard 55/60 watt hi/low beam H4 bulb (included
in Randy's kit), the 9004 connectors should be adequate since the stock 9004
bulb is 45/65 watts.
If you went to a 100 watt bulb the 9004 connector would not be the only
problem; you would need to run larger wires from the battery and install
relays too. To much voltage drop otherwise. (See Stern Lighting web page...
very educational). And you would need the large wires and relays to go to
100 watt bulbs with the E-Code headlights that David Marshal is importing
too.
But all this may be irrelevant except for those who want exceptional
lighting. According to Randy and Jim Davis, Randy's kit supplies lighting
that is a vast improvement over our stock headlights without going to 100
watt bulbs (as should be the case with David's imports too). The exposure to
moisture may be a problem with Randy's spade connectors at the 9004 plug.
Certainly instead of using Randy's spade connectors it is an easy task to
just cut off the 9004 plugs and splice the three wires at each of the
headlights. That is what will normally be required of all headlight upgrades
to a better bulb anyway. But the neat thing about keeping the old 9004 plugs
is that you can easily reinstall your stock headlights and keep your
upgrades when you sell your van. Randy has the flu right now, so maybe we'll
hear from him about weather protecting his plug set up by Monday.
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
-----Original Message-----
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, January 29, 1999 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: http://members.aol.com/jmdavi/Headlights.html
>Another potential problem is the 9004 connectors are very small and cannot
>transfer much current - thus you will not find any brand name bulbs that
>are 100W! The best bet it to bite the bullet and cut the 9004 connector
>off and install a H4 connector. NEVER NEVER use crimps to fasten the wire
>as they will corrode. Always solder the connections, apply a small amount
>of lithium greese for water-proofing and seal it with heak shrink tubing.
>Takes a little while to do but it will be a perfect connection 20 years
>from now.
>
>At 19:18 29/01/1999 -0700, John-Reed Maffeo wrote:
>>I was looking at the picture that was shown by
>>5) Install the new pigtails:
>>
>>It looks like there is a potential problem here because the
>>connector is open to moisture.
>>
>>An old rubber bicycle tube could be adapted if needed to add a
>>little protection.
>>
>>Yes/No?
>>
>>John-Reed Maffeo '86 Syncro - Glacie
>>
>>
>
>-- David Marshall - Vanagon List Admin - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
>-- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 87 Audi 5KSQ, 85 VW Cabriolet --
>-- 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab, WANTED: VW / Bombardier Iltis --
>-- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
>-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
>-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --
>
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