Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 07:55:55 -0500
Reply-To: Frank Miller <fmiller01@SPRYNET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Miller <fmiller01@SPRYNET.COM>
Subject: Re: Bosch and Hella H4 Lights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The heavier wire reduces the voltage drop produced by current flowing
through the wire, but there is a point of diminishing returns like on
anything. The wattage of the lamp is the power dissipated by the burning
filament. (The light output depends on the efficiency of the filament, how
it's directed to the road is dependent on the government regulations.)
Divide the lamp power by your system voltage (say 13.5 volts with the
engine running), and you will get the current draw of the lamp. Use a wire
that is rated for at least that current capacity. Wire ratings for current
capacity tend to be pretty conservative. A relay keeps all that current for
the lights from having to flow through the light switch and hopefully
reduces the length of wire that it has to flow through to get to the lamp,
making more of the system voltage available to the lamp. The more voltage
applied to the lamp and not dropped by the wire, the brighter your lights
will be. A 10% voltage drop makes a huge reduction in light output. Dirty
contacts, corroded wires, bad ground connections all are factors. GE used
to produce a great book on automotive lighting - generally intended for the
automotive OEM's so I don't know how available it it to the interested
public. I gave mine away to my successor when I left the OEM world. The SAE
is also a great source of information that's overlooked by most people.
At 04:26 AM 11/14/99 -0500, madsen wrote:
>Hello
>Here is a questions for all you electrical wizzes..
>
>I am following this thread with great interest as I am in the process of
>upgrading my 87GL)DOT headlights to E-code with relays.
>
>What gauge wire should I use for my application? Im thinking of getting high
>quality power wire, interconnects and fuses/fuseholders from a stereo shop
>to minimize resistance and voltage drops. I may change to 100+ watt highs at
>one point so I'd like to have a wire thats open to options.
>" When operating voltage drops to 95 percent (12.825v), headlamp bulbs
>produce only 83 percent of their rated light output" <---quoted from
>http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/how_to/relays/
>
>Is it important where the relays are situated on the line, I mean, is it
>better if they are closer to the lights? I am using Volkswagens 141 951 253B
>relays.
>
>Also due to the fact the 90 amp alternator is aft, should I use the battery
>as the power source for my headlamps because it is closer? or does it
>matter. The only disadvantage I can see from using a battery is no headlamp
>cut-off with no ignition.
>Thank you,
>Ken Madsen
>Toronto
>----- Original Message -----
>From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Saturday, November 13, 1999 9:22 PM
>Subject: Re: Bosch and Hella H4 Lights - Group Purchace (All Model Years)
>
>
>> I would say that none of them "stand out" they look just like the SAE
>> lights only the glass is a flat instead of round and there is an "H4"
>> embossed in the center of the lamp. The square H4s are the same shape as
>> SAE lights - the only "at a glance" difference is the "H4" embossed in the
>> center of the lamp.
>>
>> I am pretty confident that NO ONE is going to get upset if you drive with
>> H4 lights. They do not blind on coming traffic, and there is nothing
>> bizzare or weird about them that another motorist or police officer would
>> get upset about.
>>
>> At 11:22 AM 13/11/1999 -0800, JeanneMaly wrote:
>> >The H4s that "stand out" are the round ones, right? Is it correct that
>the
>> >rectangular ones look just like the originals but give a better lighting
>> >pattern, but that the round ones look different than the originals?
>> >
>> >Even so, I'm sure you're right that we should hang on to the old ones
>just in
>> >case.
>> >
>> >Jeanne
>> >
>> >----- Original Message -----
>> >From: Steve Lashley <ThingGuy@AOL.COM>
>> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> >Sent: Saturday, November 13, 1999 11:23 AM
>> >Subject: Re: Bosch and Hella H4 Lights - Group Purchace (All Model Years)
>> >
>> >
>> >> In a message dated 11/13/99 11:42:07 AM, vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG wrote:
>> >>
>> >> <<These lights works quite well, but they are not European spec lights
>with
>> >> the built in park light. No, it is not necessary to have the European
>spec
>> >> lights but it is neat to be unique!>>
>> >>
>> >> The motorcycle 7" H4s are sold by Hella USA, the European lamps with
>city
>> >> lights are being imported directly from Europe. According to my
>contact at
>> >> Hella, the NHTSA has been going after retailers selling the European
>head
>> >> lamps, tail lamps and other non DOT approved lighting. Now if you're
>in
>> >> Canada, I don't know what the Canadian laws are.
>> >>
>> >> Hella USA gets away with selling the 7" H4s as they have a legitimate
>> use for
>> >> off road vehicles. According to Hella, any retailer selling the
>European
>> >> lights won't be safe even if they mark them "for off road use"
>> >>
>> >> I'm not trying to discourage anyone here, just letting you know that it
>is
>> >> possible that you can get a fine for using non approved head lamps. I
>have
>> >> the 7" H4s in my '74, and I am also taking a small risk. The good
>thing
>> >> about my Hella H4s is that they don't stand out. They look very
>similar to
>> >> the stock lamps. The European H4
>> >> "unique" lamps with the city lights really stand out. I would
>recommend
>> that
>> >> you don't throw out the originals in case you ever need to go back to
>legal
>> >> lamps.
>> >>
>> >> Steve Lashley
>> >> '66 Westy
>> >> '74 Campmobile
>> >> '93 EV MV
>> >> <A HREF="http://eurocampers.com/">http://EuroCampers.com</A>
>> >> 314-614-0750
>> >> Importing German Side Tents, Carver Propane Heaters and other
>> Accessories for
>> >> Bus, Vanagon and EuroVan
>> >
>> >
>>
>> -- David Marshall - - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
>> -- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet --
>> -- 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab --
>> -- 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) --
>>
>
Frank Miller
Alternative Business Systems
4216 Indianola Avenue
Columbus, OH 43214-2826
Tel: (614) 447-0060
Fax: (614) 263-9086
URL: www.altbussys.com
| 
